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Average Miles Per Year UK

Plus a Free Calculator to Work Out Your Own Mileage

The average UK driver covers 7,100 miles a year, but getting your own figure right matters more for your insurance quote. See the full breakdown below, then use our free calculator.

Last updated 16 July 2026 6 min read By Eamonn Turley

UK Average Why It Matters Calculator Used Car Mileage Save Money Get Quotes FAQs

Average Miles Per Year UK: The Real Figures

In 2024, the average car in the UK covered around 7,100 miles, according to the Department for Transport’s National Travel Survey. That’s a notable drop from around 9,100 miles two decades ago, driven mainly by a sharp fall in business travel and changing commuting patterns since the pandemic.

Business mileage has fallen especially sharply, down from around 1,100 miles a year to roughly 400, a drop of nearly two-thirds. Commuting mileage has also fallen, from around 2,700 miles a year pre-pandemic to closer to 2,200-2,300 miles now, as hybrid and remote working has become far more common.

Petrol Cars

Average around 6,200 miles per year, the lowest of any fuel type.

Diesel Cars

Average around 8,300 miles per year, historically the highest-mileage fuel type.

Electric Cars

Average around 8,900 miles per year across the fleet. Newer EVs under three years old cover even more, RAC Foundation analysis found they averaged 10,054 miles in 2024, just 6% less than equivalent diesels at 10,728 miles, nearly matching them.

Why Your Mileage Matters for Car Insurance

Insurers use your declared annual mileage as one of the key factors in pricing your policy. Generally, more time on the road means a statistically higher chance of an incident, so higher mileage tends to push the price up.

It’s not always that simple though. Some data shows very low-mileage drivers, those covering 5,000-6,000 miles a year, can sometimes pay more than drivers doing 11,000-12,000 miles. Insurers occasionally treat very low mileage as a sign of inexperience rather than automatically rewarding it.

Insurers typically use mileage “bands” rather than a straight per-mile calculation, and these bands tend to be tighter at lower mileages, meaning the gap between 3,000 and 5,000 miles can matter more to your price than the gap between 15,000 and 20,000. This varies significantly by insurer, which is exactly why comparing a panel matters.

Annual Mileage Calculator

Use this calculator to build up an estimate from your actual driving patterns, commute, local trips, and longer journeys, rather than guessing a single figure.

Daily Commute

Round-trip distance to work (miles)

Days per week you commute

Weeks per year you commute (e.g. 47 = minus holidays)

Regular Local Trips

Short trips per week (shops, school run, errands)

Average round-trip distance per local trip (miles)

Longer Journeys

Longer trips per year (visiting family, holidays, days out)

Average round-trip distance per longer trip (miles)

Extras

Any other annual miles not covered above

Safety buffer (recommended 1,000-2,000)

Average Mileage on Used Cars by Age

If you’re buying a used car, knowing typical mileage for its age helps you spot whether it’s been driven more or less than expected. These figures are based on DVSA MOT odometer data and the Department for Transport’s average annual mileage of around 7,100 miles, newer cars tend to cover slightly more miles per year than older ones, so the totals aren’t a simple straight-line calculation.

Typical Mileage by Vehicle Age

Vehicle Age	Typical Total Mileage	What to Look For
1 year old	7,000-10,000	Newer cars tend to be driven more, ex-fleet cars may be higher
3 years old	21,000-30,000	First MOT due, mileage is now officially recorded by DVSA
5 years old	35,000-50,000	Sweet spot for used car buyers, good balance of value and condition
7 years old	49,000-70,000	Check full service history, well-maintained cars still have plenty of life
10 years old	70,000-100,000	Mileage matters less than maintenance at this age
15 years old	100,000-140,000	Condition is key, check MOT history for patterns

Ranges are illustrative, based on DVSA MOT odometer data and Department for Transport National Travel Survey figures. Actual mileage varies by fuel type, usage, and whether a car was privately owned or fleet-operated. Always check a used car’s full MOT history for its individual record.

A higher-mileage used car often means you’ll be declaring higher annual mileage to your insurer too, which can affect your premium. Use the calculator above to estimate your likely annual mileage before you buy, and see our no black box insurance guide if you’re weighing up telematics cover for a lower-mileage used car.

Frequently Asked Questions

According to the Department for Transport, the average car mileage in the UK is around 7,100 miles a year as of 2024. This has fallen steadily from around 9,100 miles two decades ago, largely due to reduced business travel and more remote working.

Yes, higher mileage generally means a higher premium, since more time on the road statistically increases the chance of an incident. Interestingly, very low mileage can sometimes push costs up too, as insurers may read it as a sign of inexperience rather than automatically rewarding it.

Contact your insurer to update your policy as soon as you realise. There may be a small additional charge, but failing to update it could invalidate your cover entirely. It’s always safer to slightly overestimate than to underestimate.

On average, yes. Battery electric cars covered around 8,900 miles a year in 2024, compared to 6,200 for petrol cars, according to RAC Foundation analysis. Newer EVs under three years old averaged over 10,000 miles, suggesting they’re increasingly used as primary cars rather than just for short trips.

You can check a car’s recorded mileage history through the DVSA’s free MOT history service on GOV.UK. Every MOT records the odometer reading, so you can see the mileage at each test and spot any unusual jumps that might suggest a problem.

Always round up. Underestimating your mileage risks your cover being invalidated or a claim refused if the true figure comes to light. Adding a buffer of 1,000-2,000 miles to your calculated figure, as our calculator does by default, helps account for unexpected journeys.

As a rough guide, multiply the car’s age by around 7,000-7,500 miles. A five-year-old car with roughly 35,000-37,500 miles would be considered typical. Significantly higher or lower figures are worth investigating further, along with the car’s full MOT history.

Not necessarily. Very low mileage on an older car can mean long periods of inactivity, which brings its own problems, perished rubber components, seized parts, or a battery degraded from underuse. Checking the car’s full MOT history for gaps between tests is often more useful than the mileage figure alone.

Sources

GOV.UK – Vehicle Insurance – the legal minimum cover required to drive on UK roads.
Department for Transport – National Travel Survey 2024
Department for Transport – Vehicle Mileage and Occupancy Statistics
RAC Foundation – Zero-Emission Mileage Analysis
FCA – Information for Consumers – how to check a firm is authorised and what your rights are when buying insurance.

Last Updated: 17 July 2026

Reviewed by: Eamonn Turley, Insurance Specialist

FCA FCA Regulated · Car Insurance Experts – Compare & Save

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