How Much Does the Average Car Weigh?

Body Style

Across all body styles, the average vehicle weighs 4,303 pounds according to the
2023 EPA Automotive Trends Report.¹ Cars are lighter, with an average weight of 3,797 pounds, while trucks are heavier, coming in at 4,601 pounds on average, according to data from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Additionally, there’s weight variation between types of cars and trucks, as you’ll see below.

Commercial Vehicles

For commercial vehicles, the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Highway Administration dictates weight standards.

Battery

Car batteries vary in weight, depending on the type of car and battery. For example, while standard car batteries typically weigh between 25 to 60 pounds, electric vehicle batteries can be much heavier, reflecting their larger size and energy storage capabilities.

Standard Car Batteries

• Weight Range: 25 to 60 pounds (11.3 to 27.2 kg)
• Details: Most conventional lead-acid batteries fall within this range, with an average weight around 40 to 50 pounds (18.1 to 22.7 kg) for standard 12-volt batteries used in cars and trucks.

Lightweight Car Batteries

• Weight Range: 10 to 25 pounds (4.5 to 11.3 kg)
• Details: These batteries are often found in smaller vehicles or electric cars. Lithium-ion batteries, which are lighter than traditional lead-acid batteries, typically weigh in this range.

Electric Vehicle Batteries

• Weight Range: 800 to 3,000 pounds (363 to 1,361 kg)
• Details: Electric vehicle (EV) batteries are significantly heavier due to their size and capacity requirements. For example, a Tesla Model S battery weighs approximately 1,080 pounds (479 kg).

Hybrid Car Batteries

• Weight Range: 50 to 120 pounds (22.7 to 54.4 kg)
• Details: Hybrid vehicles use both a standard 12-volt battery and an additional electric battery, which contributes to the overall weight.

Heavy-Duty Car Batteries

• Weight Range: 130 to 190 pounds (59 to 86 kg)
• Details: Batteries used in large vehicles such as buses and trucks are designed to handle greater energy demands and thus weigh more.

Car Manufacturer and Model

The EPA also tracks car weights by manufacturer and vehicle type.

1. Check the car manual: Your car manual is one of the first places you should look to find out your vehicle weight.
2. Check the driver’s side door: Typically, you’ll find a sticker on the inside of the door that includes the car’s curb weight and gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). Learn more about these measurement types below.
3. Check online: You can look on the manufacturer’s website for the weight.
4. Have your car weighed: Your last resort should be to physically weigh your car at either a junkyard or inspection center.⁵

Car weight impacts vehicle performance, fuel efficiency, and safety. Heavier cars generally provide better stability and traction, which can enhance safety in collisions. However, increased weight also means higher fuel consumption, leading to reduced fuel efficiency and higher emissions. Additionally, a heavier car may experience more wear and tear on components like brakes and tires. Conversely, lighter cars often offer better fuel efficiency and handling but may compromise on safety and stability.

Collision Damage

Whether you cause a car accident or are involved but not at fault, large vehicles with heavier weights sustain less damage and fewer passenger injuries than smaller, lighter ones. In particular, vehicles with larger front ends protect passengers better in front crashes, continuing to move forward in the crash and subjecting the passengers to less force. On the other hand, larger vehicles with higher front ends also cause 45 percent more fatalities with pedestrians and cyclists than smaller cars or trucks.⁶

Data from the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety shows that the larger the car, the lower the driver death rate.

Cars with better vehicle safety ratings, which are based partially on crash test statistics, have lower average costs of car insurance compared to vehicles with worse safety ratings.

Fuel Consumption

While larger vehicles may perform better in crashes, typically they require more fuel per gallon than smaller cars.

That said, with the advent of electric cars, the tides are starting to turn, making both larger and lighter vehicles more fuel-efficient.

There are a few different types of weight measurements. Here’s an overview of what they include, with more detailed information below.

• Curb weight: The curb weight is the closest thing to the actual weight of the vehicle, including a full tank of gas. You can calculate the curb weight by taking the GVWR (detailed below) and subtracting the payload, passenger, and cargo capacity.
• Gross vehicle weight rating: You can find the GVWR on the door jamb label, also known as the vehicle compliance label, which is on the inside of the driver’s side door.
• Gross combination weight rating (GCWR): The GCWR is the maximum weight of the vehicle’s cargo, passengers, and trailer combined. Also known as the gross combination rate, it includes the vehicle itself, its engine, transmission, optional equipment, axle ratio, and the type of trailer hitch it has, be it weight distributing or non-weight distributing, or a gooseneck.⁸
• Payload: Along with the GVWR, you should be able to find the vehicle’s payload on the door jamb label.
• Gross axle weight rating (GAWR): The GAWR measures how much weight you can put on a vehicle’s axle once it’s fully equipped.⁹
• Maximum load trailer weight: Think of the maximum load trailer weight as the GCWR combined with the weight of a fully loaded trailer.¹⁰

Vehicle weight is one factor you should consider when buying a new car, as it affects safety ratings and, therefore, the cost of car insurance. Learn more about average car weights with our FAQ below.