Cars exhibition at Saratoga Spa State Park on October 11, 2025.
Times Union
Have you ever wondered what most people in New York drive every day? What kinds of cars are people in your neighborhood most likely to own, and how old are those cars?
The Times Union’s analysis finds that SUVs dominate New York’s roads, followed by sedans and pickup trucks. Chevrolet is the most common make across more than half of the state’s counties, while Toyota and Honda lead in many suburban and urban areas.
Article continues below this ad
Statewide, the average age of vehicles on the road is around 9 years old; however, cars of different body types also vary in age.
Convertibles make up only about 1% of all personal vehicles in New York, but they’re the oldest on the road, averaging 21 years. The rest are much newer — vans average about 14 years old, sedans 12 years, pickup trucks 10 years, and SUVs around 7 years.
In this analysis, we only include vehicles with active registrations classified as “passenger,” which are primarily designed for carrying people for private use.
Given the national trend of favoring SUVs, New York is no exception. More than 60% of personal vehicles are SUVs. Sedans comprise about 30%, and pickup trucks about 10%.
Article continues below this ad
The favored makes for different car body types reflect the most popular choices by county. While BMW is the top make for convertibles, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda, and Ford dominate among the everyday vehicles used across the state.
In New York, Chevrolet dominates in more than half of the counties, particularly in rural areas where trucks are common. Toyota and Honda each lead in about 20% of counties, mostly urban, while Ford is the preferred make in northern counties.
Given New Yorkers’ diverse driving needs, upstate residents often prefer vehicles that can handle rough terrain and winter conditions, such as those from Chevrolet and Ford. In more urban areas, smaller crossovers from Honda and Toyota offer a balance of space and easy maneuvering for crowded streets and tight parking. Their fuel efficiency and good resale value also make them practical choices for families.
Article continues below this ad
Looking beyond makes and models, the analysis also explores color preferences among New Yorkers. Gray, black, and white dominate both statewide and in the Capital Region, together accounting for more than 70% of vehicles on the road. Blue and red are also popular choices, adding a touch of color to the state’s mostly neutral palette.
So which counties are the most colorful? Across the state, St. Lawrence stands out with the highest share of “uncommon” car colors — those other than gray, black, white, blue, and red. About 2% of the county’s vehicles are brown, followed by tan and maroon. Across the top five counties, these yellow-brown shades are most popular among uncommon colors, while cars in pink and purple remain the rarest sights on the road.
Article continues below this ad
Beyond color preferences, New York’s roads also tell a story of history — with some vehicles dating back more than a century. These cars remain actively registered and haven’t been classified with historical vintage plates, meaning they can still legally be driven on the road, provided they’re in good working condition.