Study finds New Zealand drivers spend nearly 13 days a year behind the wheel

• A news study shows that Kiwis spend almost 13 days a year driving.
• New Zealand ranked 7th out of the 15 countries surveyed, significantly behind Australia.
• The study looked at all kinds of driving, including school runs, commutes and holidays.

A global study commissioned by UK automotive marketplace Autotrader has found that New Zealand motorists spend an average of 5 hours and 58 minutes per week in their vehicles. This weekly duration equates to Kiwis spending approximately 12 days and 22 hours every year sitting behind the wheels of their cars.

The research, which used the Prolific consumer research platform to survey drivers across 15 nations, places New Zealand 7th overall in terms of time spent driving. But while New Zealanders spend a significant portion of their year on the road, their average weekly time is slightly lower than the 15-country average of just over six hours.

In a global context, New Zealand motorists spend less time in their cars than their counterparts in Australia, who rank third with 7 hours and 8 minutes per week, and South Africa, which topped the list at 10 hours and 38 minutes.

Conversely, New Zealand drivers spend fractionally more time behind the wheel than those in the United States, who average 5 hours and 55 minutes, and significantly more than drivers in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, both of which reported under 11 days of driving per year.

The study follows a similar study from Autotrader earlier in the year that tracked time just spent commuting to work and analysed various types of journeys, including school runs, daily tasks and holidays as well as the daily commute to understand driving patterns.

While specific regional factors like infrastructure and suburban sprawl were noted as reasons for high drive times in countries like Australia and Ireland, the research generally highlighted how daily requirements like work and family obligations contribute to the cumulative time spent in transit.

“Our research shows just how differently the world drives – from South Africa's long daily commutes and school runs, to French and German drivers saving their miles for the open road on a summer holiday. Wherever you are in the world, the time we spend in the car adds up to something significant," said Autotrader's Tom Roberts.

“Understanding how much of your life is spent behind the wheel makes it easier to choose a car that actually fits how you live and drive – comfort, space and reliability mean more, the longer you spend on the road.”