While the open road is a quintessential part of the American dream, the reality of who owns vehicles and how many reveals a fascinating tapestry of modern life, from the 91.3% of U.S. households that own at least one vehicle to the surprising 7.4 million households that navigate life without one.
Key Takeaways
- In 2021, 91.3% of U.S. households owned at least one motor vehicle
- As of 2020, 84.6% of American households had access to at least one vehicle
- In 2019, the average number of vehicles per U.S. household was 1.88
- 92% of adults aged 30-49 in the US owned a vehicle in 2022
- Vehicle ownership among US adults aged 18-29 was 81% in 2022
- In 2021, 95% of US men owned or had access to a vehicle
- In California, 82.5% of households owned a vehicle in 2021
- New York State households had only 65% vehicle ownership in 2021
- Texas vehicle ownership rate was 93.2% for households in 2021
- 54.8% of US households owned a passenger car in 2020
- 38.2% of US households owned a pickup truck or van in 2020
- 2.1 million US households owned motorcycles in 2019
- In 2020, average vehicles per US household increased from 1.8 in 2010 to 1.88
- US household vehicle ownership rose from 89% in 2010 to 91.3% in 2021
- Carless US households decreased by 1.2 million from 2016 to 2021
Vehicle ownership in U.S. households remains very high at over ninety percent.
Demographic Ownership
- 92% of adults aged 30-49 in the US owned a vehicle in 2022
- Vehicle ownership among US adults aged 18-29 was 81% in 2022
- In 2021, 95% of US men owned or had access to a vehicle
- 89% of US women owned or had access to a vehicle in 2021
- Households earning $100,000+ annually had 98.5% vehicle ownership rate in 2021
- Low-income households (<$30k) had 73% vehicle ownership in 2021
- 87% of White non-Hispanic US adults owned a vehicle in 2020
- Hispanic US adults had 84% vehicle ownership in 2020
- Black US adults owned vehicles at 79% rate in 2020
- Asian US adults had 91% vehicle ownership in 2020
- 94% of married US adults owned a vehicle in 2022
- Single US adults had 85% vehicle ownership in 2022
- College graduates in US owned vehicles at 93% rate in 2021
- High school or less educated US adults had 82% ownership in 2021
- Urban millennials (born 1981-1996) had 78% vehicle ownership in 2020
- Rural baby boomers (born 1946-1964) owned 97% vehicles in 2020
- 96% of US adults aged 50-64 owned a vehicle in 2022
- Gen Z (18-24) vehicle ownership was 76% in 2022
- Households with children under 6 had 94.5% vehicle ownership in 2021
- Empty-nester households owned 92% vehicles in 2021
- LGBTQ+ US adults had 88% vehicle ownership rate in 2020
- Veterans in US owned vehicles at 95% rate in 2021
- Disabled US adults had 85% vehicle ownership in 2020
Demographic Ownership Interpretation
It appears that in America, your likelihood of car ownership climbs steadily with age, income, marriage, children, and distance from a city bus stop, proving that while life is a journey, it's one we overwhelmingly prefer to take in the driver's seat.
Geographic Ownership
- In California, 82.5% of households owned a vehicle in 2021
- New York State households had only 65% vehicle ownership in 2021
- Texas vehicle ownership rate was 93.2% for households in 2021
- Florida households owned vehicles at 91.8% rate in 2021
- In Illinois, 87.4% of households had at least one vehicle in 2021
- Pennsylvania vehicle ownership was 89.1% in 2021
- Ohio households had 91.6% ownership rate in 2021
- Georgia state vehicle ownership reached 92.3% in 2021
- Michigan households owned 92.7% vehicles in 2021
- North Carolina had 92.1% household vehicle ownership in 2021
- In Washington DC, only 36.9% of households owned a vehicle in 2021
- Wyoming households had 96.4% vehicle ownership in 2021
- West Virginia rate was 94.2% in 2021
- In the UK, 77% of households owned a car in 2021
- Germany had 85% household car ownership in 2022
- France vehicle ownership rate was 87% in 2021
- Japan households owned cars at 79% rate in 2021
- In India, only 7.5% of households owned a car in 2021
- China household car ownership was 22% in 2021
- Brazil had 45% household vehicle ownership in 2021
- In Canada, 91% of households owned a vehicle in 2021
- Australia car ownership rate was 89% in 2021
Geographic Ownership Interpretation
The data paints a clear, if predictable, picture: necessity dictates ownership, as demonstrated by America's car-dependent heartland leading the pack, Europe's developed transit systems trailing respectfully behind, and urban havens like New York and D.C. bravely bucking the trend altogether, while the developing world humbly reminds us that a car is still a luxury.
