Average miles driven by state

Americans rely on their cars to commute, run errands, and travel for fun — but how many miles does the average American drive per year? 

According to data from the Federal Highway Administration (FHA), [1] Americans drive an average of 14,263 miles per year, which is about 1,189 miles per month. Collectively, that’s 220 million licensed drivers driving more than 3.3 trillion miles each year in the U.S. But drivers in some states clock more miles on the road than others, which could have an affect on their car insurance rates.

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Average miles driven by state

Americans drive an average of 14,263 miles per year, according to the most recent data from the FHA. Here’s a look at the average annual miles driver per year by drivers in each state:

State	Annual vehicle miles (in millions)	Number of licensed drivers	Annual mileage per driver
Alabama	71,735	4,026,151	17,817
Alaska	5,881	529,281	11,111
Arizona	70,281	5,369,210	13,090
Arkansas	37,099	2,153,929	17,224
California	340,836	27,213,650	12,524
Colorado	54,634	4,235,384	12,899
Connecticut	31,601	2,608,061	12,117
Delaware	10,245	812,529	12,609
District of Columbia	3,756	535,579	4,623
Florida	226,514	15,560,628	14,557
Georgia	133,128	7,261,266	18,334
Hawaii	11,024	943,173	11,688
Idaho	18,058	1,252,535	14,417
Illinois	107,525	8,546,932	12,581
Indiana	82,719	4,589,405	18,024
Iowa	33,537	2,274,431	14,745
Kansas	31,843	2,154,260	14,781
Kentucky	49,410	3,030,329	16,305
Louisiana	51,360	3,435,168	14,951
Maine	14,871	1,046,129	14,215
Maryland	60,216	4,463,862	13,490
Massachusetts	64,890	4,950,056	13,109
Michigan	102,174	7,141,494	14,307
Minnesota	60,731	3,391,057	17,909
Mississippi	41,091	2,058,036	19,966
Missouri	79,168	4,274,389	18,521
Montana	12,892	811,851	15,880
Nebraska	21,242	1,430,818	14,846
Nevada	28,794	2,054,421	14,016
New Hampshire	13,828	1,195,211	11,570
New Jersey	78,205	6,377,413	12,263
New Mexico	27,772	1,449,711	19,157
New York	123,986	12,194,360	10,167
North Carolina	122,475	7,620,001	16,073
North Dakota	9,826	556,064	17,671
Ohio	114,694	8,032,792	14,278
Oklahoma	44,648	2,522,670	17,699
Oregon	35,808	2,930,701	12,218
Pennsylvania	102,864	8,987,676	11,445
Rhode Island	7,581	761,046	9,961
South Carolina	57,939	3,877,968	14,941
South Dakota	9,922	638,428	15,541
Tennessee	82,892	5,422,429	15,287
Texas	288,227	17,822,760	16,171
Utah	32,911	2,121,099	15,516
Vermont	7,346	564,894	13,004
Virginia	85,432	5,888,196	14,509
Washington	62,530	5,711,136	10,949
West Virginia	19,077	1,130,389	16,876
Wisconsin	66,348	4,296,646	15,442
Wyoming	10,208	424,115	24,069
U.S. Total	3,261,772	228,679,719	14,263

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States with the highest average mileage

Of the 50 states plus Washington D.C., drivers in Wyoming have the highest annual mileage at 24,069. Considering Wyoming is one of the least densely populated states, it makes sense that Wyoming drivers spend more time on the road getting where they need to go. 

1. Wyoming: 24,069 miles per year

2. Mississippi: 19,966 miles per year

3. New Mexico: 19,157 miles per year

4. Missouri: 18,521 miles per year

5. Georgia: 18,334 miles per year

States with the lowest average mileage

Unsurprisingly, drivers in Washington D.C. drive the fewest number of miles per year at 4,623, followed by Rhode Island at 9,961 miles a year. 

1. Washington D.C.: 4,623 miles per year

2. Rhode Island: 9,961 miles per year

3. New York: 10,167 miles per year

4. Washington: 10,949 miles per year

5. Alaska: 11,111 miles per year

Why mileage matters when it comes to car insurance

The more you drive, the higher your chance of getting into an accident. That’s why companies ask you about your annual mileage when you apply for car insurance — if you drive far more than the average driver in your area, you may be more of a risk to insure, which means you may see higher rates.

But most car insurance companies also reward drivers who drive less with low mileage discounts. Low mileage discounts generally apply to people who drive less than 7,500 miles per year, but some companies may set their own mileage limit for the discount.

Drivers who work from home can take advantage of this discount, since they don’t have to commute to and from work. Some companies also offer discount programs that track your driving through a phone app and reward safe or infrequent driving.

If you know you won’t be driving much, you can talk to your insurer about which of these discounts are available to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is 30,000 miles a year a lot?

The average American drives 14,263 miles per year. So someone who drives 30,000 miles a year drives more than double the average American — which is a lot.

How many miles can a car last before it breaks down?

Some cars easily last a decade or more on the road while others may fall apart well before then. How long your car will last depends on its make and model, as well as how much you drive, where you live, and how well you keep up with routine maintenance.

Are highway miles easier on a car?

Driving on the highway can mean less wear and tear on some parts of your car, like your brakes since you’re stopping less often. But generally, your car will stay in the best shape if you keep up with your regular maintenance, like changing your oil, replacing worn tires, and fixing issues as soon as they come up.