Data / Rankings / Registered automobiles / US states

US states by registered automobiles

California had the highest registered automobiles of 51 states in 2017, at 14.86 million. Alaska had the lowest, at 173,487. The median was 1.54 million and the figure for the United States was 111.18 million. Source: the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.

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Highest14,860,967California
Lowest173,487Alaska
Median1,542,46151 states
United States111,177,029History

Map of states, 2017

Alabama: 2,065,463 countAlaska: 173,487 countArizona: 2,391,624 countArkansas: 926,789 countCalifornia: 14,860,967 countColorado: 1,785,058 countConnecticut: 1,302,339 countDelaware: 419,199 countDistrict of Columbia: 208,141 countFlorida: 7,778,493 countGeorgia: 3,536,055 countHawaii: 512,386 countIdaho: 550,006 countIllinois: 4,655,844 countIndiana: 2,261,440 countIowa: 1,268,996 countKansas: 987,259 countKentucky: 1,691,085 countLouisiana: 1,389,436 countMaine: 387,233 countMaryland: 2,006,904 countMassachusetts: 2,208,468 countMichigan: 3,257,473 countMinnesota: 2,146,187 countMississippi: 822,864 countMissouri: 2,141,050 countMontana: 441,392 countNebraska: 677,040 countNevada: 1,047,508 countNew Hampshire: 505,381 countNew Jersey: 2,798,699 countNew Mexico: 609,494 countNew York: 4,563,035 countNorth Carolina: 3,317,918 countNorth Dakota: 276,545 countOhio: 4,605,459 countOklahoma: 1,337,624 countOregon: 1,542,461 countPennsylvania: 4,463,267 countRhode Island: 420,313 countSouth Carolina: 1,808,401 countSouth Dakota: 353,180 countTennessee: 2,325,004 countTexas: 8,176,879 countUtah: 925,052 countVermont: 221,936 countVirginia: 3,251,339 countWashington: 2,925,765 countWest Virginia: 562,984 countWisconsin: 2,092,584 countWyoming: 193,523 count
  • Under 400K
  • 400K to 900K
  • 900K to 1.5M
  • 1.5M to 2.2M
  • 2.2M to 3.3M
  • 3.3M and over
count, 2017. Source: FHWA, Table MV-1, State Motor-Vehicle Registrations (automobiles, total), United States and states. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, 2017

