Data / Rankings / Registered motor vehicles / US states

US states by registered motor vehicles

California had the highest registered motor vehicles of 51 states in 2018, at 31.02 million. District of Columbia had the lowest, at 351,933. The median was 3.94 million and the figure for the United States was 273.6 million. Source: the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.

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Highest31,022,328California
Lowest351,933District of Columbia
Median3,942,87551 states
United States273,595,656History

Map of states, 2018

Alabama: 5,300,199 countAlaska: 803,684 countArizona: 5,806,313 countArkansas: 2,817,145 countCalifornia: 31,022,328 countColorado: 5,356,018 countConnecticut: 2,879,802 countDelaware: 1,008,468 countDistrict of Columbia: 351,933 countFlorida: 17,496,002 countGeorgia: 8,512,550 countHawaii: 1,267,385 countIdaho: 1,879,670 countIllinois: 10,588,910 countIndiana: 6,190,736 countIowa: 3,691,892 countKansas: 2,684,010 countKentucky: 4,368,285 countLouisiana: 3,885,119 countMaine: 1,125,588 countMaryland: 4,204,846 countMassachusetts: 5,061,499 countMichigan: 8,380,387 countMinnesota: 5,404,277 countMississippi: 2,067,498 countMissouri: 5,498,675 countMontana: 1,845,338 countNebraska: 1,961,309 countNevada: 2,514,338 countNew Hampshire: 1,346,318 countNew Jersey: 6,055,389 countNew Mexico: 1,824,217 countNew York: 11,482,229 countNorth Carolina: 8,210,213 countNorth Dakota: 899,953 countOhio: 10,913,773 countOklahoma: 3,699,022 countOregon: 3,942,875 countPennsylvania: 10,727,715 countRhode Island: 872,344 countSouth Carolina: 4,457,519 countSouth Dakota: 1,269,415 countTennessee: 5,770,874 countTexas: 22,186,241 countUtah: 2,372,800 countVermont: 619,694 countVirginia: 7,604,646 countWashington: 7,152,413 countWest Virginia: 1,693,719 countWisconsin: 5,683,061 countWyoming: 837,024 count
  • Under 1.3M
  • 1.3M to 2.3M
  • 2.3M to 3.9M
  • 3.9M to 5.6M
  • 5.6M to 8.3M
  • 8.3M and over
count, 2018. Source: FHWA, Table MV-1, State Motor-Vehicle Registrations (all motor vehicles, total), United States and states. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, 2018

