Story Highlights 83% of U.S. adults drive a car at least several times a week

34% enjoy driving "a great deal"; 44% "a moderate amount"

Men drive more regularly than women and enjoy it more

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Nearly all U.S. adults regularly drive a car or other vehicle, with 83% reporting they do so personally at least several times a week. This includes 64% who say they drive every day and 19% who do so most days in a week. Six percent of Americans drive a few times a month, 4% rarely drive and 6% never do. The most frequent drivers are men, adults with household incomes of $90,000 per year or more, college graduates, suburbanites, parents of children under 18, and those between 30 and 49 years of age.

Americans' Driving Frequency How often would you say you personally drive a car or other vehicle -- every day, most days in an average week, a few times a month, rarely or never? Every day Most days Few times a month/Rarely/Never % % % U.S. adults 64 19 16 Men 69 17 14 Women 59 22 18 City residents 61 19 19 Suburban residents 72 18 10 Town/Rural residents 63 21 17 18-29 62 18 20 30-49 76 12 12 50-64 68 20 13 65+ 45 32 23 Have children under 18 78 11 11 Don't have children under 18 59 23 17 Less than $36,000/year 46 27 27 $36,000 to <$90,000/year 68 20 12 $90,000 or more per year 82 12 6 College graduate 74 18 9 Not college graduate 60 20 19 GALLUP, April 23-29, 2018

These findings are from an April 23-29 Gallup poll that explored Americans' driving habits and their attitudes toward cars as technological innovations change the auto industry and as alternatives to the traditional paradigm of car ownership are emerging. Among other advances, driverless cars and ride-sharing services could disrupt the auto industry. The poll found that 86% of U.S. adults say they own or lease a car or other vehicle.

Men are more likely than women to say they drive every day, 69% vs. 59%, respectively. Likewise, 78% of parents of children younger than 18 are daily drivers, versus 59% of those without younger children. Suburbanites (72%) are more likely than city dwellers (61%) and those in rural areas (63%) to drive on a daily basis.

Among those least likely to drive every day are adults aged 65 and older (45%) and those with annual incomes less than $36,000 (46%). Older adults may be retired, have fewer activities or medical reasons for driving less often. Adults from households with lower incomes may not own a car, may not have a job or may be cautious about how often they need to fill up their gas tank, making their ability or need to drive less frequent. Still, majorities of both groups drive at least most days in a week, and only about one-quarter of each group drives a few times a month, rarely or never.

One in Three Americans Enjoy Driving a Great Deal

Although most Americans are spending time every day in their cars, they aren't overly enthusiastic about driving, as 34% say they enjoy driving "a great deal." Still, 44% say they enjoy being behind the wheel "a moderate amount," while just 13% say they don't enjoy it much and 8% not at all.

Daily drivers are split over how much they enjoy driving, with 41% saying they enjoy it a great deal and 45% a moderate amount. Meanwhile, those who drive several times a week are less likely to say they enjoy it a great deal (26%) compared with a moderate amount (54%). Among those who drive even less often, 16% enjoy it a great deal and 26% a moderate amount, which could explain why they drive infrequently.

Men -- who are more likely than women to report driving frequently -- are also more likely to find driving highly enjoyable, 41% vs. 27%, respectively. Women younger than 50 are less likely than women 50 and older to say they enjoy driving a great deal.

Americans' Driving Enjoyment How much do you personally enjoy driving -- a great deal, a moderate amount, not much or not at all? A great deal A moderate amount Not much/Not at all % % % U.S. adults 34 44 22 Men 41 40 18 Women 27 48 24 18-29 37 47 15 30-49 30 46 24 50-64 39 41 21 65+ 32 40 26 Men 18-49 42 41 17 Women 18-49 23 52 23 Men 50+ 41 38 20 Women 50+ 31 42 25 City residents 36 38 24 Suburban residents 33 50 17 Town/Rural residents 32 47 21 Drive daily 41 45 13 Drive several times a week 26 54 20 Drive less often 16 26 53 GALLUP, April 23-29, 2018

Bottom Line

Americans' dependence on cars appears deeply entrenched, with more than eight in 10 U.S. adults reporting that they personally drive at least most days in a week and nearly two-thirds driving every day. While most Americans enjoy driving at least a moderate amount, far fewer say they enjoy it a great deal.

As the auto industry undergoes big changes with the adoption of everything from hybrid cars to electric cars to driverless cars, automakers are well-advised to understand the demand for cars, who gets the most pleasure from driving, and how to cater to these drivers and to those who do not enjoy driving as much. For instance, women, older adults and those in lower-income brackets are potentially prime users of driverless cars.