U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

Vehicle Technologies Office

Fact #392: October 3, 2005
Household Vehicle Ownership

Household vehicle ownership has changed significantly over the last 40 years. In 1960, 22% owned no vehicles, and less than 3% of households owned three or more vehicles. By 2000, less than 10% of households owned no vehicles, and nearly 20% of households owned three or more vehicles.

Share of Households by Vehicle Ownership
Graph showing household vehicle ownership trends for each decade from 1960 to 2000.

Supporting Information

Household Vehicle Ownership
  Year
Number of Household Vehicles 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000
0 vehicles 21.5% 17.5% 12.9% 11.5% 9.4%
1 vehicle 56.9% 47.7% 35.5% 33.7% 33.8%
2 vehicles 19.0% 29.3% 34.0% 37.4% 38.6%
3 vehicles or more 2.5% 5.5% 17.5% 17.3% 18.3%
All 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0% 100.0%

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census, Decennial Census

 

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