Retirement Retired Life

Here's How Much the Average American Over 65 Spends Getting Around Each Month

Cars, insurance, and repairs add up fast, even after you've stopped commuting.

By Josh Koebert , Edited by Laura Hohenstein

Updated Oct. 13, 2026

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Retirement might mean no more daily commute, but that doesn't mean the car costs disappear. Between insurance premiums, repairs, and the occasional new vehicle, getting around still takes a real bite out of the monthly budget for people 65 and older, and knowing smart moves for seniors is important for any retiree.

So how much does it actually cost each month?

Editor's note: Figures come from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' 2024 Consumer Expenditure Surveys and reflect spending by consumer units, referred to here as households, whose reference person is 65 or older. The group includes working and retired households. Monthly amounts are annual averages divided by 12.

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So what does getting around actually cost after 65?

Average monthly transportation spending: $795

Households headed by someone 65 or older spent an average of $9,538 a year on transportation in 2024, according to the Consumer Expenditure Survey. That works out to about $795 a month.

That's an average across all households in that age band, including any that spent nothing on getting around at all. The same group spent an average of $61,432 a year across all categories, or about $5,119 a month.

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Did transportation spending increase for households 65 and older?

Average transportation spending for households 65 and older rose about 5.6%, from $9,033 a year in 2023 to $9,538 in 2024. That works out to an increase from about $753 to $795 a month. These figures measure spending and do not isolate changes in transportation prices.

Do costs drop off after 75?

There's a clear split once you break the 65-and-up group into two bands. Households headed by someone 65 to 74 spent an average of $11,414 a year on transportation in 2024, or about $951 a month. Households headed by someone 75 or older spent an average of $6,855 a year, or about $571 a month.

Total spending is lower for the older band too. Households 65 to 74 spent an average of $65,354 a year across all categories, while households 75 and up spent an average of $55,834.

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How it stacks up against all households and the 55 to 64 crowd

Households headed by someone 65 or older spent less on transportation in 2024 than U.S. households overall. All U.S. households averaged $13,318 a year on transportation in 2024, or about $1,110 a month, above the $9,538 average for households 65 and up.

Households headed by someone 55 to 64 spent even more: an average of $15,085 a year, or about $1,257 a month.

Ways to spend less on getting around

Shop your auto insurance policy every year or two to make sure you're still getting a competitive rate.
Ask your insurer about discounts for low mileage, bundling policies, or defensive driving courses.
Keep up with routine maintenance like oil changes and tire rotations to head off pricier repairs later.
Look into reduced fare transit passes in your area for riders 65 and up.
Consider whether you still need two vehicles if one household member drives far less than before.

Bottom line

Transportation costs don't vanish in retirement. Households 65 to 74 spent about $951 a month on average in 2024, while households 75 and up spent about $571 a month, both below the $1,257 a month averaged by households 55 to 64.

Across all households 65 and up, the average came to about $795 a month in 2024, up from about $753 a month in 2023. Knowing all aspects of what to budget for is essential for a retirement plan.

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FAQs

What makes up the typical transportation bill after 65?

For households headed by someone 65 or older in 2024, vehicle purchases averaged $3,510 a year in net outlay, meaning the purchase price minus trade-in value. Other vehicle expenses averaged $3,198, including $1,558 for insurance, $814 for maintenance and repairs, $179 for finance charges, and $647 for rentals, leases, licenses, and other charges.

Transportation spending also includes gasoline and other fuels. Public and other transportation averaged $1,024 a year, or about $85 a month.

How does getting around compare with other costs for people over 65?

Transportation is just one piece of the budget. In 2024, households 65 and older spent an average of $22,193 a year on housing, $7,940 on food, and $7,799 on healthcare, compared with $9,538 on transportation.

How much do people over 65 spend on public transportation?

Households headed by someone 65 to 74 spent an average of $1,159 a year on public and other transportation in 2024, while those headed by someone 75 or older spent $831. All U.S. households averaged $1,131. This category includes airline fares, taxis, buses, trains, and other transportation services, not just local public transit.