US Car Ownership Statistics 2023 [91.7% households had at least one, 22.1% had three or more]

[Hamartia Antidote]

Car Ownership Statistics 2024

Americans place a high value on car ownership, a fact made evident by the latest car ownership statistics in the U.S. Between 2017 and 2021, personal and commercial vehicle registrations increased by 3.66%, indicating an upward trend in car ownership.[1] Most U.S. households (91.7%) had at least one

www.forbes.com

Americans place a high value on car ownership, a fact made evident by the latest car ownership statistics in the U.S. Between 2017 and 2021, personal and commercial vehicle registrations increased by 3.66%, indicating an upward trend in car ownership. Most U.S. households (91.7%) had at least one vehicle in 2021 (the latest data available), and 22.1% of households had three or more vehicles.

Forbes Advisor conducted a deep dive into the latest available data to uncover car ownership rates by state, car ownership costs by state (including car insurance costs), electric vehicle ownership rates and the most popular car models.

National Car Ownership Statistics at a Glance​

• A total of 278,063,737 personal and commercial vehicles were registered to drivers in the U.S. in 2021. [1]
• The number of registered vehicles in the United States increased by 3.66% between 2017 and 2021, indicating an upward trend in car ownership.[1]
• Trucks are the most popular vehicle type, with 166,079,082 private and commercial vehicle registrations in 2021, compared to 101,601,344 vehicle registrations for cars.[1]
• 91.7% of households had at least one vehicle in 2021. Only 8.3% of households did not have a vehicle.[2]
• Idaho and Wyoming tied for the highest rate of car ownership nationwide, with 96.2% of households in both states reporting access to at least one vehicle in 2021. [2]
• Only 64.3% of households in the District of Columbia had at least one vehicle in 2021, the lowest percentage nationwide.[2]
• Wyoming residents were most likely to own three or more vehicles (33.5%), followed by Utah residents (32.3%).[2]
• The Ford F-Series is the most popular vehicle model nationwide, based on sales in 2022.[4]

How Many Cars Are There in the U.S.?​

Total number of vehicles​

There were a total of 278,063,737 personal and commercial vehicles registered to drivers in the U.S. in 2021. [1]
The number of registered vehicles in the United States increased by 3.66% between 2017 and 2021, from 268,258,178 registered vehicles to 278,063,737 registered vehicles, indicating an upward trend in car ownership.[1]

States with the most vehicles​

Montana tops the list of states with the highest number of motor vehicle registrations per 1,000 licensed drivers[1] in 2021 (2,492.55), followed by:

• South Dakota (2,067.69)
• Wyoming (2,015.58)
• North Dakota (1,643.66)
• Iowa (1,619.97)

States with the fewest vehicles​

Delaware has the lowest number of motor vehicle registrations per 1,000 licensed drivers[1] in 2021 (547.23), followed by:

• District of Columbia (652.13)
• New York (787.69)
• New Jersey (956.75)
• Arizona (1,027.52)

Increases and decreases in car ownership​

Delaware had the largest increase in motor vehicle registrations (49.55%) between 2017 and 2021, followed by:

• Maine (28.09%)
• Arkansas (25.08%)
• Utah (19.99%)
• Montana (18.18%) [1]

The District of Columbia had the largest decrease in motor vehicle registrations between 2017 and 2021, with vehicle registrations dropping by 65.5%, followed by:

• West Virginia (27.42%)
• Alaska (13.98%)
• New York (13.27%)
• North Dakota (12.87% )

Trucks lead vehicle ownership​

Trucks are the most popular vehicle type, with 166,079,082 private and commercial vehicle registrations in 2021, compared to 101,601,344 vehicle registrations for cars.[1]

How Many Americans Own a Car?​

Car ownership in America is on the rise. Only 8.3% of households did not have a vehicle in 2021, a 5.7% decrease from 2017, when 8.8% of households did not have a vehicle.[2]

