Housing
Number of cars per household
About this topic
Number of cars per household shows how many registered motor vehicles are available to people living in a household. It is a measure of access to private transport rather than total travel activity.
This topic is useful for understanding mobility, transport choice, and access to jobs and services. It should be read with public transport availability, household type, income, and travel to work, because high or low car ownership can reflect very different local conditions.
Interpretation notes
- This measures registered motor vehicles owned or used by residents that were garaged or parked at or near the dwelling on Census night.
- Vehicle counts are a household access measure, not a direct measure of how often people drive or commute.
Related topics
Key insight
In 2021, 1 motor vehicle was the most common car-ownership level among households in Adelaide, accounting for 47.6% (3,933 households). This share was lower than Adelaide (C) (48.7%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 1 motor vehicle, which increased by 1,335 households and 4.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Car ownership
Adelaide - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises number of cars per household for Adelaide in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Adelaide (C) and change since 2016.
Car ownership snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Adelaide, with comparison markers for Adelaide (C).
No motor vehicles
2021 count
3,055
% of total
37.0%
Change from 2016
-1.1pp
3,055
37.0%
-1.1pp
1 motor vehicle
2021 count
3,933
% of total
47.6%
Change from 2016
+4.4pp
3,933
47.6%
+4.4pp
2 motor vehicles
2021 count
958
% of total
11.6%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
958
11.6%
-0.9pp
3 or more motor vehicles
2021 count
166
% of total
2.0%
Change from 2016
0.0pp
166
2.0%
0.0pp
Not stated
2021 count
141
% of total
1.7%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
141
1.7%
-2.4pp
Chart view
Car ownership change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No motor vehicles
+766
-1.1pp
1 motor vehicle
+1,335
+4.4pp
2 motor vehicles
+204
-0.9pp
3 or more motor vehicles
+48
0.0pp
Not stated
-106
-2.4pp
Data table
Number of cars per household for Adelaide. Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Adelaide (C).
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Adelaide (C)% | Count | % | Adelaide (C)% | Count | pp | |
| No motor vehicles | 3,055 | 37.0% | 30.8% | 2,289 | 38.1% | 30.3% | +766 | -1.1pp |
| 1 motor vehicle | 3,933 | 47.6% | 48.7% | 2,598 | 43.2% | 44.9% | +1,335 | +4.4pp |
| 2 motor vehicles | 958 | 11.6% | 15.4% | 754 | 12.5% | 17.3% | +204 | -0.9pp |
| 3 or more motor vehicles | 166 | 2.0% | 3.6% | 118 | 2.0% | 3.7% | +48 | 0.0pp |
| Not stated | 141 | 1.7% | 1.4% | 247 | 4.1% | 3.8% | -106 | -2.4pp |
| Total households | 8,254 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 6,014 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +2,240 | 0.0pp |