idc-logo
svg rectangle color
AustraliaCommunity profile

New South Wales

Number of cars per household

Analysis of car ownership in 2021, indicates 49% of households in New South Wales had access to two or more motor vehicles, compared to 57% in Western Australia.

The ability of the population to access services and employment is strongly influenced by access to transport. The number of motor vehicles per household in New South Wales quantifies access to private transport and will be influenced by Age Structure and Household Type, which determine the number of adults present; access to Public Transport; distance to shops, services, employment and education; and Household Income. Depending on these factors, car ownership can be seen as a measure of advantage or disadvantage, or a neutral socio-economic measure, which impacts on the environment and quality of life.

Q:

Derived from the Census question:

'How many registered motor vehicles owned or used by residents of this dwelling were garaged or parked at or near this dwelling on the night of 10 August 2021?'

Car ownership
New South Wales - Households (Enumerated)20212016Change
Number of carsNumber%Western Australia %Number%Western Australia %2016 to 2021
No motor vehicles266,7318.74.8245,3778.84.8+21,354
1 motor vehicle1,115,17336.533.2961,03934.630.3+154,134
2 motor vehicles996,14532.637.0893,98832.236.4+102,157
3 or more motor vehicles511,01316.719.5437,15315.820.1+73,860
Not stated169,2025.55.4237,3038.68.5-68,101
Total households3,058,264100.0100.02,774,860100.0100.0+283,404
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2016 and 2021. Compiled and presented by .id (informed decisions).
Please refer to specific data notes for more information

Dominant groups

Analysis of the car ownership of the households in New South Wales in 2021 compared to Western Australia shows that 85.7% of the households owned at least one car, while 8.7% did not, compared with 89.8% and 4.8% respectively in Western Australia.

Of those that owned at least one vehicle, there was a larger proportion who owned just one car; a smaller proportion who owned two cars; and a smaller proportion who owned three cars or more.

Overall, 36.5% of the households owned one car; 32.6% owned two cars; and 16.7% owned three cars or more, compared with 33.2%; 37.0% and 19.5% respectively for Western Australia.

Emerging groups

The largest changes in the household car ownership in New South Wales between 2016 and 2021 were:

  • 1 motor vehicle (+154,134 households)
  • 2 motor vehicles (+102,157 households)
  • 3 or more motor vehicles (+73,860 households)
  • No motor vehicles (+21,354 households)

DISCLAIMER: While all due care has been taken to ensure that the content of this website is accurate and current, there may be errors or omissions in it and no legal responsibility is accepted for the information and opinions in this website.

Please view our Privacy Policy, Terms of use and Legal notices.

ABS Data and the copyright in the ABS Data remains the property of the Australian Bureau of Statistics. The copyright in the way .id has modified, transformed or reconfigured the ABS Data as published on this website remains the property of .id. ABS Data can be accessed from the Australian Bureau of Statistics at www.abs.gov.au. ABS data can be used under license - terms published on ABS website. intermediary.management@abs.gov.au if you have any queries or wish to distribute any ABS data.