Households with multiple vehicles travel more with primary vehicle

U.S. households with more vehicles travel more and put more miles on their primary vehicle compared to households with less vehicles, according to the Federal Highway Administration’s National Household Travel Survey. Households with one vehicle drove about 11,100 miles annually, and households with more than five vehicles traveled about 41,800 miles. Each additional vehicle within a household has less average use, and about two-thirds of households have one or two vehicles.

A household with two vehicles travels about 14,600 miles annually with the most-used vehicle, and a household with five or more vehicles travels about 18,600 miles annually with the most-used vehicle. The average use per vehicle within a household is greatest in a households with two vehicles, which are driven about 11,000 miles annually. The average use per vehicle declines in households with more vehicles. Per vehicle use for a household with six vehicles is about 6,700 miles annually.

The amount of gasoline consumed by household vehicles varies based on driving behavior, which is measured in vehicle miles traveled, and vehicle fuel economy, or miles per gallon, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Gasoline price changes often result in short-term fluctuations in the amount spent on gasoline, and changes in vehicle miles traveled and fuel economy typically lead to longer-term trends.

Between 2009 and 2017, vehicle miles traveled for household vehicles declined 6.2% to 2.11 trillion miles, according to the NHTS. Over the period, only households with one vehicle had an increase in the amount of vehicle miles traveled.

Households without a vehicle use buses, subways and rail about eight times more than households with one or more vehicles. Also, the households without a vehicle use more taxis and non-motorized modes of travel such as walking or biking.