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, 1 motor vehicle was the most common car-ownership level among households in Central Coast (C) (NSW), accounting for 37.5% (49,354 households). This share was lower than Greater Sydney (39.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 1 motor vehicle, which increased by 5,039 households and 0.9 percentage points.

Section overview

Car ownership

Central Coast (C) (NSW) - Households (Enumerated)

This table summarises number of cars per household for Central Coast (C) (NSW) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.

Car ownership snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Central Coast (C) (NSW), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.

Central Coast (C) (NSW)
Greater Sydney

No motor vehicles

2021 count

8,428

% of total

6.4%

Change from 2016

-0.5pp

1 motor vehicle

2021 count

49,354

% of total

37.5%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

2 motor vehicles

2021 count

47,282

% of total

35.9%

Change from 2016

+0.9pp

3 or more motor vehicles

2021 count

24,761

% of total

18.8%

Change from 2016

+1.4pp

Not stated

2021 count

1,884

% of total

1.4%

Change from 2016

-2.6pp

Data table

Number of cars per household for Central Coast (C) (NSW). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.

Number of cars per household for Central Coast (C) (NSW). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Number of cars per household for Central Coast (C) (NSW). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Sydney%Count%Greater Sydney%Countpp
No motor vehicles8,4286.4%11.1%8,3886.9%11.1%+40-0.5pp
1 motor vehicle49,35437.5%39.5%44,31536.6%37.1%+5,039+0.9pp
2 motor vehicles47,28235.9%32.3%42,41435.0%32.8%+4,868+0.9pp
3 or more motor vehicles24,76118.8%15.7%21,11817.4%15.7%+3,643+1.4pp
Not stated1,8841.4%1.4%4,8104.0%3.3%-2,926-2.6pp
Total households131,713100.0%100.0%121,048100.0%100.0%+10,6650.0pp