• Most households (91.7%) had at least one vehicle in 2021, up from 91.2% in 2017. [2]
• 37.1% of households had two vehicles in 2021, a 0.8% decrease from 2017 (37.4%).[2]
• 22.1% of households had three or more vehicles in 2021, a 7.28% increase from 2017 (20.6%).[2]

Car Ownership Statistics by State​

States with the highest rate of car ownership​

Idaho and Wyoming tied for the highest rate of car ownership nationwide [2] , with 96.2% of households in each state reporting access to at least one vehicle in 2021, followed by:

• Utah (96.1%)
• Montana (95.2%)
• New Hampshire (95.2%)

States with the lowest rate of car ownership​

Rounding out the states with the lowest percentage of households that have at least one vehicle [2] are:

• District of Columbia (64.3%)
• New York (71%)
• Massachusetts (87.9%)
• New Jersey (88.7%)
• Illinois (89.3%)

States with the most vehicles per household​

Wyoming residents were most likely to own three or more vehicles[2] (33.5%), followed by:

• Utah (32.3%)
• Idaho (32.1%)
• Montana (31.2%)
• South Dakota (30.2%)

Electric vehicle ownership by state​

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles accounted for 12.3% of all new vehicles sold in 2022, up 2.7 percentage points from 2021, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association.

• California has the highest rate of EV ownership, with EVs representing 1.61% of total registered vehicles in the state as of 2021.[3]
• Mississippi and North Dakota have the lowest rate of electric vehicle ownership, with EVs representing 0.05% of total vehicles registered in both states as of 2021.[3]

 

[Menthol]

While in USA, air conditioner usage is increasing, in poor countries, we use less because developed country activists are preaching to us for energy conservation and saving the planet.

It's hot like crazy here!

 

[MH.Yang]

While in USA, air conditioner usage is increasing, in poor countries, we use less because developed country activists are preaching to us for energy conservation and saving the planet.

It's hot like crazy here!

The penetration rate of automobiles in China is not high. In 2020, only 42% of households owned private cars.

However, the penetration rate of air conditioning in China is very high, with the penetration rate of household air conditioning approaching 100% in 2021. Every 100 households have 148 air conditioners.

 

[beijingwalker]

The penetration rate of automobiles in China is not high. In 2020, only 42% of households owned private cars.

However, the penetration rate of air conditioning in China is very high, with the penetration rate of household air conditioning approaching 100% in 2021. Every 100 households have 148 air conditioners.

Almost all major cities in China have car restriction policies, Beijing has license lottery system, those who apply for a car license can enter the license lottery system, the chance of winning a license is 0.27%

北京车牌共有近40万名个人参与摇号，摇号个人中标的几率是0.27%

 

[Fish]

While in USA, air conditioner usage is increasing, in poor countries, we use less because developed country activists are preaching to us for energy conservation and saving the planet.

It's hot like crazy here!

American consumerism is the reason behind climate change. Especially, their obsession with large pickup trucks, likely to compensate for their shrinky-dinks! Plus, their car-centric suburbia is icing.

No milk for breakfast? Take-out the gas-guzzling Ford F-150 and drive 10 miles to the nearest supermarket! Don't look at me, that's what big YouTubers such as Not Just Bikes have been saying for years.

After all, U.S has 14.24 cubic-tons per capita carbon emission. Meanwhile, Pakistan's stand at, wait for it, 0.85 cubic-tons.

Pfft.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

American consumerism is the reason behind climate change.

There is certainly some truth that US consumerism habits have trickled down to every corner of the globe and now the planet is full of people buying exhaust pipe polluting cars, using electricity in their homes from fossil-fueled power plants, and buying some "throw-away" item produced in a tall smoke stack pollution belching factory.

The consumerism genie is out of the bottle and now all we can do is hope for a transfer to EVs, nuclear fusion, and cleaner made products.

