Some 284.6 million vehicles were registered in the United States in 2023. The figures include passenger cars, motorcycles, trucks, buses, and other vehicles. The number of light trucks sold in the U.S. stood at 12.4 million units in 2023. U.S. vehicle registrations The United States is one of the world’s largest automobile markets based on the number of new light vehicle registrations, with more than 15.5 million new light vehicle registrations in 2023. However, domestic production of automobiles stood at around 1.7 million units in 2023, which was under half the output recorded in 2016. At the same time, the United States imports a significant number of vehicles and vehicle parts from various countries, such as Japan, Mexico, and Canada. Leading car manufacturers in the United States The leading car manufacturers overall in the United States include the domestic heavyweights General Motors and Ford. With respect to car brands, the Ford brand clocked in at number one in 2024, selling around 2.1 million vehicles in the United States alone. The brand's holding company is the Ford Motor Company; it was founded by Henry Ford in 1903 in Dearborn, Michigan. The company pioneered in large-scale car manufacturing and introduced production methods such as the assembly line.

Key information about US Number of Registered Vehicles

• US Number of Registered Vehicles was reported at 284,614,269 Unit in Dec 2023.
• This records an increase from the previous number of 283,400,986 Unit for Dec 2022.
• US Number of Registered Vehicles data is updated yearly, averaging 93,949,852 Unit from Dec 1910 to 2023, with 114 observations.
• The data reached an all-time high of 284,614,269 Unit in 2023 and a record low of 468,500 Unit in 1910.
• US Number of Registered Vehicles data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by CEIC Data.
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Global Economic Monitor – Table: No of Registered Vehicles: Annual.

In 2023, California had the most automobile registrations: almost 13.2 million such vehicles were registered in the most populous U.S. federal state. California also had the highest number of registered motor vehicles overall: nearly 30.4 million registrations.

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.

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.

Key information about United States Motor Vehicle Production

• United States Motor Vehicle Production was reported at 10,562,188.000 Unit in Dec 2024.
• This records a decrease from the previous number of 10,639,140.000 Unit for Dec 2023.
• US Motor Vehicle Production data is updated yearly, averaging 7,762,544.000 Unit from Dec 1997 to 2024, with 28 observations.
• The data reached an all-time high of 13,024,978.000 Unit in 1999 and a record low of 5,731,397.000 Unit in 2009.
• US Motor Vehicle Production data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers.
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Association: Automobile Sector – Table RA.OICA.MVP: Motor Vehicle Production: by Country.

Over the course of the 20th century, the number of operational motor vehicles in the United States grew significantly, from just 8,000 automobiles in the year 1900 to more than 183 million private and commercial vehicles in the late 1980s. Generally, the number of vehicles increased in each year, with the most notable exceptions during the Great Depression and Second World War.

Graph and download economic data for Automobile Registrations, Passenger Cars, Total for United States (A01108USA258NNBR) from 1895 to 1944 about car registrations, vehicles, and USA.

Total Vehicle Sales in the United States decreased to 15.30 Million in October from 16.40 Million in September of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United States Total Vehicle Sales - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

Key information about United States Motor Vehicle Sales: Passenger Cars

• United States Motor Vehicle Sales: Passenger Cars was reported at 2,984,039.000 Unit in Dec 2024.
• This records a decrease from the previous number of 3,116,647.000 Unit for Dec 2023.
• US Motor Vehicle Sales: Passenger Cars data is updated yearly, averaging 7,689,110.000 Unit from Dec 2005 to 2024, with 20 observations.
• The data reached an all-time high of 7,761,592.000 Unit in 2006 and a record low of 2,858,575.000 Unit in 2022.
• US Motor Vehicle Sales: Passenger Cars data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers.
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Association: Automobile Sector – Table RA.OICA.MVS: Motor Vehicle Sales: by Country and Type: Passenger Car (PC).

Graph and download economic data for Sales: Retail Trade: Car Registration: Passenger Cars for United States (SLRTCR03USQ659S) from Q1 1960 to Q3 2021 about car registrations, retail trade, vehicles, sales, retail, and USA.

In 2023, California was the federal state with the highest number of motor vehicle registrations in the United States. More than ***** million motor vehicles were registered in the nation’s most populous state. Overall, the United States recorded over ***** million vehicle registrations. Vehicle classes Automobiles and trucks are the leading categories in terms of motor vehicle sales in the United States, accounting for roughly ** percent of all registrations. Motorcycles and buses comprise the remaining categories, with buses accounting for a miniscule **** percent of registrations. In terms of sales, light trucks were the most popular category in 2024 with retail sales of nearly **** million units. Leading state California recorded around **** million registrations of automobiles and trucks, having a resident population of just under ** million people. California is the largest market for car registration. The state is known for progressive state legislation that promotes the manufacturing and sale of electric vehicles.

Car Registrations in the United States increased to 241.10 Thousand in August from 221.50 Thousand in July of 2025. This dataset provides - United States Car Registrations - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news.

This dataset included Information about 43 brands, and 445 models of vehicles for sale in the US. The period is from 2013 to 2022 Data source: www.goodcarbadcar.net, www.marklines.com/en/vehicle_sales/index

Graph and download economic data for Passenger Cars Built for United States (A01154USA471NNBR) from 1880 to 1938 about vehicles, production, and USA.

Key information about United States Motor Vehicle Sales: Commercial Cars

• United States Motor Vehicle Sales: Commercial Cars was reported at 13,356,433.000 Unit in Dec 2024.
• This records an increase from the previous number of 12,892,621.000 Unit for Dec 2023.
• US Motor Vehicle Sales: Commercial Cars data is updated yearly, averaging 9,154,354.000 Unit from Dec 2005 to 2024, with 20 observations.
• The data reached an all-time high of 13,356,433.000 Unit in 2024 and a record low of 5,200,478.000 Unit in 2009.
• US Motor Vehicle Sales: Commercial Cars data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers.
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Association: Automobile Sector – Table RA.OICA.MVS: Motor Vehicle Sales: by Country and Type: Commercial Vehicle (CV).

Number of Businesses statistics on the Used Car Dealers industry in the US

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Unit Characteristics: Number of Vehicles by Age: from Age 25 to 34 (CXUVEHICLESLB0403M) from 1984 to 2023 about consumer unit, age, 25 years +, vehicles, and USA.

United States Motor Vehicle Sales: Quantity: Light Vehicle: Autos data was reported at 482.821 Unit th in Jun 2018. This records a decrease from the previous number of 511.215 Unit th for May 2018. United States Motor Vehicle Sales: Quantity: Light Vehicle: Autos data is updated monthly, averaging 697.250 Unit th from Jan 1976 (Median) to Jun 2018, with 510 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,213.100 Unit th in Sep 1986 and a record low of 312.800 Unit th in Jan 2009. United States Motor Vehicle Sales: Quantity: Light Vehicle: Autos data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Bureau of Economic Analysis. The data is categorized under Global Database’s USA – Table US.H017: Motor Vehicles Sale: Bureau of Economic Analysis.

Graph and download economic data for Automobile Production, Passenger Cars, Factory Production for United States (M0107AUSM543NNBR) from Jan 1913 to Mar 1942 about vehicles, production, and USA.