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 Onkaparinga (C), accounting for 38.5% (26,254 households). This share was higher than Greater Adelaide (36.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 2 motor vehicles, which increased by 2,188 households and 0.3 percentage points.

Section overview

Car ownership

Onkaparinga (C) - Households (Enumerated)

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

Car ownership snapshot

2021 distribution by category for Onkaparinga (C), with comparison markers for Greater Adelaide.

Onkaparinga (C)
Greater Adelaide

No motor vehicles

2021 count

3,583

% of total

5.3%

Change from 2016

0.0pp

1 motor vehicle

2021 count

23,812

% of total

34.9%

Change from 2016

-0.2pp

2 motor vehicles

2021 count

26,254

% of total

38.5%

Change from 2016

+0.3pp

3 or more motor vehicles

2021 count

13,768

% of total

20.2%

Change from 2016

+1.6pp

Not stated

2021 count

723

% of total

1.1%

Change from 2016

-1.8pp

Data table

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

Number of cars per household for Onkaparinga (C). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
Number of cars per household for Onkaparinga (C). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Adelaide.
Category20212016Change
Count%Greater Adelaide%Count%Greater Adelaide%Countpp
No motor vehicles3,5835.3%7.6%3,3395.3%8.0%+2440.0pp
1 motor vehicle23,81234.9%36.7%22,09035.1%36.6%+1,722-0.2pp
2 motor vehicles26,25438.5%36.5%24,06638.2%36.1%+2,188+0.3pp
3 or more motor vehicles13,76820.2%18.1%11,70718.6%16.4%+2,061+1.6pp
Not stated7231.1%1.1%1,8202.9%2.9%-1,097-1.8pp
Total households68,135100.0%100.0%63,024100.0%100.0%+5,1110.0pp