What is even worse is that many of these consumer items are now also manufactured overseas and instead of just the West permanently polluting their land and water with toxic by-products of consumer item manufacturing you have the whole world doing it.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

While in USA, air conditioner usage is increasing, in poor countries, we use less because developed country activists are preaching to us for energy conservation and saving the planet.

It's hot like crazy here!

You are posting in the wrong thread.

 

[letsrock]

This is 10 years too late to be a flex. it is now a matter of embarrassment that a country this wealthy still spews so much pollution due to its vast ownership of cars.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

This is 10 years too late to be a flex. it is now a matter of embarrassment that a country this wealthy still spews so much pollution due to its vast ownership of cars.

You mean like the embarrassment that it took until 2008 for China to implement the China IV emission standard?

Does India have any emission requirements for all their motorcycles?

We have had catalytic converter requirements for almost 50 years that only get stricter.

We are trying to move to EVs.

 

[Abdul Rehman Majeed]

View attachment 934629

Car Ownership Statistics 2024

Americans place a high value on car ownership, a fact made evident by the latest car ownership statistics in the U.S. Between 2017 and 2021, personal and commercial vehicle registrations increased by 3.66%, indicating an upward trend in car ownership.[1] Most U.S. households (91.7%) had at least one

www.forbes.com

Americans place a high value on car ownership, a fact made evident by the latest car ownership statistics in the U.S. Between 2017 and 2021, personal and commercial vehicle registrations increased by 3.66%, indicating an upward trend in car ownership. Most U.S. households (91.7%) had at least one vehicle in 2021 (the latest data available), and 22.1% of households had three or more vehicles.

Forbes Advisor conducted a deep dive into the latest available data to uncover car ownership rates by state, car ownership costs by state (including car insurance costs), electric vehicle ownership rates and the most popular car models.

National Car Ownership Statistics at a Glance​

• A total of 278,063,737 personal and commercial vehicles were registered to drivers in the U.S. in 2021. [1]
• The number of registered vehicles in the United States increased by 3.66% between 2017 and 2021, indicating an upward trend in car ownership.[1]
• Trucks are the most popular vehicle type, with 166,079,082 private and commercial vehicle registrations in 2021, compared to 101,601,344 vehicle registrations for cars.[1]
• 91.7% of households had at least one vehicle in 2021. Only 8.3% of households did not have a vehicle.[2]
• Idaho and Wyoming tied for the highest rate of car ownership nationwide, with 96.2% of households in both states reporting access to at least one vehicle in 2021. [2]
• Only 64.3% of households in the District of Columbia had at least one vehicle in 2021, the lowest percentage nationwide.[2]
• Wyoming residents were most likely to own three or more vehicles (33.5%), followed by Utah residents (32.3%).[2]
• The Ford F-Series is the most popular vehicle model nationwide, based on sales in 2022.[4]

How Many Cars Are There in the U.S.?​

Total number of vehicles​

There were a total of 278,063,737 personal and commercial vehicles registered to drivers in the U.S. in 2021. [1]
The number of registered vehicles in the United States increased by 3.66% between 2017 and 2021, from 268,258,178 registered vehicles to 278,063,737 registered vehicles, indicating an upward trend in car ownership.[1]

States with the most vehicles​

Montana tops the list of states with the highest number of motor vehicle registrations per 1,000 licensed drivers[1] in 2021 (2,492.55), followed by:

• South Dakota (2,067.69)
• Wyoming (2,015.58)
• North Dakota (1,643.66)
• Iowa (1,619.97)

States with the fewest vehicles​

Delaware has the lowest number of motor vehicle registrations per 1,000 licensed drivers[1] in 2021 (547.23), followed by:

• District of Columbia (652.13)
• New York (787.69)
• New Jersey (956.75)
• Arizona (1,027.52)

Increases and decreases in car ownership​

Delaware had the largest increase in motor vehicle registrations (49.55%) between 2017 and 2021, followed by:

• Maine (28.09%)
• Arkansas (25.08%)
• Utah (19.99%)
• Montana (18.18%) [1]