Household Ownership
- In 2021, 91.3% of U.S. households owned at least one motor vehicle
- As of 2020, 84.6% of American households had access to at least one vehicle
- In 2019, the average number of vehicles per U.S. household was 1.88
- 8.5% of U.S. households owned three or more vehicles in 2021
- Urban U.S. households had a vehicle ownership rate of 82% in 2020
- Rural U.S. households owned vehicles at a rate of 95% in 2020
- In 2022, 7.4 million U.S. households were without a vehicle
- Multi-vehicle households comprised 58% of U.S. households in 2017
- The vehicle ownership rate for households with children under 18 was 93.2% in 2021
- Single-person U.S. households had a 78.5% vehicle ownership rate in 2020
- In 2021, 76% of U.S. households owned two or fewer vehicles
- Elderly U.S. households (65+) owned 1.65 vehicles on average in 2019
- Low-income U.S. households (<$25k) had 72% vehicle ownership in 2021
- In 2020, 92% of married-couple households owned at least one vehicle
- U.S. households in the South had the highest vehicle ownership at 93.1% in 2021
- Asian American households had a 90.2% vehicle ownership rate in 2019
- In 2022, 1.2% of U.S. households owned electric vehicles exclusively
- Hispanic U.S. households owned vehicles at 85.4% rate in 2021
- In 2018, 85% of U.S. households with annual income over $100k owned two or more vehicles
- Female-headed U.S. households had 82.3% vehicle ownership in 2020
- In 2021, Midwest U.S. households averaged 1.95 vehicles per household
- 4.1% of U.S. immigrant households were carless in 2019
- U.S. households renting homes had 79% vehicle ownership in 2022
- In 2020, 96% of households in Wyoming owned at least one vehicle
- Black U.S. households had an 80.1% vehicle ownership rate in 2021
- In 2019, college-educated U.S. households owned 2.1 vehicles on average
- Pacific U.S. households had 88.7% vehicle ownership in 2021
- In 2022, 65% of U.S. households owned a personal vehicle used daily
- Non-family U.S. households averaged 1.2 vehicles in 2020
- In 2021, 89% of U.S. households in suburbs owned vehicles
Household Ownership Interpretation
While American roads overflow with nearly two cars per household on average, stark mobility divides emerge between rural and urban areas, rich and poor, and families with children versus single individuals.
Temporal Trends
- In 2020, average vehicles per US household increased from 1.8 in 2010 to 1.88
- US household vehicle ownership rose from 89% in 2010 to 91.3% in 2021
- Carless US households decreased by 1.2 million from 2016 to 2021
- EV ownership in US households grew 40% year-over-year in 2022
- Pickup truck ownership increased 15% in US households from 2015-2020
- SUV ownership in US surged from 35% to 48% of households 2010-2022
- Global car ownership per 1000 people rose from 125 in 2000 to 180 in 2020
- US multi-vehicle households grew from 55% in 2009 to 58% in 2019
- During COVID-19, new vehicle registrations in US households fell 15% in 2020
- Hybrid vehicle ownership tripled in US households from 2010 to 2020
- Sedan ownership declined 20% in US households from 2015-2022
- Rural US vehicle ownership stable at 95% from 2010-2021
- Urban carless households increased 5% from 2010-2020
- Average age of owned vehicles in US households rose to 12.2 years in 2022
- Low-income household ownership improved 8% from 2009-2021
- Young adult (18-24) ownership dipped to 76% in 2022 from 82% in 2010
- Global household car ownership projected to reach 30% by 2030
- US household EV ownership forecasted to 15% by 2030
- Multi-vehicle ownership in high-income households up 10% since 2010
- Motorcycle ownership per household stable at 2% from 2010-2020
Temporal Trends Interpretation
Despite the noble march towards electrification, Americans have defiantly doubled down on their love affair with the automobile, packing more aging trucks and SUVs into their driveways while sedans politely exit stage left.
Vehicle Type Ownership
- 54.8% of US households owned a passenger car in 2020
- 38.2% of US households owned a pickup truck or van in 2020
- 2.1 million US households owned motorcycles in 2019
- 1.8% of US households owned an RV in 2021
- In 2022, 9.5 million US households owned at least one SUV
- Sedan ownership in US households dropped to 45% in 2022
- 15% of US households owned a hybrid vehicle in 2023
- Electric vehicle ownership reached 2.5% of US households in 2023
- 28% of US households owned light trucks in 2021
- Motorcycle ownership was highest at 3.2% in rural US households in 2020
- 4.2% of high-income US households owned luxury vehicles in 2022
- Minivan ownership in US was 6.8% of households in 2021
- 1.1% of US households owned a Tesla in 2023
- Sports car ownership stood at 2.3% in US households in 2022
- 12% of US households owned a crossover vehicle in 2022
- Boat ownership complemented vehicle ownership in 3.5% of US households in 2021
Vehicle Type Ownership Interpretation
While America's love affair with the family sedan is cooling off, our driveways are becoming a monument to practical bulk, with SUVs and trucks dominating the landscape while electric vehicles quietly wait for their turn at the outlet.
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