Britain v USA: who does the driving world better?

How does Britain do cars differently from America?

Let’s start with the obvious: Brits drive on the left and Americans drive on the right. The differences in how motorists in the UK and motorists in the US drive don’t stop there, though. There are dozens of geographical, political and societal factors that influence the type of car drivers are likely to buy, how they’ll buy it, how often they’ll drive it and how much it will cost them.

We’re taking a look at how (and why) buying, owning and driving a car differs in Great Britain and in the US:

UK: Cars are built to order

In the UK, the process of buying a new car normally involves selecting a model, a trim level, a color and maybe ticking a few boxes on the list of options. The dealer sends the build sheet to the manufacturer and the car normally enters the production line several weeks later.

Buyers consequently need to wait a couple of months - and sometimes a lot longer for high-demand models - before taking delivery; the exact amount of time varies depending on the make, the model and the options selected. But when it arrives, the car is exactly how the buyer wanted it.

US: New cars are purchased from inventory

In the US, motorists normally drive home in their new car on the day they pay for it. Cars are rarely built to order. Instead, buyers select the model that best suits their needs from the dealer’s inventory. They sometimes compromise on a color, an option package or an upholstery type and use that as a bargaining chip. This practice also explains why dealers often avoid ordering unpopular options (eg. bright colors or manual transmissions) that they know they’ll have a difficult time selling.

Buyers who want a very precise specification not commonly found in a dealer’s inventory can place a special order if they’re willing to wait a few weeks before taking delivery. In the mid-2000s, enthusiasts seeking a new Mercedes-Benz SLK with a manual transmission often needed to place a special order. In 2019, the Volvo V90 is a special order-only model regardless of configuration. Dealers have the softroader Cross Country variant in stock, however. High-end cars like Bentley, Bugatti, and Rolls-Royce models are almost always special-ordered.

Who wins? Well, if you like things fast, the US approach is best. If you want your new car exactly how you like it, then the Brit-way is for you. We'll call this a tie.

UK: Ford at number one

Ford makes the best-selling vehicle in both countries but they’re positioned on opposite ends of the same spectrum. In 2018, the best-selling car in the UK was the Fiesta. Ford sold 95,892 examples of it - or 262 every single day of the year. The perennially popular Volkswagen Golf and the Vauxhall Corsa took a distant second and third place with 64,892 and 52,915 units sold, respectively.

US: Ford at number one

The Ford F-Series ended 2018 as America’s best-selling vehicle for the 42nd consecutive year. The firm’s dealers sold 909,330 examples of the truck - a scarcely believable 2491 sales for every day of the year. The Ram 1500 overtook the Chevrolet Silverado to finish second with 536,980 sales. Bumped down to third, the all-new Silverado found 531,158 homes during 2018.

Americans bought 17.27 million cars and trucks in 2018, a 0.3% increase over 2017, while the UK market dropped 6.8% to 2.36 million units. Combined, the top three best-sellers in the US are within 300,000 units of the entire British market. In terms of new-car-sales-per-head of total population, America had 0.05 sales per person, versus 0.035 for the UK.

Who wins? Horses for courses. The Fiesta with its compact size and economical engine makes perfect sense in the UK. The road topography of much of the US is fundamentally more expansive, so the size of the F-150 presents few challenges for most drivers, and cheaper fuel means most people can afford to run one. All of which explains why the Fiesta sold just 51,730 examples in the US - nearly half the level of sales as in Britain, a much smaller market - which is why it'll soon disappear from Ford's US lineup. We'll also call this contest a tie. PICTURE: 2018 Ford Fiesta UK model (left), 2019 Ford F-150 Raptor (right)

UK: CO2-based tax

In the UK, motorists who buy a new car must pay a one-time road tax whose amount varies depending on how much carbon dioxide (CO2) the vehicle emits. Electric models are exempt from this tax while enthusiasts who drive home in a car that emits over 256 grams of CO2 per kilometer need to add £2070 (about $2700) to the purchase price. Registering a Volkswagen Golf with a 1.4-liter TSI engine costs £165 (approximately $215).

US: MPG-based tax

In the US, CO2 is a topic car that manufacturers, not car buyers, need to worry about. On average, buyers have no idea how much CO2 their car emits, though they can likely provide a ballpark estimate of its fuel economy. The federal government doesn’t tax cars based on CO2 emissions but it slaps a gas guzzler tax on the least fuel-efficient vehicles on the market. The tax’s amount is pegged to fuel economy and it gets higher as the miles-per-gallon drop.

The cost of registering a new car varies from state to state. Oregon charges $77 (about £100) for a title and $86 (about £113) for registration so registering a Volkswagen Golf would cost $163 (around £215). However, a buyer registering, say, a Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack for the first time will need to pay an extra $1000 (about £1300) in gas guzzler tax. Other taxes (like a property tax and a sales tax) enter the equation in other states, sending the cost of registering a car into four-digit territory.

Who wins? A few too many variables on this one to make a clear judgement.

