Americans still want the freedom of driving
As rising costs and new priorities reshape daily life, the road ahead is changing. Turo’s 2026 USA Road Report reveals how Americans are rethinking ownership, travel, and mobility today.
72%
say cars are essential to their routine and lifestyle.
51%
agree owning a car requires financial sacrifice.
53%
want more flexible ways to pay for and access cars.
The evolution of car ownership
For generations, cars represented freedom and independence — and for many, they still do. But ownership is starting to feel different. From delaying maintenance to finding ownership alternatives, people are adapting.
say car ownership costs more than they’d prefer.
of Millennials say ownership feels more like a burden than a benefit.
adapted their behaviors to save on car costs.
Economic pressure is reshaping how Americans travel
The road trip revival
As increased expenses reshape summer travel, road trips are one of the most accessible ways to explore and stay connected. With 78% of Americans planning visits to scenic destinations, people are turning to the road for freedom and flexibility.
32%
would choose a road trip as a dream summer vacation.
51%
of summer travelers are planning a road trip.
48%
expect to spend 10+ hours on the road for their trip.
Different generations. Different escapes.
Travelers are prioritizing different types of road trip experiences, depending on their age ranges.
Gen Z (18–29)
are more likely to seek urban energy and city experiences.
Millennials (30–45)
prioritize beach vacations and experiences like sporting events and festivals.
Gen X (46–60)
prefer scenic drives and small-town escapes.
Are autonomous vehicles the future?
Americans remain divided on the subject of self-driving cars. Younger generations are more open to the idea, especially for road trips and long-distance travel.
of Gen Z would like to road trip in an autonomous vehicle (AV).
of Americans are interested in taking a road trip in an AV.
of Americans interested in taking an AV road trip would be comfortable traveling 7+ hours.
Redefining the freedom of driving
Cars remain deeply tied to freedom and everyday life. But expenses, shifting lifestyles, and emerging technologies are reshaping what it means to be behind the wheel. The future of driving is about having more flexible, financially sustainable ways to access the mobility cars provide.
Explore the complete findings — and what they could mean for the future of driving.
All percentages are rounded to the nearest 1%
Survey methodology: This study was completed on May 8, 2026 by using a cross-sectional survey to gather data on evolving transportation preferences and vehicle ownership decisions in the United States across generations in today’s economic climate. The methodology was designed to ensure external validity and a comprehensive representation of the adult population within the United States. A total of 2,005 completes were obtained from participants from all 50 U.S. states from ages ranging 18-80+, with quotas in place for age, gender and region to ensure findings can be generalized at a national level.