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 Surf Coast (S), accounting for 46.2% (6,135 households). This share was higher than Regional Vic. (37.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 2 motor vehicles, which increased by 1,559 households and 1.2 percentage points.
Section overview
Car ownership
Surf Coast (S) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises number of cars per household for Surf Coast (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Chart view
Car ownership snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Surf Coast (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
No motor vehicles
2021 count
235
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-0.5pp
235
1.8%
-0.5pp
1 motor vehicle
2021 count
3,618
% of total
27.3%
Change from 2016
+0.4pp
3,618
27.3%
+0.4pp
2 motor vehicles
2021 count
6,135
% of total
46.2%
Change from 2016
+1.2pp
6,135
46.2%
+1.2pp
3 or more motor vehicles
2021 count
3,130
% of total
23.6%
Change from 2016
+0.9pp
3,130
23.6%
+0.9pp
Not stated
2021 count
157
% of total
1.2%
Change from 2016
-1.8pp
157
1.2%
-1.8pp
Car ownership change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No motor vehicles
-2
-0.5pp
1 motor vehicle
+883
+0.4pp
2 motor vehicles
+1,559
+1.2pp
3 or more motor vehicles
+819
+0.9pp
Not stated
-152
-1.8pp
Data table
Number of cars per household for Surf Coast (S). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Regional Vic..
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | % | Regional Vic.% | Count | pp | |
| No motor vehicles | 235 | 1.8% | 4.7% | 237 | 2.3% | 5.3% | -2 | -0.5pp |
| 1 motor vehicle | 3,618 | 27.3% | 33.1% | 2,735 | 26.9% | 32.7% | +883 | +0.4pp |
| 2 motor vehicles | 6,135 | 46.2% | 37.9% | 4,576 | 45.0% | 37.2% | +1,559 | +1.2pp |
| 3 or more motor vehicles | 3,130 | 23.6% | 22.5% | 2,311 | 22.7% | 20.5% | +819 | +0.9pp |
| Not stated | 157 | 1.2% | 1.7% | 309 | 3.0% | 4.3% | -152 | -1.8pp |
| Total households | 13,270 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 10,163 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +3,107 | 0.0pp |