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.

Key insight

In 2021, 2 motor vehicles was the most common car-ownership level among households in Adelaide Hills (DC), accounting for 43% (6,249 households). This share was higher than Greater Adelaide (36.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 3 or more motor vehicles, which increased by 605 households and 2.6 percentage points.

Section overview

Car ownership

Adelaide Hills (DC) - Households (Enumerated)

This table summarises number of cars per household for Adelaide Hills (DC) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Adelaide and change since 2016.

Car ownership snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Adelaide Hills (DC), with comparison markers for Greater Adelaide.

Adelaide Hills (DC)
Greater Adelaide

No motor vehicles

2021 count

242

% of total

1.7%

Change from 2016

-0.3pp

1 motor vehicle

2021 count

3,407

% of total

23.4%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

2 motor vehicles

2021 count

6,249

% of total

43.0%

Change from 2016

-0.6pp

3 or more motor vehicles

2021 count

4,509

% of total

31.0%

Change from 2016

+2.6pp

Not stated

2021 count

132

% of total

0.9%

Change from 2016

-1.3pp

Data table

Number of cars per household for Adelaide Hills (DC). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.

Number of cars per household for Adelaide Hills (DC). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
Number of cars per household for Adelaide Hills (DC). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Adelaide%Count%Greater Adelaide%Countpp
No motor vehicles2421.7%7.6%2752.0%8.0%-33-0.3pp
1 motor vehicle3,40723.4%36.7%3,28223.9%36.6%+125-0.5pp
2 motor vehicles6,24943.0%36.5%6,00043.6%36.1%+249-0.6pp
3 or more motor vehicles4,50931.0%18.1%3,90428.4%16.4%+605+2.6pp
Not stated1320.9%1.1%2982.2%2.9%-166-1.3pp
Total households14,537100.0%100.0%13,761100.0%100.0%+7760.0pp