California: 31,022,328 countCalifornia31,022,328Texas: 22,186,241 countTexas22,186,241Florida: 17,496,002 countFlorida17,496,002New York: 11,482,229 countNew York11,482,229Ohio: 10,913,773 countOhio10,913,773Pennsylvania: 10,727,715 countPennsylvania10,727,715Illinois: 10,588,910 countIllinois10,588,910Georgia: 8,512,550 countGeorgia8,512,550Michigan: 8,380,387 countMichigan8,380,387North Carolina: 8,210,213 countNorth Carolina8,210,213Virginia: 7,604,646 countVirginia7,604,646Washington: 7,152,413 countWashington7,152,413Indiana: 6,190,736 countIndiana6,190,736New Jersey: 6,055,389 countNew Jersey6,055,389Arizona: 5,806,313 countArizona5,806,313Tennessee: 5,770,874 countTennessee5,770,874Wisconsin: 5,683,061 countWisconsin5,683,061Missouri: 5,498,675 countMissouri5,498,675Minnesota: 5,404,277 countMinnesota5,404,277Colorado: 5,356,018 countColorado5,356,018Alabama: 5,300,199 countAlabama5,300,199Massachusetts: 5,061,499 countMassachusetts5,061,499South Carolina: 4,457,519 countSouth Carolina4,457,519Kentucky: 4,368,285 countKentucky4,368,285Maryland: 4,204,846 countMaryland4,204,846Oregon: 3,942,875 countOregon3,942,875Louisiana: 3,885,119 countLouisiana3,885,119Oklahoma: 3,699,022 countOklahoma3,699,022Iowa: 3,691,892 countIowa3,691,892Connecticut: 2,879,802 countConnecticut2,879,802Arkansas: 2,817,145 countArkansas2,817,145Kansas: 2,684,010 countKansas2,684,010Nevada: 2,514,338 countNevada2,514,338Utah: 2,372,800 countUtah2,372,800Mississippi: 2,067,498 countMississippi2,067,498Nebraska: 1,961,309 countNebraska1,961,309Idaho: 1,879,670 countIdaho1,879,670Montana: 1,845,338 countMontana1,845,338New Mexico: 1,824,217 countNew Mexico1,824,217West Virginia: 1,693,719 countWest Virginia1,693,719New Hampshire: 1,346,318 countNew Hampshire1,346,318South Dakota: 1,269,415 countSouth Dakota1,269,415Hawaii: 1,267,385 countHawaii1,267,385Maine: 1,125,588 countMaine1,125,588Delaware: 1,008,468 countDelaware1,008,468North Dakota: 899,953 countNorth Dakota899,953Rhode Island: 872,344 countRhode Island872,344Wyoming: 837,024 countWyoming837,024Alaska: 803,684 countAlaska803,684Vermont: 619,694 countVermont619,694District of Columbia: 351,933 countDistrict of Columbia351,933California: 31,022,328 countCalifornia31,022,328Texas: 22,186,241 countTexas22,186,241Florida: 17,496,002 countFlorida17,496,002New York: 11,482,229 countNew York11,482,229Ohio: 10,913,773 countOhio10,913,773Pennsylvania: 10,727,715 countPennsylvania10,727,715Illinois: 10,588,910 countIllinois10,588,910Georgia: 8,512,550 countGeorgia8,512,550Michigan: 8,380,387 countMichigan8,380,387North Carolina: 8,210,213 countNorth Carolina8,210,213Virginia: 7,604,646 countVirginia7,604,646Washington: 7,152,413 countWashington7,152,413Indiana: 6,190,736 countIndiana6,190,736New Jersey: 6,055,389 countNew Jersey6,055,389Arizona: 5,806,313 countArizona5,806,313Tennessee: 5,770,874 countTennessee5,770,874Wisconsin: 5,683,061 countWisconsin5,683,061Missouri: 5,498,675 countMissouri5,498,675Minnesota: 5,404,277 countMinnesota5,404,277Colorado: 5,356,018 countColorado5,356,018Alabama: 5,300,199 countAlabama5,300,199Massachusetts: 5,061,499 countMassachusetts5,061,499South Carolina: 4,457,519 countSouth Carolina4,457,519Kentucky: 4,368,285 countKentucky4,368,285Maryland: 4,204,846 countMaryland4,204,846Oregon: 3,942,875 countOregon3,942,875Louisiana: 3,885,119 countLouisiana3,885,119Oklahoma: 3,699,022 countOklahoma3,699,022Iowa: 3,691,892 countIowa3,691,892Connecticut: 2,879,802 countConnecticut2,879,802Arkansas: 2,817,145 countArkansas2,817,145Kansas: 2,684,010 countKansas2,684,010Nevada: 2,514,338 countNevada2,514,338Utah: 2,372,800 countUtah2,372,800Mississippi: 2,067,498 countMississippi2,067,498Nebraska: 1,961,309 countNebraska1,961,309Idaho: 1,879,670 countIdaho1,879,670Montana: 1,845,338 countMontana1,845,338New Mexico: 1,824,217 countNew Mexico1,824,217West Virginia: 1,693,719 countWest Virginia1,693,719New Hampshire: 1,346,318 countNew Hampshire1,346,318South Dakota: 1,269,415 countSouth Dakota1,269,415Hawaii: 1,267,385 countHawaii1,267,385Maine: 1,125,588 countMaine1,125,588Delaware: 1,008,468 countDelaware1,008,468North Dakota: 899,953 countNorth Dakota899,953Rhode Island: 872,344 countRhode Island872,344Wyoming: 837,024 countWyoming837,024Alaska: 803,684 countAlaska803,684Vermont: 619,694 countVermont619,694District of Columbia: 351,933 countDistrict of Columbia351,933
count. Source: FHWA, Table MV-1, State Motor-Vehicle Registrations (all motor vehicles, total), United States and states. Retrieved 2026-10-18.

