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 Sydney (C), accounting for 46.2% (45,146 households). This share was higher than Greater Sydney (39.5%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 1 motor vehicle, which increased by 8,221 households and 3 percentage points.
Section overview
Car ownership
Sydney (C) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises number of cars per household for Sydney (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Sydney and change since 2016.
Car ownership snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Sydney (C), with comparison markers for Greater Sydney.
No motor vehicles
2021 count
37,727
% of total
38.6%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
37,727
38.6%
-0.4pp
1 motor vehicle
2021 count
45,146
% of total
46.2%
Change from 2016
+3.0pp
45,146
46.2%
+3.0pp
2 motor vehicles
2021 count
10,921
% of total
11.2%
Change from 2016
-0.3pp
10,921
11.2%
-0.3pp
3 or more motor vehicles
2021 count
2,095
% of total
2.1%
Change from 2016
+0.1pp
2,095
2.1%
+0.1pp
Not stated
2021 count
1,848
% of total
1.9%
Change from 2016
-2.4pp
1,848
1.9%
-2.4pp
Chart view
Car ownership change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No motor vehicles
+4,397
-0.4pp
1 motor vehicle
+8,221
+3.0pp
2 motor vehicles
+1,122
-0.3pp
3 or more motor vehicles
+358
+0.1pp
Not stated
-1,785
-2.4pp
Data table
Number of cars per household for Sydney (C). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Sydney.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | % | Greater Sydney% | Count | pp | |
| No motor vehicles | 37,727 | 38.6% | 11.1% | 33,330 | 39.0% | 11.1% | +4,397 | -0.4pp |
| 1 motor vehicle | 45,146 | 46.2% | 39.5% | 36,925 | 43.2% | 37.1% | +8,221 | +3.0pp |
| 2 motor vehicles | 10,921 | 11.2% | 32.3% | 9,799 | 11.5% | 32.8% | +1,122 | -0.3pp |
| 3 or more motor vehicles | 2,095 | 2.1% | 15.7% | 1,737 | 2.0% | 15.7% | +358 | +0.1pp |
| Not stated | 1,848 | 1.9% | 1.4% | 3,633 | 4.3% | 3.3% | -1,785 | -2.4pp |
| Total households | 97,743 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 85,423 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +12,320 | 0.0pp |