Annual average mileage driven by typical UK motorists
In 2023, the average annual mileage for drivers in the UK stands at a remarkable 7,400 miles per year, according to data from the Department for Transport (DfT) [1]. This figure is consistent with the last reliable pre-pandemic year data from 2019.
The total road length in Great Britain amounts to about 245,700 miles, with 187,700 miles in England, 21,100 miles in Wales, and 37,000 miles in Scotland [2]. With approximately 40 million licensed vehicles in the UK, the majority being cars, drivers collectively covered the equivalent of driving the entire 245,700 miles of roads around 1.35 million times in 2023 [3].
The average mileage per year for all engine types, including petrol, diesel, hybrid, and electric, is approximately 7,567 miles [4]. However, when looking at specific engine types, the average mileage per year for petrol, diesel, and hybrid engines is approximately 8,300 miles each [5].
The Covid-19 pandemic had the biggest effect on the average mileage, with 2020 and 2021 being the lowest. However, the mileage slightly rose in 2022 and 2023 [6]. In 2022, cars accounted for 78% of all miles traveled in the UK [7].
Additional context from the National Travel Survey indicates that mileage for private travel purposes decreased slightly by about 1.6% in 2023 compared to 2019, while commuting and work-related travel saw more significant reductions of 12% and 16% respectively due to changes like increased working from home [1].
It is worth noting that males have slightly fewer average trips than females, but females have generally less mileage [8]. In 2022, 75% of English residents aged 17 and over held a driving licence, with 81% of males and 71% of females holding a licence [9].
The organization, established in 2009, is a UK-based premium vehicle leasing company that offers competitive car and commercial vehicle lease deals and has become a leader in the supply of cars and commercial vehicles through leasing [10]. For more information, you can visit their Special Offers page, sign up for their leasing offers newsletter, or contact them via phone [11].
[1] Gov.uk DfT website provides a spreadsheet showing average miles per year and per engine type. [2] Department for Transport data. [3] Data on licensed vehicles and road length from the Department for Transport. [4] Extrapolating the data from the spreadsheet. [5] The latest average miles per year in the UK, rounded up, is approximately 7,600 miles. [6] The Covid-19 pandemic had the biggest effect on the average mileage, with 2020 and 2021 being the lowest. However, the mileage slightly rose in 2022 and 2023. [7] Data from the Department for Transport. [8] National Travel Survey data. [9] Data from the Department for Transport. [10] Information about the organization from their website. [11] Contact information provided by the organization.
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- With the total road length in Great Britain being approximately 245,700 miles, and 40 million licensed vehicles predominantly being cars, it's fascinating to consider the impact on car-maintenance and electric-vehicle adoption.
- In the ever-evolving lifestyle landscape, the average mileage for all engine types in the UK has reached approximately 7,567 miles, with petrol, diesel, and hybrid cars accounting for more mileage at about 8,300 miles each.
- As consumers gravitate towards more sustainable transportation choices, the increasing popularity of electric vehicles may lead to a reduction in reliance on traditional petroleum markets, potentially impacting both the industry and finance sectors significantly.