California: 14,860,967 countCalifornia14,860,967Texas: 8,176,879 countTexas8,176,879Florida: 7,778,493 countFlorida7,778,493Illinois: 4,655,844 countIllinois4,655,844Ohio: 4,605,459 countOhio4,605,459New York: 4,563,035 countNew York4,563,035Pennsylvania: 4,463,267 countPennsylvania4,463,267Georgia: 3,536,055 countGeorgia3,536,055North Carolina: 3,317,918 countNorth Carolina3,317,918Michigan: 3,257,473 countMichigan3,257,473Virginia: 3,251,339 countVirginia3,251,339Washington: 2,925,765 countWashington2,925,765New Jersey: 2,798,699 countNew Jersey2,798,699Arizona: 2,391,624 countArizona2,391,624Tennessee: 2,325,004 countTennessee2,325,004Indiana: 2,261,440 countIndiana2,261,440Massachusetts: 2,208,468 countMassachusetts2,208,468Minnesota: 2,146,187 countMinnesota2,146,187Missouri: 2,141,050 countMissouri2,141,050Wisconsin: 2,092,584 countWisconsin2,092,584Alabama: 2,065,463 countAlabama2,065,463Maryland: 2,006,904 countMaryland2,006,904South Carolina: 1,808,401 countSouth Carolina1,808,401Colorado: 1,785,058 countColorado1,785,058Kentucky: 1,691,085 countKentucky1,691,085Oregon: 1,542,461 countOregon1,542,461Louisiana: 1,389,436 countLouisiana1,389,436Oklahoma: 1,337,624 countOklahoma1,337,624Connecticut: 1,302,339 countConnecticut1,302,339Iowa: 1,268,996 countIowa1,268,996Nevada: 1,047,508 countNevada1,047,508Kansas: 987,259 countKansas987,259Arkansas: 926,789 countArkansas926,789Utah: 925,052 countUtah925,052Mississippi: 822,864 countMississippi822,864Nebraska: 677,040 countNebraska677,040New Mexico: 609,494 countNew Mexico609,494West Virginia: 562,984 countWest Virginia562,984Idaho: 550,006 countIdaho550,006Hawaii: 512,386 countHawaii512,386New Hampshire: 505,381 countNew Hampshire505,381Montana: 441,392 countMontana441,392Rhode Island: 420,313 countRhode Island420,313Delaware: 419,199 countDelaware419,199Maine: 387,233 countMaine387,233South Dakota: 353,180 countSouth Dakota353,180North Dakota: 276,545 countNorth Dakota276,545Vermont: 221,936 countVermont221,936District of Columbia: 208,141 countDistrict of Columbia208,141Wyoming: 193,523 countWyoming193,523Alaska: 173,487 countAlaska173,487California: 14,860,967 countCalifornia14,860,967Texas: 8,176,879 countTexas8,176,879Florida: 7,778,493 countFlorida7,778,493Illinois: 4,655,844 countIllinois4,655,844Ohio: 4,605,459 countOhio4,605,459New York: 4,563,035 countNew York4,563,035Pennsylvania: 4,463,267 countPennsylvania4,463,267Georgia: 3,536,055 countGeorgia3,536,055North Carolina: 3,317,918 countNorth Carolina3,317,918Michigan: 3,257,473 countMichigan3,257,473Virginia: 3,251,339 countVirginia3,251,339Washington: 2,925,765 countWashington2,925,765New Jersey: 2,798,699 countNew Jersey2,798,699Arizona: 2,391,624 countArizona2,391,624Tennessee: 2,325,004 countTennessee2,325,004Indiana: 2,261,440 countIndiana2,261,440Massachusetts: 2,208,468 countMassachusetts2,208,468Minnesota: 2,146,187 countMinnesota2,146,187Missouri: 2,141,050 countMissouri2,141,050Wisconsin: 2,092,584 countWisconsin2,092,584Alabama: 2,065,463 countAlabama2,065,463Maryland: 2,006,904 countMaryland2,006,904South Carolina: 1,808,401 countSouth Carolina1,808,401Colorado: 1,785,058 countColorado1,785,058Kentucky: 1,691,085 countKentucky1,691,085Oregon: 1,542,461 countOregon1,542,461Louisiana: 1,389,436 countLouisiana1,389,436Oklahoma: 1,337,624 countOklahoma1,337,624Connecticut: 1,302,339 countConnecticut1,302,339Iowa: 1,268,996 countIowa1,268,996Nevada: 1,047,508 countNevada1,047,508Kansas: 987,259 countKansas987,259Arkansas: 926,789 countArkansas926,789Utah: 925,052 countUtah925,052Mississippi: 822,864 countMississippi822,864Nebraska: 677,040 countNebraska677,040New Mexico: 609,494 countNew Mexico609,494West Virginia: 562,984 countWest Virginia562,984Idaho: 550,006 countIdaho550,006Hawaii: 512,386 countHawaii512,386New Hampshire: 505,381 countNew Hampshire505,381Montana: 441,392 countMontana441,392Rhode Island: 420,313 countRhode Island420,313Delaware: 419,199 countDelaware419,199Maine: 387,233 countMaine387,233South Dakota: 353,180 countSouth Dakota353,180North Dakota: 276,545 countNorth Dakota276,545Vermont: 221,936 countVermont221,936District of Columbia: 208,141 countDistrict of Columbia208,141Wyoming: 193,523 countWyoming193,523Alaska: 173,487 countAlaska173,487
count. Source: FHWA, Table MV-1, State Motor-Vehicle Registrations (automobiles, total), United States and states. Retrieved 2026-10-18.

