Motor Vehicles per Capita in the U.S.: What’s the Current Rate?

Explore the current rate of motor vehicles per capita in the U.S. Learn about the number of vehicles per person, key statistics, and what this data reveals about transportation trends and infrastructure. Understand how vehicle ownership patterns impact mobility and urban planning in the United States.

Despite an urbanization rate exceeding 80 percent, the U.S. remains heavily reliant on passenger vehicles due to the inconsistent quality of public transit and long-distance transportation options. However, the notion that most Americans own more than one car is generally inaccurate.

According to Statista, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S. Department of Transportation, only nine states have a motorization rate—defined as the number of motor vehicles per capita—of 1.0 or higher. The data doesn’t separate private from commercial vehicles, so the presence of industries with large vehicle fleets, such as agriculture, may affect these figures. Additionally, not all motor vehicles are cars, which should be noted. Nonetheless, Montana stands out with an average of two motor vehicles per capita.

On the lower end are smaller states like Delaware, the District of Columbia, and New Jersey, where car ownership is less essential due to their compact size. New York, with a motorization rate of 0.46, is an exception despite its relatively small land area, ranking 30th among states and the District of Columbia. This is due to its high urbanization rate and efficient public transit system in New York City. Notably, about 43 percent of New York's population lives in the state capital, according to the latest 2020 U.S. Census data.

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Source: Statista‍