NUMBER OF MOTOR VEHICLES GARAGED
JUSTIFICATION
Data on the number and distribution of vehicles are used to assess present and future parking requirements, and the supply and type of both present and future public transport needs.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
A question on number of vehicles was first asked in the 1966 Census. Since 1976, households have been asked to record the number of registered motor vehicles (excluding motor cycles and motor scooters) owned or used by members of the household, garaged at or near their dwelling.
The 2001 Census question included an option to record the number of motor bikes and motor scooters. In addition, respondents were able to write in the actual number of vehicles rather than mark a self coding box.
For the 2006 Census, data was collected on the number of registered motor vehicles only. Motorbikes and motor scooters were excluded.
USER REQUIREMENTS
This topic is a significant part of transport-related Census topics and together with workplace address and mode of travel to work, is used in:
- transport modelling
- town planning
- market research.
It also serves as a useful socioeconomic indicator, either by itself or when cross-classified with other variables, to identify mobility and thus access to services.
AVAILABILITY OF NON-CENSUS DATA
A range of statistics on motor vehicles is available from:
These collections do not allow extensive cross-classification of vehicle counts with the characteristics of their owners.
Some small area data are available from motor vehicle registration statistics.
POSSIBLE CHANGES FOR 2011
For the 2011 Census, the ABS will consider adding the number of motorbikes at a dwelling to the question.
2006 CENSUS QUESTION
(Household form only)
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