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AustraliaCommunity profile

Greater Melbourne

Number of cars per household

Analysis of car ownership in 2021, indicates 51% of households in Greater Melbourne had access to two or more motor vehicles, compared to 55% in Regional 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 Greater Melbourne 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
Greater Melbourne - Households (Enumerated)20212016Change
Number of carsNumber%Regional Australia %Number%Regional Australia %2016 to 2021
No motor vehicles153,0758.25.1141,5768.55.6+11,499
1 motor vehicle660,92335.633.3552,16733.232.3+108,756
2 motor vehicles652,85035.134.9578,72134.834.1+74,129
3 or more motor vehicles303,87116.319.9265,06615.918.1+38,805
Not stated88,0764.76.7127,0177.69.8-38,941
Total households1,858,795100.0100.01,664,547100.0100.0+194,248
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 Greater Melbourne in 2021 compared to Regional Australia shows that 87.0% of the households owned at least one car, while 8.2% did not, compared with 88.1% and 5.1% respectively in Regional Australia.

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

Overall, 35.6% of the households owned one car; 35.1% owned two cars; and 16.3% owned three cars or more, compared with 33.3%; 34.9% and 19.9% respectively for Regional Australia.

Emerging groups

The largest changes in the household car ownership in Greater Melbourne between 2016 and 2021 were:

  • 1 motor vehicle (+108,756 households)
  • 2 motor vehicles (+74,129 households)
  • 3 or more motor vehicles (+38,805 households)
  • No motor vehicles (+11,499 households)

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