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 Whittlesea (C), accounting for 40.3% (31,762 households). This share was higher than Greater Melbourne (35.1%). Since 2016, the biggest change was in 2 motor vehicles, which increased by 5,255 households and 0.5 percentage points.
Section overview
Car ownership
Whittlesea (C) - Households (Enumerated)
This table summarises number of cars per household for Whittlesea (C) in 2021 for persons, with comparison against Greater Melbourne and change since 2016.
Car ownership snapshot
2021 distribution by category for Whittlesea (C), with comparison markers for Greater Melbourne.
No motor vehicles
2021 count
3,252
% of total
4.1%
Change from 2016
-0.4pp
3,252
4.1%
-0.4pp
1 motor vehicle
2021 count
24,481
% of total
31.1%
Change from 2016
+2.0pp
24,481
31.1%
+2.0pp
2 motor vehicles
2021 count
31,762
% of total
40.3%
Change from 2016
+0.5pp
31,762
40.3%
+0.5pp
3 or more motor vehicles
2021 count
15,719
% of total
20.0%
Change from 2016
+0.2pp
15,719
20.0%
+0.2pp
Not stated
2021 count
3,584
% of total
4.5%
Change from 2016
-2.3pp
3,584
4.5%
-2.3pp
Chart view
Car ownership change
Absolute change in category counts between 2016 and 2021.
No motor vehicles
+285
-0.4pp
1 motor vehicle
+5,128
+2.0pp
2 motor vehicles
+5,255
+0.5pp
3 or more motor vehicles
+2,531
+0.2pp
Not stated
-929
-2.3pp
Data table
Number of cars per household for Whittlesea (C). Car ownership. 2021 and 2016 counts, percentages, and change compared with Greater Melbourne.
| Category | 2021 | 2016 | Change | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | % | Greater Melbourne% | Count | pp | |
| No motor vehicles | 3,252 | 4.1% | 8.2% | 2,967 | 4.5% | 8.5% | +285 | -0.4pp |
| 1 motor vehicle | 24,481 | 31.1% | 35.6% | 19,353 | 29.1% | 33.2% | +5,128 | +2.0pp |
| 2 motor vehicles | 31,762 | 40.3% | 35.1% | 26,507 | 39.8% | 34.8% | +5,255 | +0.5pp |
| 3 or more motor vehicles | 15,719 | 20.0% | 16.3% | 13,188 | 19.8% | 15.9% | +2,531 | +0.2pp |
| Not stated | 3,584 | 4.5% | 4.7% | 4,513 | 6.8% | 7.6% | -929 | -2.3pp |
| Total households | 78,791 | 100.0% | 100.0% | 66,528 | 100.0% | 100.0% | +12,263 | 0.0pp |