The Average Miles Driven Per Year in North America

How many miles do people drive a year? The average person drives between 13,000-15,000 miles per year. If you drive less than the average miles driven per year, you could drastically lower your car insurance rates.

Annual mileage is one of the major factors car insurance companies look at when determining your rates. If you drive less than 12,000 miles per year, you may qualify for cheap car insurance quotes. You can also request insurance discounts for low mileage or save money by reducing your coverage. Drivers might even want to switch to a pay-by-the-mile company based on the average miles per year on a car. 

Our guide discusses how many miles are driven in the U.S. each year and why traffic statistics like these impact your car insurance quotes. We will help you determine your average car mileage per year and if you qualify for reduced rates.  Keep reading to compare insurance companies and find the cheapest car insurance quotes based on your annual mileage.

How many miles does the average person drive a year?

With 299 million licensed drivers in the country, Americans drove over three trillion miles in 2020. This translates to between 13,000 and15,000 average miles per year, or an average of 39 miles per day.

The average miles driven in a year in America is 14,263 — and the average mileage for a car is about 1,200 miles per month.

However, The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) reported that the average miles driven per year decreased at least 10% after the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns in 2020.

What does this mean for your car insurance policy? If you started to work from home or have otherwise reduced your daily commute, you can qualify for cheaper car insurance quotes. For example, those who drive less than 12,000 miles per year can earn discounted rates or qualify for infrequent driver car insurance with certain companies.

Will annual mileage affect my car insurance quotes?

Your annual mileage can tell a lot about you as a driver, and insurance companies want to know how long you’re on the road before they write a policy. For example, if you have a long commute or live in an urban area with a lot of traffic, you’re more likely to get into an accident. This increased risk will raise your insurance rates.

Insurance companies will also consider how other personal factors impact your driving, such as age, gender, and ZIP code. The DOT broke down the annual mileage by age and gender:

Males statistically cover more miles than female drivers across all age groups, but drivers between the ages of 35-54 drive the most.

Of course, those ages are most likely to be commuting for work and therefore cover more miles per day. But unfortunately, based on these statistics, insurance companies will charge men higher rates than women of the same age. 

Take a look at our table below to see how the top car insurance companies in the country charge drivers different rates based on age and gender:

Average Annual Car Insurance Rates by Age, Gender, and Marital Status

Keep in mind that traffic and accidents where you live will also impact how insurance companies determine your rates. The table below breaks down car insurance rates by state:

Monthly Car Insurance Rates by State

Read more: Cheap Car Insurance in Alaska

The insurance rates listed above from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) are averages of the car insurance payments made per state. You may pay more for car insurance in your state if you live in a bigger city. For example, if you live in Los Angeles or Atlanta you will pay more expensive rates than other drivers in your state simply based on the amount of traffic and the length of your commute.

Can I reduce my car insurance rates based on how far I drive?

Yes, the good news is that insurance companies are willing to work with drivers who have shorter commutes and good driving records. Take a look at this table to see how rates change by annual mileage.

Overall, you can often reduce your rates by $100 or more by driving less than 12,000 miles per year. However, your individual driving habits will impact your rates. That’s why it’s important to compare car insurance quotes from more than three companies to guarantee you’re getting the best price possible for coverage.      

But no matter your driving record, the easiest way to reduce car insurance rates by annual mileage is to ask for a low-mileage discount.

On average, if you drive less than 7,500 miles per year, you can qualify for low-mileage car insurance discounts. 

Most of the big-name insurance companies offer low-mileage discounts. You can also stack it with other discounts for an even bigger percentage off. The table below lists some popular companies that offer this discount. The discount amount is listed if known.

Companies That Offer Low Mileage Discounts for Telecommuters

As we said above, shop around with multiple companies to find one with the discounts you want at the price you can afford. Even if you drive more than the average 14,263 miles driven per year, you can still get affordable car insurance. Take advantage of our free resources to find cheap car insurance and compare car insurance quotes for free.

What You Need to Know about Annual Mileage and Car Insurance

The average miles driven per year will impact how much you pay for car insurance. Insurance companies will consider how far you drive per year along with your age and gender to determine your rates. 

What is the average miles driven per year? 14,623 — this means if you drive more than 14,000 per year (or 39 miles per day), you are likely to pay more for car insurance.

Statistically, men drive more per year than women and are more likely to be involved in an auto accident. This leads insurance companies to charge higher car insurance rates for men. 

However, driving less than the average mileage per year can lower your insurance rates. For example, driving less than 7,500 annual miles can earn you between 10%-30% off your car insurance rates with certain companies.