Full ranking

RankStates2018
count		Change on 2017
1California31,022,328+0.7%
2Texas22,186,241+0.3%
3Florida17,496,002+3.2%
4New York11,482,229+5.8%
5Ohio10,913,773+1%
6Pennsylvania10,727,715+0.4%
7Illinois10,588,910-2.8%
8Georgia8,512,550+0.8%
9Michigan8,380,387-1.6%
10North Carolina8,210,213+1.7%
11Virginia7,604,646+1.2%
12Washington7,152,413-1.4%
13Indiana6,190,736+0.3%
14New Jersey6,055,389-0%
15Arizona5,806,313-2.7%
16Tennessee5,770,874-0.5%
17Wisconsin5,683,061+1.5%
18Missouri5,498,675-1.3%
19Minnesota5,404,277-4.9%
20Colorado5,356,018+1.8%
21Alabama5,300,199+4.8%
22Massachusetts Estimated5,061,499-0.1%
23South Carolina4,457,519+1.2%
24Kentucky4,368,285+1.7%
25Maryland4,204,846-3.5%
26Oregon3,942,875-3.9%
27Louisiana3,885,119-0.6%
28Oklahoma Estimated3,699,022-1.2%
29Iowa3,691,892-1.6%
30Connecticut2,879,802+1.9%
31Arkansas2,817,145-0.6%
32Kansas2,684,010-1.2%
33Nevada2,514,338+2.4%
34Utah2,372,800+0.7%
35Mississippi2,067,498+0.5%
36Nebraska Estimated1,961,309-0.2%
37Idaho1,879,670+2.4%
38Montana1,845,338+1.7%
39New Mexico1,824,217+4.8%
40West Virginia Estimated1,693,719+0.1%
41New Hampshire1,346,318+2.1%
42South Dakota1,269,415+0.9%
43Hawaii1,267,385+0.6%
44Maine1,125,588+2.9%
45Delaware1,008,468+3.9%
46North Dakota899,953-14.8%
47Rhode Island872,344-0.1%
48Wyoming837,024+2.2%
49Alaska803,684-0.1%
50Vermont619,694-0.3%
51District of Columbia351,933+1.7%

Other periods

About this ranking

All motor vehicles registered during the year: automobiles, buses, trucks and motorcycles.

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.

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. Trailers are not motor vehicles and are not counted.

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 (all motor vehicles, 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 (all motor vehicles, total), United States and states (US states by registered motor vehicles, 2018) [Data set]. Retrieved October 18, 2026, from https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm

MLA 9

Table MV-1, State Motor-Vehicle Registrations (all motor vehicles, total), United States and states, US states by registered motor vehicles, 2018. 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-motor-vehicles/us-states?period=2018. Accessed 18 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. 2026. Table MV-1, State Motor-Vehicle Registrations (all motor vehicles, total), United States and states. US states by registered motor vehicles, 2018. Dataset. Accessed October 18, 2026. https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/registered-motor-vehicles/us-states?period=2018.

Harvard

Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation (2026) Table MV-1, State Motor-Vehicle Registrations (all motor vehicles, total), United States and states, US states by registered motor vehicles, 2018 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www.fhwa.dot.gov/policyinformation/statistics.cfm, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/registered-motor-vehicles/us-states?period=2018 (Accessed: 18 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{federal_us_states_by_registered_2018,
  author = {{Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation}},
  title = {{Table MV-1, State Motor-Vehicle Registrations (all motor vehicles, total), United States and states: US states by registered motor vehicles, 2018}},
  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-motor-vehicles/us-states?period=2018. Publisher attribution: Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. Highway Statistics, Table MV-1, State Motor-Vehicle Registrations (all motor vehicles, 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 (all motor vehicles, total), United States and states: US states by registered motor vehicles, 2018
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-motor-vehicles/us-states?period=2018
Y2  - 2026/10/18
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/registered-motor-vehicles/us-states?period=2018.
N1  - Publisher attribution: Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation. Highway Statistics, Table MV-1, State Motor-Vehicle Registrations (all motor vehicles, 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 motor vehicles?

California, with 31.02 million in 2018, according to the Federal Highway Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation.

Which state has the lowest registered motor vehicles?

District of Columbia, with 351,933 in 2018.

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 (all motor vehicles, total), United States and states. Retrieved 2026-10-18.

US states: more rankings