Under normal circumstances, how many kilometers does a vehicle drive in a year?
3 Answers
Under normal circumstances, a vehicle drives 20,000 to 30,000 kilometers a year. If a vehicle is not driven for a long time, it will have an impact. Generally, if it is not started for a month, some mechanical parts may become sluggish due to lack of lubrication from the engine oil; if it is not started for more than three months, the engine oil may deteriorate due to oxidation, and some parts may rust or corrode. Consumables such as the battery, tires, and paint will also be affected to varying degrees. Driving a vehicle for too many kilometers has the following effects: Battery discharge: If the car is driven short distances daily, the battery is highly likely to discharge. Engine oil failure: Engine oil also has an expiration date. If the mileage is too high without maintenance, the lubricating effect of the expired oil will decline, affecting the engine's lifespan. Increased fuel consumption: When the vehicle is cold-started, the engine operates in a state called open-loop control. This state differs from closed-loop control because closed-loop control is only influenced by the oxygen sensor, while open-loop control means the engine's fuel injection is affected by data from the engine speed, water temperature, air pressure, and multiple sensors.
Having driven for so many years, I feel that an average family probably drives around 10,000 to 20,000 kilometers a year. With a daily commute of 30 kilometers and occasional weekend trips nearby, it roughly adds up to this range. Most private cars in our neighborhood show similar odometer readings, as long-distance driving isn't an everyday thing. For colleagues with workplaces nearby, the mileage might not even reach 10,000 kilometers. However, it depends on the car's age—new cars might see higher mileage in the first two years. For instance, my five-year-old car now clocks around 15,000 kilometers annually, which is considered quite active. Families who frequently go on road trips are a different story—I've seen a neighbor's MPV reach 80,000 kilometers in just three years.
Just finished reading the industry report recently, it's quite common for average private cars to clock 12,000-15,000 km annually. However, ride-hailing drivers told me they can easily hit 5,000 km monthly, requiring tire replacements every six months. Rental company vehicles are even more extreme - it's frequent to see odometers showing 150,000+ km on three-year-old cars. I've observed stark differences between commuters and retired drivers: my colleague's daily 60km highway commute easily surpasses 20,000 km yearly, while my father-in-law's SUV used mainly for grocery shopping only accumulated 30,000 km over four years, with dust gathering on the dashboard. EV users generally drive more, given that charging is cheaper than refueling.
