83% of U.S. Adults Drive Frequently; Fewer Enjoy It a Lot

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Nearly all U.S. adults regularly drive a car or other vehicle, with 83% reporting they do so personally at least several times a week. This includes 64% who say they drive every day and 19% who do so most days in a week. Six percent of Americans drive a few times a month, 4% rarely drive and 6% never do. The most frequent drivers are men, adults with household incomes of $90,000 per year or more, college graduates, suburbanites, parents of children under 18, and those between 30 and 49 years of age.

	Every day	Most days	Few times a month/Rarely/Never
	%	%	%
U.S. adults	64	19	16
Men	69	17	14
Women	59	22	18
City residents	61	19	19
Suburban residents	72	18	10
Town/Rural residents	63	21	17
18-29	62	18	20
30-49	76	12	12
50-64	68	20	13
65+	45	32	23
Have children under 18	78	11	11
Don't have children under 18	59	23	17
Less than $36,000/year	46	27	27
$36,000 to <$90,000/year	68	20	12
$90,000 or more per year	82	12	6
College graduate	74	18	9
Not college graduate	60	20	19
GALLUP, April 23-29, 2018

These findings are from an April 23-29 Gallup poll that explored Americans' driving habits and their attitudes toward cars as technological innovations change the auto industry and as alternatives to the traditional paradigm of car ownership are emerging. Among other advances, driverless cars and ride-sharing services could disrupt the auto industry. The poll found that 86% of U.S. adults say they own or lease a car or other vehicle.

Men are more likely than women to say they drive every day, 69% vs. 59%, respectively. Likewise, 78% of parents of children younger than 18 are daily drivers, versus 59% of those without younger children. Suburbanites (72%) are more likely than city dwellers (61%) and those in rural areas (63%) to drive on a daily basis.

Among those least likely to drive every day are adults aged 65 and older (45%) and those with annual incomes less than $36,000 (46%). Older adults may be retired, have fewer activities or medical reasons for driving less often. Adults from households with lower incomes may not own a car, may not have a job or may be cautious about how often they need to fill up their gas tank, making their ability or need to drive less frequent. Still, majorities of both groups drive at least most days in a week, and only about one-quarter of each group drives a few times a month, rarely or never.

One in Three Americans Enjoy Driving a Great Deal

Although most Americans are spending time every day in their cars, they aren't overly enthusiastic about driving, as 34% say they enjoy driving "a great deal." Still, 44% say they enjoy being behind the wheel "a moderate amount," while just 13% say they don't enjoy it much and 8% not at all.

Daily drivers are split over how much they enjoy driving, with 41% saying they enjoy it a great deal and 45% a moderate amount. Meanwhile, those who drive several times a week are less likely to say they enjoy it a great deal (26%) compared with a moderate amount (54%). Among those who drive even less often, 16% enjoy it a great deal and 26% a moderate amount, which could explain why they drive infrequently.

Men -- who are more likely than women to report driving frequently -- are also more likely to find driving highly enjoyable, 41% vs. 27%, respectively. Women younger than 50 are less likely than women 50 and older to say they enjoy driving a great deal.

	A great deal	A moderate amount	Not much/Not at all
	%	%	%
U.S. adults	34	44	22
Men	41	40	18
Women	27	48	24
18-29	37	47	15
30-49	30	46	24
50-64	39	41	21
65+	32	40	26
Men 18-49	42	41	17
Women 18-49	23	52	23
Men 50+	41	38	20
Women 50+	31	42	25
City residents	36	38	24
Suburban residents	33	50	17
Town/Rural residents	32	47	21
Drive daily	41	45	13
Drive several times a week	26	54	20
Drive less often	16	26	53
GALLUP, April 23-29, 2018

Bottom Line

Americans' dependence on cars appears deeply entrenched, with more than eight in 10 U.S. adults reporting that they personally drive at least most days in a week and nearly two-thirds driving every day. While most Americans enjoy driving at least a moderate amount, far fewer say they enjoy it a great deal.

As the auto industry undergoes big changes with the adoption of everything from hybrid cars to electric cars to driverless cars, automakers are well-advised to understand the demand for cars, who gets the most pleasure from driving, and how to cater to these drivers and to those who do not enjoy driving as much. For instance, women, older adults and those in lower-income brackets are potentially prime users of driverless cars.