There are 290.8 million cars in the U.S. as of September 2022. This number includes all vehicles, including cars, SUVs, vans, and other medium- and heavy-duty vehicles that were registered. Between 2021 and 2022, the number of cars in the U.S. rose by 0.45%.
Over the 10-year span between 2012-2021, 40.8 million more vehicles were registered in the U.S., a 16.4% increase overall.
| Year | Number of Cars |
|---|---|
| 2022 | 290.8M |
| 2021 | 289.5M |
| 2020 | 286.9M |
| 2019 | 284.5M |
| 2018 | 279.1M |
| 2017 | 270.4M |
| 2016 | 264M |
| 2015 | 257.9M |
| 2014 | 252.6M |
| 2013 | 248.9M |
| 2012 | 248.7M |
How Many Households in the U.S. Own a Car?
Approximately 109.41 million households in the U.S. own a car. 33.5% of American households own one car, 33.1% own two cars, and 14.9% own three cars. With only 8.9% of U.S. households have no cars, it’s much more common for a household to own multiple vehicles as opposed to none at all.
How Many New Cars Are Sold Each Year in the U.S.?
About 13.9 million new cars were sold in the US in 2022. The pandemic had a significant impact on the sale of new light vehicles in the U.S., and despite a slight comeback in 2021, the industry is still struggling.
With a 10.3% drop in car sales from 2021-2022, the industry still has a long way to go before it makes a steady recovery.
Other U.S. Car Statistics FAQ
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How much does the average American drive a day?
The average American drives 39 miles a day. The U.S. Federal Highway Administration found that the average American drove 14,263 miles in 2019 which, divided by 365 days in a year, leaves us with 39 miles each day.
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How many licensed drivers are in the U.S.?
There are 238.6 million licensed drivers in the U.S. From 2012-2021, the number of licensed drivers in the U.S. increased by an average annual rate of 1.1%.
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How many cars per capita are there in the U.S.?
There are 0.88 cars per capita in the U.S. Note that this is based on the total population, not just adults or licensed drivers. There are 1.23 cars per licensed driver in the U.S.
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How many cars are built in the U.S. each year?
About 8.8 million cars are built in the U.S. each year. The number of vehicles produced in the U.S. over 2020 dropped by 23.3% compared to 2019, but with demand returning in full-force, production should soon return to normal.
| Year | Vehicles Produced |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 8,822,399 |
| 2019 | 10,880,019 |
| 2018 | 11,314,705 |
| 2017 | 11,189,985 |
| 2016 | 12,198,137 |
References
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The United States Census Bureau. “Families and Households.” Accessed on February 27, 2022.
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Federal highway Administration. “Highway Statistics Series.” Accessed on February 27, 2022.
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Zippia. “Automotive Industry Statistics.” Accessed on February 27, 2022.
Author
Matthew Zane is the lead editor of Zippia's How To Get A Job Guides. He is a teacher, writer, and world-traveler that wants to help people at every stage of the career life cycle. He completed his masters in American Literature from Trinity College Dublin and BA in English from the University of Connecticut.
