On average, there are 1.88 vehicles per U.S. household. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the percentage of households without a car or light truck came to around nine percent in 2017, meaning that about 90 percent of households had at least one light vehicle at their disposal in that same year.

Most Americans drive daily

In a recent Gallup poll among U.S. adults, about 64 percent of respondents claimed to drive daily, while another 19 percent of respondents stated that they would use a motor vehicle multiple times in an average week. These figures are in line with the U.S. motorization rate, which stood at 821 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants in 2015.

 These streets were made for driving  

The United States has the most extensive road network, compared to any other country in the world: its road network encompasses almost 6.6 million kilometers or about four million miles. In 2018, there were about 270 million vehicles roaming the streets of the country.

The graph illustrates the average number of cars per household in the United States from 1969 to 2022. The x-axis represents the years, labeled from '69 to '22, while the y-axis displays the average number of cars per household. Over this period, the average increased from 1.16 cars per household in 1969 to a peak of 1.89 in 2001. The lowest recorded average was 1.16 in 1969, and the highest was 1.89 in 2001. After 2001, the average slightly decreased to 1.83 in 2022. The data indicates an overall upward trend in the average number of cars per household over the decades, with a slight decline in recent years.

United States Average Vehicles per Household: w/ Children data was reported at 2.200 Unit in 2009. This stayed constant from the previous number of 2.200 Unit for 2001. United States Average Vehicles per Household: w/ Children data is updated yearly, averaging 2.200 Unit from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2009, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.200 Unit in 2009 and a record low of 2.200 Unit in 2009. United States Average Vehicles per Household: w/ Children data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Center for Transportation Analysis. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.TA003: Number of Vehicles per Household.

The statistics shows the brands of cars used primarily by American households in 2024. The results were sorted by income tier. As of March 2024, 16 percent of respondents who stated their income was high said they used a BMW. The survey was conducted in 2024, among 7,146 respondents.Want to know more about the topic of mobility? Check out share of car owners in selected countries worldwide to see how car ownership varies across the globe. You can access millions of exclusive survey results with Statista Consumer Insights.

United States Average Vehicles per Household: 4 or More Licensed Drivers data was reported at 4.100 Unit in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 3.900 Unit for 2009. United States Average Vehicles per Household: 4 or More Licensed Drivers data is updated yearly, averaging 3.850 Unit from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2017, with 4 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 4.100 Unit in 2017 and a record low of 3.800 Unit in 2001. United States Average Vehicles per Household: 4 or More Licensed Drivers data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Center for Transportation Analysis. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United States – Table US.TA003: Number of Vehicles per Household.

United States Average Vehicles per Household: Rural data was reported at 2.400 Unit in 2009. This records an increase from the previous number of 2.300 Unit for 2001. United States Average Vehicles per Household: Rural data is updated yearly, averaging 2.300 Unit from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2009, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.400 Unit in 2009 and a record low of 2.100 Unit in 1991. United States Average Vehicles per Household: Rural data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Center for Transportation Analysis. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.TA003: Number of Vehicles per Household.

This statistic presents the mean number of motor vehicles per household in the United States in 2014, by type of residence. Overall, the mean number of motor vehicles per household in the United States came to 1.8 in 2014.

United States Average Vehicles per Household: 2 Persons data was reported at 2.000 Unit in 2009. This stayed constant from the previous number of 2.000 Unit for 2001. United States Average Vehicles per Household: 2 Persons data is updated yearly, averaging 2.000 Unit from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2009, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.000 Unit in 2009 and a record low of 1.900 Unit in 1991. United States Average Vehicles per Household: 2 Persons data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Center for Transportation Analysis. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.TA003: Number of Vehicles per Household.