Full ranking

RankStates2017
count		Change on 2016
1California14,860,967+0.6%
2Texas8,176,879-1.3%
3Florida7,778,493-1%
4Illinois4,655,844+2.9%
5Ohio4,605,459-1.9%
6New York4,563,035-6.7%
7Pennsylvania4,463,267-3.8%
8Georgia3,536,055-0.1%
9North Carolina3,317,918-6.4%
10Michigan3,257,473+0.3%
11Virginia3,251,339+0.3%
12Washington2,925,765-0.3%
13New Jersey2,798,699-1.7%
14Arizona2,391,624+0.6%
15Tennessee2,325,004-1%
16Indiana2,261,440-2.9%
17Massachusetts2,208,468-4.2%
18Minnesota2,146,187+3.1%
19Missouri2,141,050-4.8%
20Wisconsin2,092,584-3.1%
21Alabama2,065,463-9.6%
22Maryland2,006,904+1.6%
23South Carolina1,808,401-1.7%
24Colorado1,785,058-1.3%
25Kentucky1,691,085-1.3%
26Oregon1,542,461+4%
27Louisiana Estimated1,389,436-2.5%
28Oklahoma Estimated1,337,624-3%
29Connecticut1,302,339-3.7%
30Iowa1,268,996-2.6%
31Nevada1,047,5080%
32Kansas987,259+0.7%
33Arkansas926,789-1.7%
34Utah925,052-1.7%
35Mississippi822,864-2.1%
36Nebraska677,040-3.3%
37New Mexico609,494-7.8%
38West Virginia Estimated562,984-3.7%
39Idaho550,006-9.5%
40Hawaii512,386-0.8%
41New Hampshire505,381-4.6%
42Montana441,3920%
43Rhode Island420,313-3.7%
44Delaware419,199-6.2%
45Maine387,233-5.4%
46South Dakota353,180-3.1%
47North Dakota276,545+13.6%
48Vermont221,936-3.3%
49District of Columbia208,141+0.6%
50Wyoming193,523-8.5%
51Alaska173,487-5.3%

Other periods

About this ranking

Automobiles registered during the year, taxicabs included.

More on how it is measured
  • FHWA Highway Statistics table MV-1 counts the vehicles registered in each state during the year, from the records of the state motor vehicle agencies: private, commercial and publicly owned vehicles, but not those of the armed forces.
  • A vehicle is counted in the state that registered it.

From the 2012 table FHWA allocates light-duty vehicles between automobiles and trucks with its own method, and automobiles fall from 125.7 million in 2011 to 111.3 million in 2012 while trucks rise from 118.5 million to 133.1 million, so the split is not comparable across those years. The all motor vehicles total is. Many sport utility vehicles, pickups and vans count as trucks, not automobiles. States keep their registers differently: some report registration transactions during the year or vehicles on multi-year registrations instead of active registrations, and a change in what a state reports can move its count sharply from one year to the next (Delaware in 2021, New York in 2024). Values for states FHWA estimated, or for which it repeated the previous year, are marked estimated. FHWA publishes some counts with fractions; they are rounded to whole vehicles.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the states are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. Highway Statistics, Table MV-1, State Motor-Vehicle Registrations (automobiles, total), United States and states. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm. Retrieved 2026-10-18.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. (2026). Table MV-1, State Motor-Vehicle Registrations (automobiles, total), United States and states (US states by registered automobiles, 2017) [Data set]. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm

MLA 9

Table MV-1, State Motor-Vehicle Registrations (automobiles, total), United States and states, US states by registered automobiles, 2017. Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, 23 Feb. 2026, https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/registered-automobiles/us-states?period=2017. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. 2026. Table MV-1, State Motor-Vehicle Registrations (automobiles, total), United States and states. US states by registered automobiles, 2017. Dataset. Accessed October 18, 2026. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/registered-automobiles/us-states?period=2017.

Harvard

Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation (2026) Table MV-1, State Motor-Vehicle Registrations (automobiles, total), United States and states, US states by registered automobiles, 2017 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/registered-automobiles/us-states?period=2017 (Accessed: 18 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{federal_us_states_by_registered_2017,
  author = {{Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation}},
  title = {{Table MV-1, State Motor-Vehicle Registrations (automobiles, total), United States and states: US states by registered automobiles, 2017}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm},
  urldate = {2026-10-18},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/registered-automobiles/us-states?period=2017. Publisher attribution: Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. Highway Statistics, Table MV-1, State Motor-Vehicle Registrations (automobiles, total), United States and states. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm. Retrieved 2026-10-18.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation
TI  - Table MV-1, State Motor-Vehicle Registrations (automobiles, total), United States and states: US states by registered automobiles, 2017
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/02/23
PB  - Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/registered-automobiles/us-states?period=2017
Y2  - 2026/10/18
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/registered-automobiles/us-states?period=2017.
N1  - Publisher attribution: Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. Highway Statistics, Table MV-1, State Motor-Vehicle Registrations (automobiles, total), United States and states. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm. Retrieved 2026-10-18.
ER  -
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Questions

Which state has the highest registered automobiles?

California, with 14.86 million in 2017, according to the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.

Which state has the lowest registered automobiles?

Alaska, with 173,487 in 2017.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Table MV-1, State Motor-Vehicle Registrations (automobiles, total), United States and states. Retrieved 2026-10-18.

US states: more rankings