idc-logo
svg rectangle color
AustraliaCommunity profile

Australia

Number of cars per household

Analysis of car ownership in 2021, indicates 53% of households in Australia had access to two or more motor vehicles, compared to 57% in Regional TAS.

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 Australia 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
Australia - Households (Enumerated)20212001Change
Number of carsNumber%Regional TAS %Number%Regional TAS %2001 to 2021
No motor vehicles691,8867.15.1708,07710.08.9-16,191
1 motor vehicle3,438,31935.132.82,692,21338.137.4+746,106
2 motor vehicles3,395,10634.634.12,328,18532.934.6+1,066,921
3 or more motor vehicles1,754,87617.922.5886,50912.513.9+868,367
Not stated528,2075.45.5457,2226.55.2+70,985
Total households9,808,394100.0100.07,072,206100.0100.0+2,736,188
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2001 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 Australia in 2021 compared to Regional TAS shows that 87.6% of the households owned at least one car, while 7.1% did not, compared with 89.4% and 5.1% respectively in Regional TAS.

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

Overall, 35.1% of the households owned one car; 34.6% owned two cars; and 17.9% owned three cars or more, compared with 32.8%; 34.1% and 22.5% respectively for Regional TAS.

Emerging groups

The largest changes in the household car ownership in Australia between 2001 and 2021 were:

  • 2 motor vehicles (+1,066,921 households)
  • 3 or more motor vehicles (+868,367 households)
  • 1 motor vehicle (+746,106 households)
  • No motor vehicles (-16,191 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. Stats NZ Data and the copyright in the Stats NZ Data remains the property of the Statistics New Zealand.

The copyright in the way .id has modified, transformed or reconfigured the Stats NZ Data as published on this website remains the property of .id. Stats NZ Data can be accessed on the Statistics New Zealand website at www.stats.govt.nz. Unless otherwise specified, content that Stats NZ produce is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. For further information see https://www.stats.govt.nz/about-us/copyright/.