This layer shows household size by number of vehicles available. This is shown by tract, county, and state centroids. This service is updated annually to contain the most currently released American Community Survey (ACS) 5-year data, and contains estimates and margins of error. There are also additional calculated attributes related to this topic, which can be mapped or used within analysis. This layer is symbolized to show the count and percentage of households with no vehicle available. To see the full list of attributes available in this service, go to the "Data" tab, and choose "Fields" at the top right. Current Vintage: 2019-2023ACS Table(s): B08201 Data downloaded from: Census Bureau's API for American Community Survey Date of API call: December 12, 2024National Figures: data.census.govThe United States Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS):About the SurveyGeography & ACSTechnical DocumentationNews & UpdatesThis ready-to-use layer can be used within ArcGIS Pro, ArcGIS Online, its configurable apps, dashboards, Story Maps, custom apps, and mobile apps. Data can also be exported for offline workflows. For more information about ACS layers, visit the FAQ. Please cite the Census and ACS when using this data.Data Note from the Census:Data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. The degree of uncertainty for an estimate arising from sampling variability is represented through the use of a margin of error. The value shown here is the 90 percent margin of error. The margin of error can be interpreted as providing a 90 percent probability that the interval defined by the estimate minus the margin of error and the estimate plus the margin of error (the lower and upper confidence bounds) contains the true value. In addition to sampling variability, the ACS estimates are subject to nonsampling error (for a discussion of nonsampling variability, see Accuracy of the Data). The effect of nonsampling error is not represented in these tables.Data Processing Notes:This layer is updated automatically when the most current vintage of ACS data is released each year, usually in December. The layer always contains the latest available ACS 5-year estimates. It is updated annually within days of the Census Bureau's release schedule. Click here to learn more about ACS data releases.Boundaries come from the US Census TIGER geodatabases, specifically, the National Sub-State Geography Database (named tlgdb_(year)_a_us_substategeo.gdb). Boundaries are updated at the same time as the data updates (annually), and the boundary vintage appropriately matches the data vintage as specified by the Census. These are Census boundaries with water and/or coastlines erased for cartographic and mapping purposes. For census tracts, the water cutouts are derived from a subset of the 2020 Areal Hydrography boundaries offered by TIGER. Water bodies and rivers which are 50 million square meters or larger (mid to large sized water bodies) are erased from the tract level boundaries, as well as additional important features. For state and county boundaries, the water and coastlines are derived from the coastlines of the 2023 500k TIGER Cartographic Boundary Shapefiles. These are erased to more accurately portray the coastlines and Great Lakes. The original AWATER and ALAND fields are still available as attributes within the data table (units are square meters).The States layer contains 52 records - all US states, Washington D.C., and Puerto RicoCensus tracts with no population that occur in areas of water, such as oceans, are removed from this data service (Census Tracts beginning with 99).Percentages and derived counts, and associated margins of error, are calculated values (that can be identified by the "_calc_" stub in the field name), and abide by the specifications defined by the American Community Survey.Field alias names were created based on the Table Shells file available from the American Community Survey Summary File Documentation page.Negative values (e.g., -4444...) have been set to null, with the exception of -5555... which has been set to zero. These negative values exist in the raw API data to indicate the following situations:The margin of error column indicates that either no sample observations or too few sample observations were available to compute a standard error and thus the margin of error. A statistical test is not appropriate.Either no sample observations or too few sample observations were available to compute an estimate, or a ratio of medians cannot be calculated because one or both of the median estimates falls in the lowest interval or upper interval of an open-ended distribution.The median falls in the lowest interval of an open-ended distribution, or in the upper interval of an open-ended distribution. A statistical test is not appropriate.The estimate is controlled. A statistical test for sampling variability is not appropriate.The data for this geographic area cannot be displayed because the number of sample cases is too small.

Some 3.4 percent of U.S. households had five or more vehicles in 2017. The percentage of households without a vehicle came to just under nine percent in 2017, meaning that a little over 90 percent of households had at least one light vehicle at their disposal in that same year.

When asked about "Car ownership", 3 percent of U.S. respondents answer "Yes, a company car". This online survey was conducted in 2025, among 11,941 consumers. Looking to gain valuable insights about car owners across the globe? Check out our reports about consumers of car brands worldwide. These reports provide readers with a detailed understanding of car owners: their identities, preferences, opinions, and how to effectively engage with them.

United States Average Vehicles per Household: Urban data was reported at 1.700 Unit in 2009. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.800 Unit for 2001. United States Average Vehicles per Household: Urban data is updated yearly, averaging 1.800 Unit from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2009, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.900 Unit in 1991 and a record low of 1.700 Unit in 2009. United States Average Vehicles per Household: Urban data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Center for Transportation Analysis. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.TA003: Number of Vehicles per Household.

