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 Wellington (S), accounting for 37.8% (6,621 households). This share was similar to Regional Vic. (37.9%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 2 motor vehicles, which increased by 765 households and 1.4 percentage points.
Section overview
Car ownership
Wellington (S) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises number of cars per household for Wellington (S) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Regional Vic. and change since 2016.
Car ownership snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Wellington (S), with comparison markers for Regional Vic..
No motor vehicles
2021 count
769
% of total
4.4%
Change from 2016
-0.6pp
769
4.4%
-0.6pp
1 motor vehicle
2021 count
5,574
% of total
31.8%
Change from 2016
-0.2pp
5,574
31.8%
-0.2pp
2 motor vehicles
2021 count
6,621
% of total
37.8%
Change from 2016
+1.4pp
6,621
37.8%
+1.4pp
3 or more motor vehicles
2021 count
4,259
% of total
24.3%
Change from 2016
+1.8pp
4,259
24.3%
+1.8pp
Not stated
2021 count
309
% of total
1.8%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
309
1.8%
-2.3pp
Chart view
Car ownership change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No motor vehicles
-38
-0.6pp
1 motor vehicle
+434
-0.2pp
2 motor vehicles
+765
+1.4pp
3 or more motor vehicles
+640
+1.8pp
Not stated
-349
-2.3pp
Data table
Number of cars per household for Wellington (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 | 769 | 4.4% | 4.7% | 807 | 5.0% | 5.3% | -38 | -0.6pp |
| 1 motor vehicle | 5,574 | 31.8% | 33.1% | 5,140 | 32.0% | 32.7% | +434 | -0.2pp |
| 2 motor vehicles | 6,621 | 37.8% | 37.9% | 5,856 | 36.4% | 37.2% | +765 | +1.4pp |
| 3 or more motor vehicles | 4,259 | 24.3% | 22.5% | 3,619 | 22.5% | 20.5% | +640 | +1.8pp |
| Not stated | 309 | 1.8% | 1.7% | 658 | 4.1% | 4.3% | -349 | -2.3pp |
| Total households | 17,538 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 16,082 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +1,456 | 0.0pp |