UK: the manual transmission reigns supreme (for now)

Data published by Britain's Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) reveals the number of cars equipped with an automatic transmission on UK roads has sky-rocketed in recent years. 40% of the cars ordered new in 2017 came with two pedals, a 70% increase over 2007. That figure includes semi-automatics and continuously variable transmissions (CVT).

While we expect the take rate will continue to climb, the manual transmission still reigns supreme on British roads, just.

US: the automatic transmission rules the land

American motorists stopped caring about shifting their own gears long ago. Only about 3.5% of the cars sold new in America in 2018 were equipped with a manual transmission. Most of those were sports cars (like the Mazda MX-5 Miata) or entry-level versions of economy cars. Analysts expect the take rate will fall below the 3% threshold early in the next decade.

Unsurprisingly, the number of cars offered with a manual transmission is dropping quickly, too. 20% of new 2018 models were available with a stick, down from 47% in 2006.

Who wins? We're Autocar, and we enjoy the mechanical connection between driver and machine that only a manual gearbox can truly provide.

UK: Fuel is relatively expensive

There is a good reason why V8-powered Ford F-150s are a rare sight on British roads. In addition to the fact that the model is not officially sold there, a truck like the F-150 would cost a small fortune to keep running in England.

As of January 2019, the average price of gasoline in the UK is £1.20 per liter while diesel costs £1.29 per liter. Converted into dollars and US gallons, those figures represent $5.91 and $6.36 per gallon, respectively.

US: Fuel is relatively cheap

American motorists are less concerned about fuel economy because gasoline and diesel are both much, much cheaper than in Great Britain. As of January 2019, the average price of a gallon of gasoline in the US is $2.27 while the average price of a gallon of diesel stands at $2.92. Converted into pounds and liters, those figures convert to £0.46 (Britain price: £1.20) and £0.59 (Britain price: £1.29), respectively. Autocar saw gasoline as low as $1.85 per gallon (£0.37 per liter) in the Columbus, Ohio, area in January 2019.

Who wins? Well, Americans currently pay around 65% less for fuel, so do you really need to ask this question?

UK: Cars drive shorter distances, and motorists are driving less

British motorists are driving less every year. In 2002, the average car registered in the UK covered 9200 miles a year. That figure gradually dropped during the 2000s and the 2010s. Statistics published by the Department for Transport reveal the average car was driven for 7800 miles in 2017.

The UK is much smaller than the US, obviously, and its public transportation system is considerably better developed. Someone who needs to travel between Manchester and London (212 miles) will likely take a train; in the US, the same distance would almost certainly be covered by car.

US: Cars drive longer distances, and motorists are driving more

Conversely, American motorists are driving more every year. The average car registered in the US covered 13,476 miles in 2017, an all-time high. The Federal Highway Administration noted men drive 16,550 miles per year on average while women cover 10,142 miles. And, somewhat surprisingly, the state in which motorists drive the most isn’t Texas.

In Wyoming (pictured), the average driver covers 21,821 miles annually. It's a big, empty state whose major cities are hours apart and whose public transportation network is small at best.

Who wins? Britain is much more densely populated than America, and that means it tends to have much more traffic on its roads than most of America, often with worse road surfaces to go with it. As such, we reckon the average Wyomingite has a lot less stress in their driving life over 21,821 miles than the average Brit doing half that mileage. America wins this one.

UK: Average age of a car is lower

In 2017, the average age of a car registered in the UK was 8.1 years old. Statistics published by the Department for Transport revealed 2017 was the first year the average age of a car in Britain crossed the eight-year old mark since 2000. In spite of various scrappage schemes, motorists are keeping their cars for longer. PICTURE: Vauxhall Corsa

US: Average age of a car is higher

Americans tend to keep their cars going for longer than Brits. The average age of a car registered in the US in 2017 was 11.7 years, an all-time high according to analysts. To add context, that figure has nearly doubled since 1980. This doesn’t necessarily mean Americans are getting poorer or growing more attached to their vehicles. It’s a sign than auto-makers have made quantum leaps in quality and reliability since the 1980s. PICTURE: 2006 Toyota Corolla

Who wins? America - if it still works, why not keep it running for longer?

UK: Annual inspection is required

Most cars over three years old in Britain need to pass an annual inspection called a Ministry of Transport (MOT) test. Testers look at safety equipment, like headlights and seatbelts, and they check whether the engine meets applicable pollution regulations. There are some exceptions, notably for classic cars when they are 40 years old or older. As of 2018, the maximum fee a MOT center can charge for a test is £54.85 (about $71).

US: Not every state requires an inspection

In the US, states and counties have the authority to decide whether or not cars need to pass an annual inspection. Some states don’t require any kind of inspection, like Michigan, while others make an exemption for certain types of cars, like diesels and/or classic vehicles. This explains how cars that would fail a MOT test on dozens of points are legally allowed on the road in some parts of America.

