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, 1 motor vehicle was the most common car-ownership level among households in Perth (C), accounting for 57.7% (7,115 households). This share was higher than Greater Perth (34.6%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 1 motor vehicle, which increased by 2,225 households and 1.9 percentage points.
Section overview
Car ownership
Perth (C) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises number of cars per household for Perth (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Perth and change since 2016.
Car ownership snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Perth (C), with comparison markers for Greater Perth.
No motor vehicles
2021 count
2,559
% of total
20.8%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
2,559
20.8%
+0.5pp
1 motor vehicle
2021 count
7,115
% of total
57.7%
Change from 2016
+1.9pp
7,115
57.7%
+1.9pp
2 motor vehicles
2021 count
2,098
% of total
17.0%
Change from 2016
-0.9pp
2,098
17.0%
-0.9pp
3 or more motor vehicles
2021 count
386
% of total
3.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
386
3.1%
+0.1pp
Not stated
2021 count
169
% of total
1.4%
Change from 2016
-1.6pp
169
1.4%
-1.6pp
Chart view
Car ownership change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No motor vehicles
+777
+0.5pp
1 motor vehicle
+2,225
+1.9pp
2 motor vehicles
+533
-0.9pp
3 or more motor vehicles
+122
+0.1pp
Not stated
-98
-1.6pp
Data table
Number of cars per household for Perth (C). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Perth.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | % | Greater Perth% | Count | pp | |
| No motor vehicles | 2,559 | 20.8% | 4.9% | 1,782 | 20.3% | 4.9% | +777 | +0.5pp |
| 1 motor vehicle | 7,115 | 57.7% | 34.6% | 4,890 | 55.8% | 32.2% | +2,225 | +1.9pp |
| 2 motor vehicles | 2,098 | 17.0% | 39.4% | 1,565 | 17.9% | 39.4% | +533 | -0.9pp |
| 3 or more motor vehicles | 386 | 3.1% | 19.9% | 264 | 3.0% | 20.8% | +122 | +0.1pp |
| Not stated | 169 | 1.4% | 1.2% | 267 | 3.0% | 2.7% | -98 | -1.6pp |
| Total households | 12,329 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 8,764 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,565 | 0.0pp |