Number of motor vehicles (VEHD)

This variable records the number of registered motor vehicles owned or used by household members that were garaged or parked at or near private dwellings on Census Night. It includes vans and company-owned vehicles and excludes motorbikes, scooters and heavy motor vehicles.

Occupied private dwellings

Number of motor vehicles is a dwelling variable created from the number of motor vehicles owned or used question. Data for this variable is captured automatically from a written numeric response or by marking the 'None' mark box on the paper form.

This variable includes single fields for values from 0 to 29. Values of 30 or more are grouped together. The related variable Number of motor vehicles (ranges) (VEHRD) groups responses to this question differently, with responses for 1 to 3 motor vehicles available singly, and responses of 4 or more motor vehicles coded into the grouped category of 'Four or more motor vehicles'.

This variable was first introduced in 1966. The question has remained in all subsequent censuses.

In 2001 this question also asked for the number of motorbikes and motor scooters. In 2006, asking for motorbikes and motor scooters was removed because of their lesser impact on the transport system.

In 2021, additional instructional text was added to exclude heavy motor vehicles. This was done to better clarify the existing definition of a motor vehicle.

Governments and councils use information from this question to plan transport infrastructure and services. Motorbikes and motor scooters are excluded from this question because of their lesser impact on the transport system. The question also excludes heavy motor vehicles (over 4.5t GVM). Tractors, boats and caravans are also not included.

The data may include a small proportion of dwellings with unusually large numbers of vehicles, as all numeric responses are accepted as reported.

The non-response rate for Number of motor vehicles (VEHD) was 5.4% in 2021. This is a decrease from 8.4% in 2016. 

• Number of motor vehicles (ranges) (VEHRD)
• Place of usual residence (PURP)

• Tourism and transport
• Transport: Census