A concrete driveway is generally more expensive because it requires more hand labor to install. An asphalt driveway is installed mostly with power equipment (spreaders, rollers, etc). Concrete requires excavation, forming, steel reinforcing, pumping, placement, finishing the surface, and, finally, curing.

A 6″ thick concrete driveway will be much stronger than 2″ of asphalt and will “span” over soft spots in the subgrade. If you have a steep driveway, concrete can be broom finished to give better tire traction but asphalt must be install “smooth” and can be slippery when wet. Concrete will obviously be whiter in color vs. black asphalt. “Lamp black” can be added to the concrete at the plant to make it more grey, so it doesn’t blind you in the sunlight.

So you might want to get a quote for both asphalt and concrete based on your current site conditions.
Folks need to remember that concrete needs to be “cured” for at least a week after placement by sealing it again water evaporation. Expansion joints also need to be installed, since concrete shrinks during curing and will crack randomly, if not provided with “control joints”.

Hope this helps.

An asphalt pavement section consists of 3 parts…the subgrade (dirt underneath), the baserock directly under the asphalt, and the asphalt on top. The subgrade should drain well and have no “soft spots.” The baserock section should be minimum 4″ to 6″ deep and properly compacted. The asphalt should be minimum 2″ thick and properly placed and compacted before it cools. If your asphalt is breaking up, chances are you have problems underneath….have the contractor address those issues before paving your driveway. 😉