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The offers that appear on this site are from companies that compensate us. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site, including, for example, the order in which they may appear within the listing categories. But this compensation does not influence the information we publish, or the reviews that you see on this site. We do not include the universe of companies or financial offers that may be available to you. SHARE: Portra/Getty Images October 20, 2021 Lizzie Nealon is an insurance contributor for Bankrate and enjoys making home, auto and life insurance digestible for readers so they can prepare for the future. Maggie Kempken is an insurance editor for Bankrate. She helps manage the creation of insurance content that meets the highest quality standards for accuracy and clarity to help Bankrate readers navigate complex information about home, auto and life insurance. She also focuses on ensuring that Bankrate’s insurance content represents and adheres to the Bankrate brand. Bankrate logo

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At Bankrate, we strive to help you make smarter financial decisions. To help readers understand how insurance affects their finances, we have licensed insurance professionals on staff who have spent a combined 47 years in the auto, home and life insurance industries. While we adhere to strict editorial integrity, this post may contain references to products from our partners. Here's an explanation of how we make money. Our content is backed by LLC, a licensed entity (NPN: 19966249). For more information, please see our Insurance Disclosure. Bankrate logo

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Founded in 1976, Bankrate has a long track record of helping people make smart financial choices. We’ve maintained this reputation for over four decades by demystifying the financial decision-making process and giving people confidence in which actions to take next. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. All of our content is authored by and edited by , who ensure everything we publish is objective, accurate and trustworthy. Our insurance team is composed of agents, data analysts, and customers like you. They focus on the points consumers care about most — price, customer service, policy features and savings opportunities — so you can feel confident about which provider is right for you. We guide you throughout your search and help you understand your coverage options. We provide up-to-date, reliable market information to help you make confident decisions. We reduce industry jargon so you get the clearest form of information possible. All providers discussed on our site are vetted based on the value they provide. And we constantly review our criteria to ensure we’re putting accuracy first. Bankrate logo

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Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that we’re putting your interests first. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions.

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Bankrate’s editorial team writes on behalf of YOU – the reader. Our goal is to give you the best advice to help you make smart personal finance decisions. We follow strict guidelines to ensure that our editorial content is not influenced by advertisers. Our editorial team receives no direct compensation from advertisers, and our content is thoroughly fact-checked to ensure accuracy. So, whether you’re reading an article or a review, you can trust that you’re getting credible and dependable information. Bankrate logo

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You have money questions. Bankrate has answers. Our experts have been helping you master your money for over four decades. We continually strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools needed to succeed throughout life’s financial journey. Bankrate follows a strict , so you can trust that our content is honest and accurate. Our award-winning editors and reporters create honest and accurate content to help you make the right financial decisions. The content created by our editorial staff is objective, factual, and not influenced by our advertisers. We’re transparent about how we are able to bring quality content, competitive rates, and useful tools to you by explaining how we make money. Bankrate.com is an independent, advertising-supported publisher and comparison service. We are compensated in exchange for placement of sponsored products and, services, or by you clicking on certain links posted on our site. Therefore, this compensation may impact how, where and in what order products appear within listing categories. Other factors, such as our own proprietary website rules and whether a product is offered in your area or at your self-selected credit score range can also impact how and where products appear on this site. While we strive to provide a wide range offers, Bankrate does not include information about every financial or credit product or service. Bankrate logo

Insurance Disclosure

Coverage.com, LLC is a licensed insurance producer (NPN: 19966249). Coverage.com services are only available in . Coverage.com may not offer insurance coverage in all states or scenarios. All insurance products are governed by the terms in the applicable insurance policy, and all related decisions (such as approval for coverage, premiums, commissions and fees) and policy obligations are the sole responsibility of the underwriting insurer. The information on this site does not modify any insurance policy terms in any way. The average weight of a vehicle is 4,156 pounds, according to a 2020 report from the (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 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 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. Average weight of consumer vehicles Body style Examples Average weight Smart car Smart Fortwo 1,500 pounds Subcompact car Ford Fiesta 2,600 pounds Compact car Toyota Corolla 2,600 to 3,000 pounds Midsize car Toyota Camry
Honda Accord 3,300 pounds Large car Dodge Charger 4,400 pounds Subcompact SUV Kia Soul
Honda HR-V 2000 pounds Compact SUV Honda CR-V
Mazda CX-5 3,000 to 3,500 pounds Midsize SUV Honda Pilot
Chevrolet Traverse 3,500 to 6,000 pounds Large SUV Chevrolet Suburban
Chevrolet Tahoe 5,400 to 6,000 pounds Half-ton Truck Ford F-150
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 5,000 to 5,500 pounds *Vehicle weight data was gathered from J.D. Power, , and . Commercial vehicles weigh significantly more than average cars, trucks and SUVs. The chart below outlines the in tons. Average weight of commercial vehicles Commercial vehicle type Commercial vehicle weight Ambulance 5 tons Delivery truck 6 tons School bus (loaded) 17 tons Charter bus (loaded) 20 tons Fire truck 19 – 30 tons Garbage truck (loaded) 25 tons Dump truck (loaded) 36 tons Tractor trailer (loaded) 40 tons

Vehicle weights by car model

The tables below outline the curb vehicle weights of the in 2019, 2020 and 2021. 2021 vehicle weights Vehicle make and model Vehicle weight in pounds Ford F-Series 4,021 to 5,014 Ram 1500 5,232 Chevrolet Silverado 5,190 Toyota RAV4 3,490 Honda CR-V 3,337 Toyota Camry 3,425 Nissan Rogue 3,371 Toyota Corolla 2,955 Honda Civic LX 2,771 Toyota Highlander 4,370 *Car popularity data is from and weight data is from . 2020 vehicle weights Vehicle make and model Vehicle weight in pounds Ford F-Series 4,069 to 5,697 Chevrolet Silverado 5,105 Ram Pickup 4,798 to 5,374 Toyota RAV4 3,370 Honda CR-V 3,337 to 3,576 Toyota Camry 3,340 Chevrolet Equinox 3,325 Honda Civic 2,906 to 3,012 GMC Sierra 5,040 Toyota Tacoma 4,425 *Car popularity data is from and weight data is from . 2019 vehicle weights Vehicle make and model Vehicle weight in pounds Ford F-Series 4,769 Ram Pickup 4,903 to 5,232 Chevrolet Silverado 5,090 Toyota RAV4 3,370 Honda CR-V 3,307 to 3,473 Nissan Rogue and Rogue Sport 3,411 to 3,614 Chevrolet Equinox 3,325 Toyota Camry 3,340 Honda Civic 2,762 to 2,928 Toyota Corolla 2,870 *Car popularity data is from and weight data is from .

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 . 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 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 . 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 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. SHARE: Lizzie Nealon is an insurance contributor for Bankrate and enjoys making home, auto and life insurance digestible for readers so they can prepare for the future. Maggie Kempken is an insurance editor for Bankrate. She helps manage the creation of insurance content that meets the highest quality standards for accuracy and clarity to help Bankrate readers navigate complex information about home, auto and life insurance. She also focuses on ensuring that Bankrate’s insurance content represents and adheres to the Bankrate brand.

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