Driving remains a cornerstone of American life, but a Pew Research Center survey reveals that 10% of U.S. adults seldom or never drive, including 6% who do not drive at all. Urban living, lower incomes, and younger age groups are key factors contributing to this trend.
Urban residents are significantly more likely to forego driving, with 18% saying they rarely or never get behind the wheel. This figure is double the rate in suburban (7%) and rural (8%) areas. Geographic disparities extend beyond community type: 17% of Northeast residents report limited driving, compared to just 7% in the Midwest.
Lower-income households are the most likely to have nondrivers, with 19% reporting they seldom or never drive, compared to just 6% of middle-income and 3% of upper-income households. Similarly, 21% of Black adults say they rarely or never drive, a higher rate than Asian (13%), Hispanic (12%), and White adults (7%).
Younger adults under 30 are also more likely to forgo driving (15%) compared to those aged 30-49 (9%) and 50-64 (7%). However, nondriving rises slightly for seniors aged 65 and older, with 11% reporting they seldom or never drive.
Despite the rise in nondrivers, driving dominates commuting habits. According to the Census Bureau’s 2023 American Community Survey, 78% of workers drive to work, with 88% of those driving alone. Public transit remains a distant second, used by just 4% of commuters, while 14% worked from home.
New York and D.C. stand out for low driving rates, where only 55% and 33% of workers, respectively, commute by car. In New York City, a mere 25% of workers drive, while nearly half use public transit. These figures contrast sharply with rural and suburban areas, where driving is nearly universal.
Though many Americans don’t drive regularly, vehicle access is widespread. Ninety-two percent of households have at least one vehicle, with 36% owning two and 22% having three or more. Only 8% of households are car-free, with the highest concentrations in urbanized states like D.C. (36%) and New York (30%).
By contrast, rural states like Idaho, Utah, and Montana have some of the nation’s highest rates of multi-vehicle households, with a third of families owning at least three cars.
The prevalence of nondrivers highlights growing disparities in access to transportation. Urbanization, income inequality, and infrastructure priorities all shape how Americans navigate their communities. These insights underscore the need for robust public transit systems and policies to address mobility challenges in underserved areas.
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