Vehicle ownership is a long-running cost, not a one-time purchase. The figures below give writers, shoppers, and garage owners a concise view of the scale of U.S. driving and the cost assumptions behind a new vehicle. Every number links to its published source.
The newest federal travel figures on this page cover 2024. AAA's vehicle-cost study covers 2026. These dates are shown alongside each statistic so the figures can be used with the right context.
The scale of driving
The U.S. vehicle fleet in 2024
297.5 million
motor vehicles were registered in the United States in 2024.
This total includes passenger vehicles, motorcycles, buses, and trucks.
Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics 2024, Table VM-12024 data, updated February 20263.294 trillion
vehicle-miles were traveled on U.S. roads in 2024.
That is the total distance traveled by all motor vehicles, not the number of miles per driver.
Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics 2024, Table VM-12024 data, updated February 2026271.1 million
registered vehicles were light-duty vehicles in 2024.
The federal definition includes passenger cars, light trucks, vans, and sport utility vehicles.
Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics 2024, Table VM-12024 data, updated February 202611,071 miles
was the average distance traveled per registered motor vehicle in 2024.
The number spans the full registered fleet, including commercial vehicles and motorcycles.
Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics 2024, Table VM-12024 data, updated February 202619.2 mpg
was the average fuel efficiency across all U.S. motor-vehicle travel in 2024.
This fleet-wide figure includes light-duty vehicles, buses, and freight trucks.
Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics 2024, Table VM-12024 data, updated February 2026Ownership costs
What a new vehicle cost to own in 2026
$12,863
was AAA's estimated annual cost to own and operate a new vehicle in 2026.
AAA's estimate covers depreciation, finance charges, fuel, insurance, taxes and fees, and maintenance, repairs, and tires. AAA notes that a methodology update means this result is not directly comparable with 2025.
AAA, Your Driving CostsSeptember 15, 2026$1,071.92
was AAA's estimated monthly cost to own and operate a new vehicle in 2026.
This is the monthly equivalent of AAA's annual ownership and operating estimate for a new vehicle.
AAA, Your Driving CostsSeptember 15, 2026$4.152
per gallon was the regular-grade gasoline price used in AAA's 2026 study.
AAA reported that this price was 31.8% higher than the gasoline price in its 2025 study. Individual drivers can pay materially more or less by location and time of year.
AAA, Your Driving CostsSeptember 15, 2026$4,422
per year was AAA's weighted-average depreciation cost in its 2026 study.
AAA identifies depreciation as the largest ownership-cost component in the study. A vehicle's purchase price and resale value can shift this cost sharply.
AAA, Your Driving CostsSeptember 15, 2026Methodology and sources
How to use these figures
Federal Highway Administration figures describe national travel, registrations, and fuel use. They are not a prescription for an individual driver or vehicle. AAA's cost figures are standardized estimates for selected new vehicles driven 15,000 miles a year over five years, so a specific vehicle, driving pattern, and location can produce a different result.
- Federal Highway Administration, Highway Statistics 2024, Table VM-1Updated February 2026.
- AAA, Your Driving CostsPublished September 15, 2026.
Cite this page
DualForce tools. “U.S. Vehicle Ownership and Driving Statistics.” Updated October 9, 2026. https://dualforcetools.com/vehicle-ownership-driving-statistics
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