Average kilometres travelled
per day/per year in Australia 2020

Disclaimer: Data on this website is the latest available from the named sources in this article and was obtained in April 2020. 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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%.