How to calculate annual mileage

When you buy a new policy or renew your car insurance, your insurer will ask you about your annual mileage.

They’ll expect a prediction rather than a solid statistic. But you still need to answer as accurately as possible, because exceeding your yearly mileage could increase your premiums or invalidate your insurance.^[1]

Easy as hack

You can find how many miles you drive in a year by checking your vehicle’s mileage history in the V5C logbook or on the government’s check a vehicle’s MOT history webpage.

What does annual mileage mean?

Your annual mileage means how many miles you are likely to drive in a year. Insurers will ask you for the figure when you get or renew your insurance policy.

Why do I need to know my annual mileage?

 Knowing how to estimate annual mileage can be helpful in several ways.

• When you’re taking out a car insurance policy, your mileage helps the insurer calculate the cost of your premium^[2], so it’s best to be as accurate as you can.
• It’s also worth considering the mileage when buying a used car. Even those up to 10 years old and with up to 150,000 miles on the clock can be reliable and last a long time.

How to estimate annual Mileage

The estimated average annual mileage per car in England is about 7,100 miles, according to the RAC Foundation. That’s roughly 163 miles a week. However, the distance you drive could be very different from this average, depending on your lifestyle and circumstances.

As a guide, you could use the mileage recorded on your car between MOTs or in its service records. It’s worth thinking about any recent or unexpected lifestyle changes, as these could affect the figure.

If your circumstances have changed significantly and you don’t expect to drive as much as in previous years, you could calculate how many miles you currently drive each day or week, then multiply that figure by the number of days or weeks in the year.

Remember to factor in the mileage for your commute to work, your weekly shop, social trips and errands, and any extra road trips you might expect to take, including holidays.

Annual mileage estimator

Our simple table does the heavy lifting for you by calculating the UK average mileage. Find the number of miles you drive on a typical day, and it shows how that adds up per week or per year. 

If you’d like the calculation, we multiplied miles per day by seven to get a weekly figure, then multiplied that by 52 to calculate the full year.

The highlighted row (20 miles/day) is close to the UK average of around 7,100 miles per car per year, according to the Department for Transport’s National Travel Survey 2024 (table NTS0901). ^[3]

Tips for estimating your mileage:

• Instead of tracking mileage over a week, you could track it over a month and multiply by 12. It will reflect any variations in your driving more reliably than a week’s tracking.
• Add a contingency for trips such as visiting long-distance relatives or taking a holiday in the UK.
• We recommend adding around 1,000 miles to allow for unplanned journeys.

What to do with your mileage estimate

Your estimated annual mileage will come in handy when your insurance provider sets your premium. Insurers will consider annual mileage alongside other risk factors, such as your age, location, vehicle make and model, and occupation.

How do I check my vehicle’s mileage history?

You can find your vehicle’s mileage history, along with other vital information, in the V5C logbook.

Another way to find a car’s annual mileage is to use the government’s website to check a vehicle’s MOT history.

Why your annual mileage is important for insurance

When insurers work out your car insurance quote, they use your annual mileage as one of the key factors. The more miles you do, the higher your risk of an accident, so the premium will reflect this.

That doesn’t mean you should dramatically alter your driving habits to get cheaper car insurance. It’s worth calculating your annual mileage rather than guessing, as your insurer could invalidate your policy if they find you underestimated it. They can find out easily using the government’s MOT history check.

If it looks like you’ll clock up more miles than you predicted, you should contact your insurer to let them know. This could happen, for example, if you change jobs or move home and end up spending more time on the road.

Technology may help, too. If you opt for a telematics insurance policy^[4], you’ll generally have a small black box fitted to your car to monitor how you drive. It will also accurately record the number of miles you drive, enabling your insurer to adjust premiums accordingly, which could be a good fit if you end up driving much less than expected. Bear in mind that not all insurers offer telematics insurance, and prices will vary. It’s always a good idea to shop around and get to know your options before you decide on an insurance policy. 

What trips should I consider when working out my annual mileage?

Thinking about all the trips you take in your car will help you calculate its annual mileage. The most common purposes of travel are:

• Leisure trips
• Day trips
• Holidays
• Shopping
• Commuting
• College trips
• School runs
• Driving for business
• Visiting friends or family
• Personal business, such as visiting the hairdresser or doctor
• Trips for pleasure, such as social or entertainment

How to reduce your annual mileage

Limiting your annual mileage to domestic, social and pleasure, rather than business, can keep costs down, according to the Association of British Insurers^[5].

But you can also reduce your mileage by switching to other forms of transport. It’s good for the environment, too!

• Use public transport – as well as helping to lower premiums by using the car less, it may be quicker to take a bus, train or tram^[6].
• Walk – travelling on foot not only saves mileage but also means more exercise and improved air quality. With one in five cars on UK roads carrying children to school^[7], swapping the school run for a school walk has other benefits, like improving your child’s attention in class.
• Cycle – replacing short car trips with a bike ride can reduce your vehicle’s annual mileage and the associated costs, such as parking, fuel, maintenance^[8] and insurance premiums.
• Share lifts – you can reduce the total miles that you drive overall and reduce your transport costs by sharing a lift.
• Work from home – according to the Department for Transport (DfT), the average annual commuting mileage per car fell from 2,700 miles in 2019 to 2,200 miles in 2024,^{Error! Bookmark not defined.} suggesting that hybrid working (some days spent in the office, others at home) can reduce the number of miles you drive.
• Stay local – shopping is a common reason for driving (167 trips per person were made in 2024, according to DfT data) ^[9]. Switching even some of those trips to local stores you can walk or cycle to would make a meaningful dent.

 Find out about Ageas car insurance.

FAQs

Can I get a discount for low mileage?

You might be able to get a discount for low mileage, as some insurers offer cheaper rates. It’s worth bringing up the subject with your insurance provider.

If you drive less than a specific number of miles each day, another option is to find insurers who offer restricted mileage car insurance.

What is a good mileage for a used car?

Good mileage for a used car is one that’s done 7,500 miles per year, according to CarWow.^[10] So, if it’s 10 years old, it will have done about 75,000 miles.
The estimated average annual mileage per car in England dropped, from around 9,200 miles in 2002 to 7,100 miles in 2024, according to the Department for Transport.

How many miles can a car do before it dies?

The traditional view is that cars with over 100,000 miles should be avoided, however this is more of a psychological barrier than a real one, especially if the car was well looked after^[11]. Our research into the most reliable used cars with high mileage reviewed cars between 100,000 and 150,000 miles on the clock because modern cars last a lot longer.

What happens if I go over my estimated mileage?

If you go over your estimated mileage, you should contact your insurer to update your policy. Failing to update your mileage could invalidate your cover.

Should I round up my mileage estimate for insurance?

You should always round up when providing your mileage to your insurance provider.

Do electric cars cover more miles than petrol cars?

On average, electric cars would usually cover more miles. According to DfT figures, battery electric cars covered more miles in 2024 (8,900 miles) than petrol cars (6,200 miles) ^[3]

Do insurers check your annual mileage?

Yes, an insurer can check your annual mileage by accessing your MOT certificates and services. Find out more on checking a car’s history.