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, 2 motor vehicles was the most common car-ownership level among households in Dorset (M), accounting for 32.2% (960 households). This share was lower than Regional Tas. (34.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 3 or more motor vehicles, which increased by 116 households and 2.7 percentage points.
Section overview
Car ownership
Dorset (M) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises number of cars per household for Dorset (M) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Tas. and change since 2016.
Car ownership snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Dorset (M), with comparison markers for Regional Tas..
No motor vehicles
2021 count
100
% of total
3.4%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
100
3.4%
-0.6pp
1 motor vehicle
2021 count
920
% of total
30.8%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
920
30.8%
+0.2pp
2 motor vehicles
2021 count
960
% of total
32.2%
Change from 2016
-1.0pp
960
32.2%
-1.0pp
3 or more motor vehicles
2021 count
789
% of total
26.4%
Change from 2016
+2.7pp
789
26.4%
+2.7pp
Not stated
2021 count
215
% of total
7.2%
Change from 2016
-1.4pp
215
7.2%
-1.4pp
Chart view
Car ownership change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No motor vehicles
-13
-0.6pp
1 motor vehicle
+53
+0.2pp
2 motor vehicles
+19
-1.0pp
3 or more motor vehicles
+116
+2.7pp
Not stated
-28
-1.4pp
Data table
Number of cars per household for Dorset (M). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Tas..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | % | Regional Tas.% | Count | pp | |
| No motor vehicles | 100 | 3.4% | 5.1% | 113 | 4.0% | 5.9% | -13 | -0.6pp |
| 1 motor vehicle | 920 | 30.8% | 32.8% | 867 | 30.6% | 32.4% | +53 | +0.2pp |
| 2 motor vehicles | 960 | 32.2% | 34.1% | 941 | 33.2% | 33.4% | +19 | -1.0pp |
| 3 or more motor vehicles | 789 | 26.4% | 22.5% | 673 | 23.7% | 19.8% | +116 | +2.7pp |
| Not stated | 215 | 7.2% | 5.5% | 243 | 8.6% | 8.5% | -28 | -1.4pp |
| Total households | 2,985 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 2,834 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +151 | 0.0pp |