Transportation Spending Statistics for U.S. Households
Published September 20, 2026 · StatsGalore
Average annual transportation expenditure per consumer unit [1]
Consumer units spent an average of $13,318 on transportation in 2024, according to the Consumer Expenditure Surveys. Transportation represented 17.0% of total expenditure. Vehicle purchases are part of the measure, so the average combines units making a major purchase with those making none. [1]
The numbers
| Component | Average annual expenditure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle purchases, net outlay | $5,337 | [1] |
| Gasoline and other fuels | $2,411 | [1] |
| Other vehicle expenses | $4,206 | [1] |
| Public and other transportation | $1,131 | [1] |
| Total transportation | $13,318 | [1] |
A consumer unit is the survey’s spending unit
The consumer unit groups people according to the survey’s financial-sharing rules. It is often similar to a household but is not a count of individual drivers. Dividing its spending by an assumed number of drivers creates a new estimate with extra assumptions.
The table includes the full surveyed population of consumer units, not only vehicle owners or purchasers.
[1]Major purchases affect the average
A vehicle purchase can be a large and occasional expense. Averaging across all units spreads those purchases across the population. The result is useful for national expenditure analysis but should not be mistaken for the payment made every year by a typical car owner.
Net purchase outlays also need to be distinguished from sticker prices or monthly financing payments. Use the survey definition when comparing these amounts with another source.
[1]Components and rounding
The rows are selected published transportation components. They do not necessarily reproduce the total when added because the source grouping includes additional detail and rounded figures. The total should be taken from the published total row.
Insurance is included within other vehicle expenses. Adding a separate insurance figure to that component would double-count it.
[1]Spending changes do not isolate prices
Expenditure can change when prices change, when quantities change, or when people choose different products and services. This table alone cannot separate those effects.
Use the stated data year and treat the national average as a descriptive reference, rather than a personalized transport budget.
[1]Sources & notes
BLS Consumer Expenditures, 2024. Nominal U.S. dollars per consumer unit. Selected components do not necessarily exhaust the total; insurance is nested within other vehicle expenses.
Source review: 2026-09-15. Article publication and underlying data dates are separate. How we use statistics · Suggest a correction