Whether you drive every single day or once in a while, it's beneficial to be aware of your driving habits and overall usage. This is generally referred to as your mileage.
Knowing how many kilometres (often shortened to km) you drive each year is highly beneficial. Taking the time to calculate your annual mileage can help you stay on top of your vehicle's maintenance schedule and potentially help you save money on car insurance.
To learn how to determine your average km per year and more, be sure to continue reading; it may end up helping you down the road (no pun intended).
Average kilometres driven by Canadians each year
Have you ever asked yourself, "what is the average mileage for a car per year in Canada?".
Over 11 million cars commute in Canada every year; on average, each of these vehicles accumulate approximately 15,200 km annually.
However, this number varies when you look at individual provinces. Here's a brief list of the average km accrued by drivers in each province (from highest to lowest):
- Newfoundland and Labrador - 18,100 km
- Nova Scotia - 16,600 km
- Ontario - 16,000 km
- Saskatchewan - 15,800 km
- Prince Edward Island - 15,300 km
- New Brunswick - 15,200 km
- Alberta - 15,200 km
- Manitoba - 14,800 km
- Quebec - 14,300 km
- British Columbia - 13,100 km
As you now know, the average annual mileage varies from province to province by a noticeable amount, with a striking difference of almost 5,000 km between British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador.
How many km can a car last before you need to replace it?
Unfortunately, there's no black and white answer to this question because there are numerous variables, as is often the case with vehicles.
Some of the variables that influence the lifespan of your vehicle include the following:
- The make and model of the vehicle
- Your driving habits and overall usage
- If the car has sat for an extended period
- Fuel quality
- Severe weather conditions (drivers that live in snowy areas are more prone to collisions during the winter, thus, influencing the lifespan of the vehicle)
However, we can confirm that the average Canadian vehicle lasts about 11 years. During this time, a car can easily surpass 300,00 km (if it's properly maintained).
How to determine the average km per year on car
Do you want to learn how to determine your average km per year Canada? Well, you can — simply follow the steps mentioned below:
Calculate your weekly commute
The first thing you need to do is calculate your commute. The easiest way to do this is by typing your work address into an online mapping program. These programs can provide you with invaluable information, like the total kilometres of routes you commonly take.
Once you've figured out the number of kilometres it takes for you to drive to work, multiply that by two, then multiply it again by the number of days that you work. This gives you a general idea of your annual commute.
For instance, if your commute is 30 km, and you work four days a week, you would multiply 30 by two, then again by four. This comes out to approximately 240 km per week.
Calculate your weekend driving
Do you like to go on scenic drives on warm Sunday afternoons? Well, you need to factor these leisurely drives (and other weekend adventures) into your annual mileage. Be sure to factor in both short and long trips into your weekend mileage total.
For instance, if you have a cottage that is 100 km away and you visit it about ten times a year, then you need to include an additional 2,000 km into the equation.
Find your total
Once you've calculated your weekday and weekend driving patterns, it's time to calculate the sum. You can do this by adding your weekday and weekend driving totals together, then multiplying the number by 52.
Here's an example — if you commute 240 km to work each week and drive approximately 50 km on weekends, you'd add them together and get 290 km. Then, you multiply 290 by 52, which equals out to approximately 15,080 km a year (not far from the national average).
Why should you calculate your annual mileage?
There are several reasons you should keep an eye on your mileage; however, the two primary reasons people do this are insurance and tax benefits.
Insurance benefits
The amount of time that you spend on the road has a massive influence on your insurance premium. Drivers that spend more time on the road are seen as a greater risk than drivers that go for the occasional ride.
For instance, suppose that Driver A spends 60 minutes commuting to work, while Driver B only spends 15 minutes on the road each day. Because Driver A spends more time on the road, they are more likely to get into an accident. Because of this, Driver A likely has to pay more for car insurance than Driver B.
With this in mind, you can see how the quantity of time you spend on the road plays a role in your insurance premium.
If your driving habits have changed over the past year, we suggest reaching out to your insurance advisor. If you're spending less time on the road than in previous years, you may be eligible for a discount on your premium (sometimes as much as 10%).
If you’re unhappy with your current situation, it may be time to shop around for a new auto insurance policy. We recommend looking for an insurance advisor that can provide you with personalized quotes.
Tax benefits
Do you use your vehicle for work? If so, you can claim a portion of your car-related expenses next tax season.
Drivers that use their vehicle for a large portion of their work can write off an identical percentage of the expenses on their tax return.
For instance, if approximately 75% of your vehicle usage is for work, you can claim up to 75% of auto-related expenses like gas and maintenance. However, if you want to take advantage of this, you need to calculate your mileage and expenses beforehand.
Otherwise, you'll be left covering all of your auto expenses at the end of the fiscal year.
