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 Bridport, accounting for 37.5% (263 households). This share was higher than Dorset (M) (34%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 3 or more motor vehicles, which increased by 55 households and 6 percentage points.

Section overview

Car ownership

Bridport - Households (Enumerated)

This table summarises number of cars per household for Bridport in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Dorset (M) and change since 2016.

Car ownership snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Bridport, with comparison markers for Dorset (M).

Bridport
Dorset (M)

No motor vehicles

2021 count

21

% of total

3.0%

Change from 2016

+1.1pp

1 motor vehicle

2021 count

228

% of total

32.5%

Change from 2016

-1.5pp

2 motor vehicles

2021 count

263

% of total

37.5%

Change from 2016

-1.7pp

3 or more motor vehicles

2021 count

182

% of total

26.0%

Change from 2016

+6.0pp

Not stated

2021 count

15

% of total

2.1%

Change from 2016

-2.3pp

Data table

Number of cars per household for Bridport. Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Dorset (M).

Number of cars per household for Bridport. Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Dorset (M).
Number of cars per household for Bridport. Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Dorset (M).
Category20212016Change
Count%Dorset (M)%Count%Dorset (M)%Countpp
No motor vehicles213.0%3.7%121.9%4.0%+9+1.1pp
1 motor vehicle22832.5%31.7%21634.0%31.8%+12-1.5pp
2 motor vehicles26337.5%34.0%24939.2%35.1%+14-1.7pp
3 or more motor vehicles18226.0%28.3%12720.0%25.4%+55+6.0pp
Not stated152.1%2.4%284.4%3.8%-13-2.3pp
Total households701100.0%100.0%635100.0%100.0%+660.0pp