In the fourth quarter of 2024, there were around ***** million vehicles operating on roads throughout the United States. Almost **** million used vehicles changed owners in the U.S. between the fourth quarter of 2023 and the fourth quarter of 2024, while new registrations of vehicles came to about **** million units during that period. Automotive market disparities The number of licensed drivers had been steadily increasing up to just under ******* in 2023, but the automotive market has been impacted by economic developments over the past few years. The U.S. vehicle fleet is aging, reflected by the slow increase in the average vehicle age from **** years in 2018 to over ** years in 2024. This is in part due to market disparities. The average selling price of new vehicles has been increasing to nearly ****** U.S. dollars in 2024, up from under ****** in 2016. Used car prices have been declining after the chip shortages linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching around ****** U.S. dollars in 2024. The majority of U.S. car owners earned more than ****** U.S. dollars per years, with the ****** to ****** income group owning over ** percent of the vehicles in use. The boom of the used vehicle market Close to ************* of new car buyers were born between 1946 and 1981, with Gen X being the leading consumers by age group for both the new and used vehicle market. Used light vehicle sales have been steadily increasing since 2010, representing well over double the size of the new light vehicle market in 2024. With a product range priced below new vehicle prices, used vehicles are gaining momentum in the United States. The average American household spends some ***** U.S. dollars on vehicle purchases annually, with consumers in income groups earning above 100,000 U.S. dollars per year spending above ***** dollars annually on car buying. Used vehicle financing options are naturally more affordable than new vehicle financing options, with an average monthly payment over *** dollars for loan payments for new vehicles.

Although the American Community Survey (ACS) produces population, demographic and housing unit estimates, it is the Census Bureau's Population Estimates Program that produces and disseminates the official estimates of the population for the nation, states, counties, cities, and towns and estimates of housing units for states and counties..Supporting documentation on code lists, subject definitions, data accuracy, and statistical testing can be found on the American Community Survey website in the Technical Documentation section.Sample size and data quality measures (including coverage rates, allocation rates, and response rates) can be found on the American Community Survey website in the Methodology section..Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2017-2021 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates.Data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. The degree of uncertainty for an estimate arising from sampling variability is represented through the use of a margin of error. The value shown here is the 90 percent margin of error. The margin of error can be interpreted roughly as providing a 90 percent probability that the interval defined by the estimate minus the margin of error and the estimate plus the margin of error (the lower and upper confidence bounds) contains the true value. In addition to sampling variability, the ACS estimates are subject to nonsampling error (for a discussion of nonsampling variability, see ACS Technical Documentation). The effect of nonsampling error is not represented in these tables..Workers include members of the Armed Forces and civilians who were at work last week..The 2017-2021 American Community Survey (ACS) data generally reflect the March 2020 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) delineations of metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas. In certain instances, the names, codes, and boundaries of the principal cities shown in ACS tables may differ from the OMB delineation lists due to differences in the effective dates of the geographic entities..Estimates of urban and rural populations, housing units, and characteristics reflect boundaries of urban areas defined based on Census 2010 data. As a result, data for urban and rural areas from the ACS do not necessarily reflect the results of ongoing urbanization..Explanation of Symbols:- The estimate could not be computed because there were an insufficient number of sample observations. For a ratio of medians estimate, one or both of the median estimates falls in the lowest interval or highest interval of an open-ended distribution. For a 5-year median estimate, the margin of error associated with a median was larger than the median itself.N The estimate or margin of error cannot be displayed because there were an insufficient number of sample cases in the selected geographic area. (X) The estimate or margin of error is not applicable or not available.median- The median falls in the lowest interval of an open-ended distribution (for example "2,500-")median+ The median falls in the highest interval of an open-ended distribution (for example "250,000+").** The margin of error could not be computed because there were an insufficient number of sample observations.*** The margin of error could not be computed because the median falls in the lowest interval or highest interval of an open-ended distribution.***** A margin of error is not appropriate because the corresponding estimate is controlled to an independent population or housing estimate. Effectively, the corresponding estimate has no sampling error and the margin of error may be treated as zero.

United States Average Vehicles per Household: 1 Licensed Driver data was reported at 1.100 Unit in 2009. This records a decrease from the previous number of 1.200 Unit for 2001. United States Average Vehicles per Household: 1 Licensed Driver data is updated yearly, averaging 1.200 Unit from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2009, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1.500 Unit in 1991 and a record low of 1.100 Unit in 2009. United States Average Vehicles per Household: 1 Licensed Driver data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Center for Transportation Analysis. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.TA003: Number of Vehicles per Household.

