Average UK Annual Mileage 2026: DfT Road Traffic Statistics Explained

★ KEY FACTS - AVERAGE UK ANNUAL MILEAGE 2026

The average UK car covered approximately 7,100 miles per year in 2024 - the most recent full-year figure from DfT road traffic statistics
Average annual mileage per car has been on a long-term declining trend from a peak of around 9,200 miles in the early 2000s (DfT National Travel Survey)
Men drive significantly more miles on average than women annually; the DfT National Travel Survey documents this consistently across all measured years
Mileage is a direct rating factor for many UK motor insurers - accurately declaring annual mileage is a material detail in every insurance application
The UK average of 7,100 miles equates to approximately 136 miles per week or 19 miles per day

The average car in the UK covered approximately 7,100 miles in 2024, according to the Department for Transport's road traffic statistical series - the definitive official source for UK vehicle mileage data. The DfT compiles mileage estimates using data from the National Travel Survey (a continuous household survey), traffic counts, and vehicle fleet data from the DVLA. The 7,100 miles figure represents a significant decline from the peak of around 9,200 miles recorded in the early 2000s, and reflects long-term structural changes in travel behaviour including the growth of remote working, urban densification, and improved public transport usage.

For drivers, annual mileage is one of the most controllable premium rating factors. Insurers use declared annual mileage as a proxy for exposure - the more miles driven, the higher the statistical probability of being involved in a collision. Accurately declaring a mileage that reflects actual driving patterns (rather than accepting a default estimate) is therefore a legitimate and effective way to ensure premiums are not unnecessarily inflated. This article explains the DfT data in full and its implications for insurance pricing. For full market context, see the car insurance hub.

DfT mileage data - the headline figures

Metric	Figure	Source
Average annual car mileage (2024)	~7,100 miles	DfT road traffic statistics
Peak average mileage (early 2000s)	~9,200 miles	DfT National Travel Survey
Long-term trend	Declining since ~2002	DfT NTS series
Weekly equivalent (7,100 miles)	~136 miles per week	Calculated from DfT annual figure
Daily equivalent (7,100 miles)	~19 miles per day	Calculated from DfT annual figure

Long-term mileage trend (2002-2024)

The DfT's National Travel Survey has tracked personal travel behaviour in Great Britain continuously since 1988. The vehicle mileage series within this dataset shows a clear structural peak in the early 2000s followed by a sustained decline. The DfT attributes this trend to multiple factors including: rising fuel costs in the mid-2000s, growth in remote and flexible working (accelerated markedly by COVID-19 in 2020-2021), urban population growth increasing the share of shorter-trip urban driving, and modal shift to cycling, walking and public transport.

Period	Average annual car mileage (approx.)	Trend context
Early 2000s (peak)	~9,200 miles	Peak of private car use per vehicle
2010	Declining from peak	Fuel cost pressures, economic slowdown
2019 (pre-COVID)	Around 7,600 miles	Gradual structural decline
2020 (COVID)	Sharp dip (lockdown restrictions)	Mandatory travel restrictions
2024	~7,100 miles	Partial recovery but below pre-2020 level

Mileage breakdown by driver type

The DfT National Travel Survey breaks down average mileage by a range of demographic and geographic characteristics. The consistent findings across the NTS series show:

Category	Mileage profile vs. national average	Source
Male drivers	Consistently above national average	DfT NTS
Female drivers	Consistently below national average	DfT NTS
Rural households	Above national average (car dependency)	DfT NTS
Urban / London households	Below national average	DfT NTS
Company car drivers	Significantly above national average	DfT NTS / HMRC AMAP data

What this means for UK drivers - insurance implications

Annual mileage is used by UK motor insurers as a direct rating factor. The higher the declared mileage, the higher the statistical exposure period - more time on the road means more opportunity for a collision. Insurers typically use mileage bands (such as 0-5,000, 5,001-8,000, 8,001-12,000 and so on) rather than pricing to the exact mile. The DfT average of 7,100 miles falls in the 5,001-8,000 band used by many mainstream insurers.

Drivers who accurately declare a mileage below the 7,100 average - for example, those who work from home most of the week and use their car primarily for local errands and occasional longer journeys - may benefit from being in a lower mileage band. However, understating mileage to obtain a lower premium is a material misrepresentation that can invalidate a policy at the point of claim under the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012. Always declare the mileage you actually expect to drive.

Telematics (black box) policies calculate actual mileage driven from GPS data, removing the need for an annual estimate. For high-mileage drivers, some specialist policies price per-mile rather than per-year. For premium benchmarking, see our average car insurance cost guide. For the cheapest vehicle options, see cheapest cars to insure UK 2026. For the full market overview, visit the car insurance hub.

Methodology - how we sourced this data

DfT Road Traffic Statistics - gov.uk/government/statistics/road-traffic-statistics - annual publication; 2024 edition used for headline mileage figure
DfT National Travel Survey (NTS) - gov.uk/government/statistics/national-travel-survey-2024 - household travel behaviour survey; breakdown by gender and geography
Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 - legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2012/6 - material misrepresentation framework
FCA Consumer Duty (PS22/9) - fca.org.uk/publication/policy/ps22-9.pdf - fair treatment obligations relevant to mileage-based pricing
DfT Vehicle Licensing Statistics - gov.uk/government/statistics/vehicle-licensing-statistics - fleet size context

We refresh this article when the DfT publishes its next annual road traffic statistics bulletin.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the average annual mileage in the UK?

The average car in the UK covered approximately 7,100 miles in 2024, according to DfT road traffic statistics. This is the official government measure, compiled from the National Travel Survey and traffic count data. The average has fallen from a peak of around 9,200 miles in the early 2000s and reflects long-term changes in travel behaviour including the growth of home working and reduced car dependency in urban areas.

Does annual mileage affect my car insurance premium?

Yes. Annual mileage is a standard rating factor for most UK motor insurers. It is used as a proxy for exposure - more miles driven means more time on the road and a higher statistical probability of a claim. Insurers typically use mileage bands rather than exact figures. Accurately declaring a lower mileage (if genuinely accurate) can move a driver into a lower band and reduce the premium. Understating mileage is a material misrepresentation under the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 and can invalidate cover.

Do rural drivers cover more miles than urban drivers?

Yes. DfT National Travel Survey data consistently shows that drivers in rural areas cover more miles per year than urban drivers, reflecting greater car dependency in areas with limited public transport. Drivers in Greater London cover the lowest average annual mileage of any UK region, consistent with the city's extensive public transport network. Despite lower mileage, London drivers often face higher premiums due to accident frequency and theft risk factors that outweigh the mileage discount.

What happens if I drive more miles than I declared?

If you significantly exceed your declared annual mileage, your insurer may treat this as a material misrepresentation under the Consumer Insurance (Disclosure and Representations) Act 2012 if a claim arises. In practice, many insurers will reduce a claim settlement proportionally rather than void the policy entirely - but the specific outcome depends on the insurer's policy terms. If your mileage is increasing significantly, notify your insurer mid-term and have the policy endorsed. Some insurers charge a modest additional premium; others wait until renewal.

📊 DATA ACCURACY

All figures cited from primary sources listed above. Data refreshes when source publisher releases updated statistics. If you spot outdated data or a missing source citation, email support@kaeltripton.com and we will rectify within 72 hours.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational and educational purposes. Kaeltripton is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and does not provide financial advice. Always verify rates and policy details with the insurer before purchasing. Last reviewed May 2026 by Chandraketu Tripathi. Sources: ABI, FCA, FOS, gov.uk, DfT, DVLA, ONS as cited above.