Data on this website was sourced in July 2019 with the latest available data from July 2019.
Quick Stats
- The average vehicle travelled 13,301 km per year, or 36.4 km per day
- The total kilometres travelled on Australian roads in 2018 was 255,031 million
- Per day, there was 698 million km travelled on Australian roads
Kilometres travelled by type of vehicle
| Vehicle Type | Kilometres Travelled |
|---|---|
| Passenger vehicles | 179,761 million |
| Motorcycles | 2,193 million |
| Light commercial vehicles | 52,307 million |
| Rigid trucks | 10,274 million |
| Articulated trucks | 7,917 million |
| Non-freight carrying trucks | 313 million |
| Buses | 2,266 million |
| Total | 255,031 million |
There was a total of 255,031 million kilometres travelled on Australian roads in 2018 by all vehicle types. The average vehicle in Australia travelled 13,301 km per year, or 36.4 km per day. Passenger vehicles made up 70% of the total kilometres travelled in 2018 with 179.8 million kilometres travelled during the year or 492,495 kilometres travelled each day.
Passenger vehicles made up 75% of all registered vehicles in Australia and the average passenger vehicle travelled 12,607 kilometres a year or 34.5 kilometres a day. The average motorcycle travelled 2,557 kilometres a year, or 7 kilometres a day. The average light commercial vehicle travelled 16,378 kilometres a year, or 44.8 kilometres a day. The average rigid truck travelled 20,753 kilometres a year, or 56.8 kilometres a day. The average articulate truck travelled 79,400 kilometres a year, or 217.5 kilometres a day.
State comparison
New South Wales
| Vehicle Type | Kilometres Travelled |
|---|---|
| Passenger vehicles | 54,007 million |
| Motorcycles | 705 million |
| Light commerical vehicles | 14,142 million |
| Rigid trucks | 3,145 million |
| Articulated trucks | 1,876 million |
| Non-freight carrying trucks | 56 million |
| Buses | 634 million |
| Total | 74,566 million |
The total kilometres travelled in New South Wales made up 29% of the total kilometres travelled in Australia in 2018. The total number of vehicles registered in New South Wales in 2018 was 5,618,386 out of a total 19,173,279 vehicles in Australia, equalling a total of 29.3% of all drivers. This means that the total percentage of kilometres travelled by New South Wales drivers equals the percentage of drivers in the state. The average vehicle in New South Wales travelled 13,272 kilometres a year or 36.4 kilometres a day.
Victoria
| Vehicle Type | Kilometres Travelled |
|---|---|
| Passenger vehicles | 49,455 million |
| Motorcycles | 450 million |
| Light commerical vehicles | 12,828 million |
| Rigid trucks | 2,484 million |
| Articulated trucks | 2,224 million |
| Non-freight carrying trucks | 103 million |
| Buses | 496 million |
| Total | 68,030 million |
The total kilometres travelled in Victoria made up 26.6% of the total kilometres travelled in Australia in 2018. The total number of vehicles registered in Victoria in 2018 was 4,923,032 out of a total 19,173,279 vehicles in Australia, equalling a total of 25.7% of all drivers. This means that Victorian drivers travelled slightly further during the year on average. The average vehicle in Victoria travelled 13,818 kilometres a year or 37.9 kilometres a day.
Queensland
| Vehicle Type | Kilometres Travelled |
|---|---|
| Passenger vehicles | 36,641 million |
| Motorcycles | 560 million |
| Light commerical vehicles | 13,134 million |
| Rigid trucks | 2,622 million |
| Articulated trucks | 1,836 million |
| Non-freight carrying trucks | 90 million |
| Buses | 536 million |
| Total | 55,419 million |
The total kilometres travelled in Queensland made up 21.7% of the total kilometres travelled in Australia in 2018. The total number of vehicles registered in Queensland in 2018 was 4,045,335 out of a total 19,173,279 vehicles in Australia, equalling a total of 21.1% of all drivers. This means that Queensland drivers travelled slightly further during the year on average. The average vehicle in Queensland travelled 13,699 kilometres a year or 37.5 kilometres a day.
Western Australia
| Vehicle Type | Kilometres Travelled |
|---|---|
| Passenger vehicles | 18,219 million |
| Motorcycles | 264 million |
| Light commerical vehicles | 6,380 million |
| Rigid trucks | 1,143 million |
| Articulated trucks | 1,083 million |
| Non-freight carrying trucks | 35 million |
| Buses | 277 million |
| Total | 27,401 million |
The total kilometres travelled in Western Australia made up 11% of the total kilometres travelled in Australia in 2018. The total number of vehicles registered in Western Australia in 2018 was 2,231,564 out of a total 19,173,279 vehicles in Australia, equalling 11.6% of all drivers. This means that Western Australian drivers travelled slightly less during the year on average. The average vehicle in Western Australia travelled 12,278 kilometres a year or 33.6 kilometres a day.
South Australia
| Vehicle Type | Kilometres Travelled |
|---|---|
| Passenger vehicles | 13,071 million |
| Motorcycles | 93 million |
| Light commerical vehicles | 3,318 million |
| Rigid trucks | 514 million |
| Articulated trucks | 663 million |
| Non-freight carrying trucks | 14 million |
| Buses | 143 million |
| Total | 17,817 million |
The total kilometres travelled in South Australia made up 7% of the total kilometres travelled in Australia in 2018. The total number of vehicles registered in South Australia in 2018 was 1,408,960 out of a total 19,173,279 vehicles in Australia, equalling a total of 7.4% of all drivers. This means that South Australian drivers travelled slightly less during the year on average. The average vehicle in South Australia travelled 12,645 kilometres a year or 34.6 kilometres a day.