The cost of an inspection varies from state to state, too. In Missouri, the price of the safety and emissions inspections can’t exceed $12 and $24, respectively (about £9 and £18). Utah set the cost of a safety inspection at $20 (about £15) throughout the entire state but the cost of an emissions inspection changes depending on the county.

Who wins? The MOT test in the UK can be a pain, and often leads to major rectification bills to get an older car through it. But... it's there for a reason, and most Brits are glad that, in theory at least, its roads are not full of cars that may not have well-functioning brakes and lights, among other important items. Britain wins - though those US states that do have inspections might snatch the title back as their tests tend to be cheaper.

UK: cars adapted to cities

Oliver Cromwell didn’t drive a Range Rover. The plans of big British cities like London and Edinburgh (pictured) were laid out when carts and wagons were the standard form of transportation. And, because a lot of the buildings are historic, most haven’t been torn down - instead, the road infrastructure developed around them.

That’s why a Volkswagen Amarok towing a trailer will have a difficult time maneuvering around a car double-parked on Victoria Street in central Edinburgh.

US: cities adapted to cars

Broadly speaking, large cities in America were planned with cars, trucks and buses in mind because they’re usually a lot more recent than similarly-sized cities in Britain. This partially explains why a lot of the US streets are straight, peppered with traffic lights and several lanes wide. It’s often easier (though not necessarily cheaper) to find parking in a big US city than in a big British city, too.

Even quiet residential streets (pictured) tend to be wider in the US than in Britain. Older cities, like New York and Washington D.C., are an exception to this rule.

Who wins? Britain's city streets often have charm, but many are sub-optimal for cars. America's younger cities are not always so interesting to look at, but they sure are more car-friendly. This one's a tie.

Left vs. right

Any American who has driven in Britain and any Brit who has driven in the US will immediately tell you the most obvious difference between the two countries is where to drive. UK motorists sit on the right side of the car and drive on the left side of the road. It’s the other way around in the US.

In the UK, the practice allegedly dates back to the middle ages, when carriage drivers needed to keep their right hand free in case they were attacked and unexpectedly had to brandish their sword. The Highway Act of 1835 made it a law. In 1792, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania decided traffic between Lancaster and Philadelphia needed to drive on the right and other states quickly applied this rule.

Who wins? We hesitate to make a call on this matter. Suffice it to say the auto-makers of the world would rejoice if they could make the steering wheel on the same side of their cars the world over as it would save them a ton of complexity and thus money. But don't hold your breath. Other major countries that also drive on the left like in Britain include Japan, India, Australia, and South Africa; not coincidentally, most are former British colonies. 

Road safety

Despite being much more densely populated with both people and cars, British roads are much safer than those in the United States. In 2013, there were 12.9 deaths per 100,000 vehicles in the US compared to 5.1 deaths in Britain. There were approximately 40,100 deaths on US roads in 2017, compared to 1793 deaths in Britain. Adjusted for population, if British safety levels were applied to America, we’d expect to see 8350 deaths there.

But, as we’ve already seen, the average American car does many more miles than the average British one – 46% more to be precise - and the more you drive, the greater your chances of an accident. Spread across the approximate 260 million vehicles on US roads (compared to the 38 million in Britain), that all adds up. When miles-travelled are taken into account, America was actually a bit safer than Japan, Slovenia and Belgium in 2013 – but still with deaths-per-100 million miles travelled nearly twice the level of Britain. So what gives?

Road safety: what gives?

While US roads - like those of many developing countries - have got somewhat safer in recent years, with gains from safer cars, better brakes and so on, progress has been offset by growing driver distraction from smartphones. But this is a problem in Britain too. Part of the explanation is that America has a relatively much higher share of rural roads, which often have poor lighting, road markings and safety barriers.

Indeed, some US states do have accident death rates per-miles-travelled comparable to Britain – Rhode Island and Massachusetts for example. But they are quite a lot like Britain in respects such as population density, road topography and geography. Compare those areas to rural, sparsely-populated ones where people drive long distances on empty roads, and the dangers are clearer. The most dangerous states to drive in in terms of fatalities-per-billion miles driven according to Federal Highway Administration data for 2016 include Idaho, Montana and Alaska.

Alcohol also plays a part – almost a third of US traffic deaths involve it, compared with around 14% in Britain; for most Britons, getting a sociable drink involves a short walk or Uber to a pub a few minutes away; the ‘local bar’ for many rural Americans may be 30 miles down the highway, and despite 'designated driver' and other road safety campaigns, the temptation to drink and drive is clearly too much for too many.

Tyre vs. tire

From the perspective of a reader and a writer, one of the biggest differences between the UK and the US is how each country refers to different parts of a car. UK motorists open the bonnet check their engine oil, get a rag from the boot of their saloon and lean on the wing to see where they dropped the oil cap.

In the US, drivers open the hood, find a rag in the trunk of their sedan and lean on the fender. In England, a motorist browses the classifieds to find a spare tyre for his petrol-powered estate. In America, the same motorist would look for a tire for his gasoline-powered station wagon.

Who wins? You like tomato, and I like tomahto, let's call this whole thing off.