United States Average Vehicles per Household: 2 Licensed Drivers data was reported at 2.200 Unit in 2009. This stayed constant from the previous number of 2.200 Unit for 2001. United States Average Vehicles per Household: 2 Licensed Drivers data is updated yearly, averaging 2.200 Unit from Dec 1991 (Median) to 2009, with 3 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 2.200 Unit in 2009 and a record low of 2.100 Unit in 1991. United States Average Vehicles per Household: 2 Licensed Drivers data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Center for Transportation Analysis. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.TA003: Number of Vehicles per Household.

This statistic shows the average age of light vehicles registered to U.S. households for five different household income groups in 2017. There is an obvious trend here that lower income groups will have older vehicles, as households in the lowest income group in the U.S. had an average vehicle age of 13 years old in 2017.

Supporting documentation on code lists, subject definitions, data accuracy, and statistical testing can be found on the American Community Survey website in the Data and Documentation section...Sample size and data quality measures (including coverage rates, allocation rates, and response rates) can be found on the American Community Survey website in the Methodology section..Although the American Community Survey (ACS) produces population, demographic and housing unit estimates, for 2010, the 2010 Census provides the official counts of the population and housing units for the nation, states, counties, cities and towns..Explanation of Symbols:.An ''**'' entry in the margin of error column indicates that either no sample observations or too few sample observations were available to compute a standard error and thus the margin of error. A statistical test is not appropriate..An ''-'' entry in the estimate column indicates that either no sample observations or too few sample observations were available to compute an estimate, or a ratio of medians cannot be calculated because one or both of the median estimates falls in the lowest interval or upper interval of an open-ended distribution..An ''-'' following a median estimate means the median falls in the lowest interval of an open-ended distribution..An ''+'' following a median estimate means the median falls in the upper interval of an open-ended distribution..An ''***'' entry in the margin of error column indicates that the median falls in the lowest interval or upper interval of an open-ended distribution. A statistical test is not appropriate..An ''*****'' entry in the margin of error column indicates that the estimate is controlled. A statistical test for sampling variability is not appropriate. .An ''N'' entry in the estimate and margin of error columns indicates that data for this geographic area cannot be displayed because the number of sample cases is too small..An ''(X)'' means that the estimate is not applicable or not available..Estimates of urban and rural population, housing units, and characteristics reflect boundaries of urban areas defined based on Census 2000 data. Boundaries for urban areas have not been updated since Census 2000. As a result, data for urban and rural areas from the ACS do not necessarily reflect the results of ongoing urbanization..While the 2010 American Community Survey (ACS) data generally reflect the December 2009 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) definitions of metropolitan and micropolitan statistical areas; in certain instances the names, codes, and boundaries of the principal cities shown in ACS tables may differ from the OMB definitions due to differences in the effective dates of the geographic entities..Workers include members of the Armed Forces and civilians who were at work last week..Data are based on a sample and are subject to sampling variability. The degree of uncertainty for an estimate arising from sampling variability is represented through the use of a margin of error. The value shown here is the 90 percent margin of error. The margin of error can be interpreted roughly as providing a 90 percent probability that the interval defined by the estimate minus the margin of error and the estimate plus the margin of error (the lower and upper confidence bounds) contains the true value. In addition to sampling variability, the ACS estimates are subject to nonsampling error (for a discussion of nonsampling variability, see Accuracy of the Data). The effect of nonsampling error is not represented in these tables..Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2010 American Community Survey

In 2023, on average, one in two urban households and one in three rural households in China owned a car. Altogether, there were **** cars for every 100 Chinese households. This figure has increased more than ********* in the last decade.

A result of China’s economic miracle The substantial increase in car ownership in China is directly correlated with the country's rapid economic development since the 1980s. Until the late 1990s, there were few private cars in China. Cars were generally owned by public organizations, corporations, or transportation companies. The opening of joint ventures in China by foreign automotive companies such as Volkswagen and Toyota led to the introduction of more affordable models in the Chinese market. Combined with rising income levels across the country, the number of private cars in China has grown rapidly since**********, to the point where traffic-related pollution and congestion have gradually become a major problem in China's major cities.

The rise of electric vehicles In recent years, electric vehicles developed by a number of Chinese automotive companies, including BYD and XPeng, have been gaining ground thanks to the Chinese government's generous incentive policies. As a result, China's EV market has become one of the most competitive in the world. Automotive companies such as BYD, Chery and Geely are also making strong gains in the international market.