Household spending · Consumer Expenditure Survey · BLS CE 2024

Other vehicle expenses Spending

How much American households spend on other vehicle expenses - broken down by income, age, region, household size and tenure, from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Annual average (2024)
$4,206
Share of spending
5.4%
Change vs 2023
+9.4%
Change vs 2020
+21.2%
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Spending Insight: Other vehicle expenses

American households spent an average of $4,206 on other vehicle expenses in 2024, representing 5.4% of total consumer expenditures. This marks a notable 9.4% increase from 2023 ($3,845), outpacing the roughly 3% general inflation in 2024 and suggesting growing consumer prioritization of this category.

Since 2020, other vehicle expenses spending has risen by 21.2% (from $3,471 to $4,206), broadly in line with the roughly 21% cumulative inflation over 2020–2024, so the real-terms change was modest. The category breaks into 4 subcategories, each with its own spending dynamic, drill into any row below to see the finer-grained picture.

Income is strongly associated with other vehicle expenses spending: the top income quintile spends $6,916/year versus $1,653 for the lowest quintile, a 4.2x gap. Regionally, the West spends the most ($4,776/year) while the Midwest spends the least ($3,864/year). Use the cross-cuts below, by income, region, age, household size, and housing tenure, to see which demographic factors drive this category hardest for your situation.

Spending Trend (2020–2024)

Other vehicle expenses spending per household, 2020–2024

National average annual spending

Source: BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey As of 2024-12-31

$3,400$3,600$3,800$4,000$4,200$4,400 20202021202220232024 $4,206
Year Annual Amount
2024 $4,206
2023 $3,845
2022 $3,834
2021 $3,534
2020 $3,471

How we calculate this: % of Total is this category's published spend divided by that year's total household spend. YoY Change is the percentage difference between a year's amount and the prior year's amount. Both are computed from the raw BLS figures, not re-estimated.

Subcategories

Vehicle insurance · $1,993 (47%) Maintenance and repairs · $984 (23%) Vehicle rental, leases, licenses, and other charges · $811 (19%) Vehicle finance charges · $418 (10%)

How the $4,206 other vehicle expenses total divides across subcategories (BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey 2024).

Subcategory Annual Amount (2024)
Vehicle finance charges $418
Maintenance and repairs $984
Vehicle rental, leases, licenses, and other charges $811
Vehicle insurance $1,993

By Income Level (2024)

How other vehicle expenses spending varies across income quintiles

Income Group Annual Amount
Lowest 20% $1,653
Second 20% $3,019
Middle 20% $4,018
Fourth 20% $5,407
Highest 20% $6,916

See full income breakdown →

By Region (2024)

Geographic variation in other vehicle expenses spending

See full regional breakdown →

By Age Group (2024)

How other vehicle expenses spending changes across the lifecycle

Age Group Annual Amount
25–34 $3,977
35–44 $4,704
45–54 $5,597
55–64 $4,710
65–74 $3,572
75 and older $2,663
Under 25 $2,461

See full age breakdown →

By Household Size (2024)

Size Annual
1 Person $2,383
2 People $4,989
3 People $4,282
4 People $4,903
5 or More $6,136

By Housing Tenure (2024)

Tenure Annual
Homeowner (with mortgage) $4,808
Homeowner (no mortgage) $5,620
Renter $3,736

What to do with this data

The average U.S. household spends $4,206 a year on other vehicle expenses - here's how to put that in context.

  • Compare your own spending against the national income quintiles. Budget calculator
  • See how other vehicle expenses spending shifts across income levels, ages, and regions. By income
  • Track this category in your private watchlist to revisit as the data updates. Save categories

Figures are national averages from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey; your own household may differ from these means.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does the average household spend on other vehicle expenses?
The average American household spent $4,206 on other vehicle expenses in 2024, according to the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. This represents 5.4% of total household spending.
Is other vehicle expenses spending increasing?
Other vehicle expenses spending increased by 9.4% from 2023 to 2024 ($3,845 to $4,206). Over 5 years (2020–2024), it changed by +21.2%.
How does income affect other vehicle expenses spending?
The lowest income quintile spends $1,653/year on other vehicle expenses, while the highest quintile spends $6,916/year, a 4.2x difference. Higher-income households spend more in absolute terms but may allocate a smaller share of their budget.
Which region spends the most on other vehicle expenses?
The West region spends the most at $4,776/year, while the Midwest region spends the least at $3,864/year on other vehicle expenses.
Which age group spends the most on other vehicle expenses?
Households headed by someone in the 45–54 age group spend the most on other vehicle expenses at $5,597/year.
Does household size affect other vehicle expenses spending?
Yes. 1 Person households spend $2,383/year on other vehicle expenses, while 5 or More households spend $6,136/year. Larger households generally spend more in absolute terms on most categories.
Spending Guides (show related guides)

Related Spending Categories

Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.

Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey (BLS CEX). BLS CEX homepage. Data represents average annual expenditures per consumer unit. 2024 data released 2025. See our methodology for processing details.

Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.

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