Tasmania
| Vehicle Type | Kilometres Travelled |
|---|---|
| Passenger vehicles | 4,004 million |
| Motorcycles | 37 million |
| Light commerical vehicles | 1,282 million |
| Rigid trucks | 226 million |
| Articulated trucks | 141 million |
| Non-freight carrying trucks | 8 million |
| Buses | 55 million |
| Total | 5,753 million |
The total kilometres travelled in Tasmania made up 2.3% of the total kilometres travelled in Australia in 2018. The total number of vehicles registered in Tasmania in 2018 was 480,935 out of a total 19,173,564 vehicles in Australia, equalling 2.5% of all drivers. This means that Tasmanian drivers travelled slightly less during the year of average. The average vehicle in Tasmania travelled 11,962 kilometres a year or 32.8 kilometres a day.
Australian Capital Territory
| Vehicle Type | Kilometres Travelled |
|---|---|
| Passenger vehicles | 3,162 million |
| Motorcycles | 65 million |
| Light commerical vehicles | 516 million |
| Rigid trucks | 63 million |
| Articulated trucks | 14 million |
| Non-freight carrying trucks | 3 million |
| Buses | 38 million |
| Total | 3,860 million |
The total kilometres travelled in the Australian Capital Territory made up 1.5% of the total kilometres travelled in Australia in 2018. The total number of vehicles registered in Australian Capital Territory in 2018 was 302,568 out of a total 19,173,564 vehicles in Australia, equalling 1.6% of all drivers. This means drivers in the ACT travelled slightly less during the year on average. The average vehicle in the Australian Capital Territory travelled 12,757 kilometres a year, or 34.9 kilometres a day.
Northern Territory
| Vehicle Type | Kilometres Travelled |
|---|---|
| Passenger vehicles | 1,212 million |
| Motorcycles | 19 million |
| Light commerical vehicles | 706 million |
| Rigid trucks | 77 million |
| Articulated trucks | 81 million |
| Non-freight carrying trucks | 4 million |
| Buses | 86 million |
| Total | 2,185 million |
The total kilometres travelled in the Australian Capital Territory made up 1.5% of the total kilometres travelled in Australia in 2018. The total number of vehicles registered in Australian Capital Territory in 2018 was 302,568 out of a total 19,173,564 vehicles in Australia, equalling 1.6% of all drivers. This means drivers in the ACT travelled slightly less during the year on average. The average vehicle in the Australian Capital Territory travelled 12,757 kilometres a year, or 34.9 kilometres a day.
Historical Comparison
From 2006 through to 2018 there has been increases to the average kilometres travelled per year for every type of vehicle on the roads in Australia. From 2006 there has been an increase of 4.8 million motor vehicles registered on Australian roads. With the increase in vehicles on Australian roads it is understandable that there would be an increase in the total amount of kilometres travelled. Interestingly the average kilometres travelled per vehicle has decreased 5% from 2006 to 2018.
2006
| Vehicle Type | Kilometres Travelled |
|---|---|
| Passenger vehicles | 156,184 million |
| Motorcycles | 1,641 million |
| Light commerical vehicles | 35,210 million |
| Rigid trucks | 8,040 million |
| Articulated trucks | 6,151 million |
| Non-freight carrying trucks | 261 million |
| Buses | 1,917 million |
| Total | 209,405 million |
There were 14.4 million motor vehicles registered in Australia in 2006. The average motor vehicle in 2006 travelled 14,542 kilometres a year or 39.8 kilometres a day.
2010
| Vehicle Type | Kilometres Travelled |
|---|---|
| Passenger vehicles | 163,360 million |
| Motorcycles | 2,394 million |
| Light commerical vehicles | 42,715 million |
| Rigid trucks | 9,011 million |
| Articulated trucks | 6,917 million |
| Non-freight carrying trucks | 210 million |
| Buses | 2,024 million |
| Total | 226,632 million |
There were 16 million motor vehicles registered in Australian in 2010, an increase of 1.6 million vehicles on the road from 2006. The average vehicle in 2010 travelled 14,164 kilometres a year, or 38.8 kilometres a day.
2014
| Vehicle Type | Kilometres Travelled |
|---|---|
| Passenger vehicles | 176,805 million |
| Motorcycles | 2,162 million |
| Light commerical vehicles | 45,540 million |
| Rigid trucks | 9,394 million |
| Articulated trucks | 7,820 million |
| Non-freight carrying trucks | 346 million |
| Buses | 2,304 million |
| Total | 244,369 million |
There were 17.7 million motor vehicles registered in Australia in 2014, an increase of 1.7 million vehicles on the road from 2010. The average vehicle in 2014 travelled 13,806 kilometres a year, or 37.8 kilometres a day.
Business & Private use
| Vehicle Type | Kilometres Travelled |
|---|---|
| Passenger vehicles | 179.8 million |
| Motorcycles | 2.2 million |
| Light commerical vehicles | 52.3 million |
| Rigid trucks | 10.3 million |
| Articulated trucks | 7.9 million |
| Non-freight carrying trucks | 313,000 |
| Buses | 2.3 million |
| Total | 255 million |
Australian drivers travelled the furthest for personal use in 2018, with personal use kilometres travelled making up 44.4% of the total kilometres travelled. This was then followed by kilometres travelled for business use at 34.9% and finally commuting to and from work at 20.7%.
Auto & General Services Pty Ltd does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of the data and accepts no liability whatsoever arising from or connected in any way to the use or reliance upon this data.
