Average car weight

The average weight of a vehicle is 4,156 pounds, according to a 2020 report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Knowing the weight of your vehicle can help you keep yourself and others safe on the road –- and help you ensure you comply with certain laws. The weight of your vehicle depends on several factors, including vehicle class and the materials used to build it. Coupes typically weigh less than sedans, while sedans usually weigh less than SUVs.

Why you should know how much your car weighs

Vehicle weight can impact dozens of considerations on the road. Knowing how much your vehicle weighs can inform how you shop for gas, choose your car insurance and choose the right equipment to keep on hand.

The list below outlines how knowing your vehicle’s weight can help you in your daily life.

• Lighter vehicles can incur more damage in collisions than heavier cars. In fact, if you’re involved in a collision with a heavier vehicle, your chance of fatality increases by 47% with every 1,000 pounds of added weight. If you prefer lighter vehicles like coupes, you may want to consider purchasing one with increased safety features, such as electronic stability controls and automatic brake assist.
• Heavier vehicles are typically less fuel-efficient than lighter cars. If you’re in the process of buying a new vehicle or selling a car that you own, you may want to factor in vehicle weight.
• You may need to know your vehicle’s weight to purchase the right garage tools. Items like jack stands are categorized by weight. A 2-ton jack stand will only support a small, lightweight vehicle – whereas a 5- or 6-ton jack can typically support the largest trucks and SUVs.
• If you’re planning to haul something, your vehicle’s weight can help you decide how much your vehicle can handle. Towing cargo, a boat, a trailer or anything else can take a toll on smaller vehicles, and some cars are too small to handle hauling anything at all.
• Nonprofits and government entities like the EPA use vehicle weight to inform studies. Vehicle weight can affect fuel impacts on the economy and environment.

Different vehicle weight measurements

The weight of your vehicle can be measured in a few different ways.

• Curb weight: This encompasses the weight of your vehicle with all necessary components and fluids (such as coolant and oil), but without factoring in passengers, cargo and luggage.
• Gross vehicle weight (GVW): GVW encompasses your vehicle’s complete and total weight, including cargo, added features, luggage and passengers.
• Gross combination weight (GCW): This is the total weight of a truck and its trailer. Knowing your vehicle’s GCW may be important to ensure you’re not violating the maximum allowable weight that your vehicle can be on the road if you are towing something. If your GCW is too high, you could damage your vehicle or endanger yourself and other passengers.
• Gross combination weight rating (GCWR): GCWR is the maximum weight a vehicle is allowed to be on the road, including the weight of the load it’s towing, passengers and cargo. You could face legal consequences if you exceed the GCWR of your vehicle, particularly if you cause damage to people or property.

Average weight of a car

The table below outlines the average weight of consumer vehicles by body style.

*Vehicle weight data was gathered from J.D. Power, Reference.com, Mechanic Base and Motor Trend.

Commercial vehicles weigh significantly more than average cars, trucks and SUVs. The chart below outlines the average weight of common commercial vehicles in tons.

Vehicle weights by car model

The tables below outline the curb vehicle weights of the 10 most popular vehicles in 2019, 2020 and 2021.

*Car popularity data is from Car and Driver and weight data is from Edmunds.

*Car popularity data is from Car and Driver and weight data is from Edmunds.

*Car popularity data is from Car and Driver and weight data is from Edmunds.

How much does my vehicle weigh?

Wondering how much your car weighs? There are a few different ways to find out.

• Look it up in your vehicle’s owner’s manual.
• Look it up on the car manufacturer’s website.
• Look it up on a car comparison website such as Edmunds.com.
• Use a truck stop or scrap yard’s scales to weigh your vehicle if you’re looking for an exact measurement.

Frequently asked questions

How does vehicle weight impact fuel economy?

The more your vehicle weighs, the more gas it must use. Not only does the curb weight of your vehicle impact fuel economy – the amount of weight your car is carrying (cargo and passengers) or towing also affects fuel economy. The more your vehicle weighs, the fewer miles it gets to the gallon.

How are average vehicle weights changing over time?

On average, vehicles are getting heavier over time. Compared to 20 years ago, popular vehicles such as the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord have gained up to 650 pounds, according to J.D. Power. New safety rules requiring added features such as air bags, door intrusion beams, tire-pressure monitors are part of the reason modern vehicles are heavier. In addition, luxury features such as real-time navigation systems, seat cooling and heating systems and entertainment systems make new vehicles heavier than previous models.

Are heavier vehicles safer in a crash?

Yes. While lighter vehicles have become a lot safer in recent years, heavy vehicles offer better protection in a collision. Larger vehicles have a longer distance between the front bumper and the front seat where the driver and passengers are. In addition, heavier vehicles are safer due to pushing the lighter vehicle backward during a crash.