The District of Columbia had the largest decrease in motor vehicle registrations between 2017 and 2021, with vehicle registrations dropping by 65.5%, followed by:

• West Virginia (27.42%)
• Alaska (13.98%)
• New York (13.27%)
• North Dakota (12.87% )

Trucks lead vehicle ownership​

Trucks are the most popular vehicle type, with 166,079,082 private and commercial vehicle registrations in 2021, compared to 101,601,344 vehicle registrations for cars.[1]
View attachment 934625

How Many Americans Own a Car?​

Car ownership in America is on the rise. Only 8.3% of households did not have a vehicle in 2021, a 5.7% decrease from 2017, when 8.8% of households did not have a vehicle.[2]

• Most households (91.7%) had at least one vehicle in 2021, up from 91.2% in 2017. [2]
• 37.1% of households had two vehicles in 2021, a 0.8% decrease from 2017 (37.4%).[2]
• 22.1% of households had three or more vehicles in 2021, a 7.28% increase from 2017 (20.6%).[2]

View attachment 934626

Car Ownership Statistics by State​

States with the highest rate of car ownership​

Idaho and Wyoming tied for the highest rate of car ownership nationwide [2] , with 96.2% of households in each state reporting access to at least one vehicle in 2021, followed by:

• Utah (96.1%)
• Montana (95.2%)
• New Hampshire (95.2%)

States with the lowest rate of car ownership​

Rounding out the states with the lowest percentage of households that have at least one vehicle [2] are:

• District of Columbia (64.3%)
• New York (71%)
• Massachusetts (87.9%)
• New Jersey (88.7%)
• Illinois (89.3%)

States with the most vehicles per household​

Wyoming residents were most likely to own three or more vehicles[2] (33.5%), followed by:

• Utah (32.3%)
• Idaho (32.1%)
• Montana (31.2%)
• South Dakota (30.2%)

View attachment 934627

Electric vehicle ownership by state​

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles accounted for 12.3% of all new vehicles sold in 2022, up 2.7 percentage points from 2021, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association.

• California has the highest rate of EV ownership, with EVs representing 1.61% of total registered vehicles in the state as of 2021.[3]
• Mississippi and North Dakota have the lowest rate of electric vehicle ownership, with EVs representing 0.05% of total vehicles registered in both states as of 2021.[3]

View attachment 934628


View attachment 934630

Car is a liability not an Asset.

Not only the US government but also the common US people are drowning in debt.

US should learn from China how to prosper.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Car is a liability not an Asset.

Not only the US government but also the common US people are drowning in debt.

WTF?
What exactly do you own or do Chinese consumers own or anybody else own other than your house (and Chinese don't even own the land with theirs so their asset stability is questionable) and cash that you are considering not a liability??

Please start naming all these things you physically own that are magically really considered assets...otherwise just keep quiet.

You want to invest in a bag of shiny gold/diamonds and bury it in the yard and call that a worthwhile useful life asset? If anything a car is a means to get wealth and live a better life..not worshipping a bag of rocks.

The US population likely owns the most land on the planet (~6Million sq kms of the ~10Million US total) ...so please explain to me more about who owns real assets.

US should learn from China how to prosper.

No, giving up their land and being moved into some new high-rise apartment building shared with 1000 other people is not a way to prosper. It is however a great way to lose the generational wealth you had with your land. Here's hoping in 50 years that apartment building is still in good shape..otherwise you have lost everything in exchange for that old farm that served your ancestors well.

 

[Dalit]

View attachment 934629

Car Ownership Statistics 2024

Americans place a high value on car ownership, a fact made evident by the latest car ownership statistics in the U.S. Between 2017 and 2021, personal and commercial vehicle registrations increased by 3.66%, indicating an upward trend in car ownership.[1] Most U.S. households (91.7%) had at least one

www.forbes.com

Americans place a high value on car ownership, a fact made evident by the latest car ownership statistics in the U.S. Between 2017 and 2021, personal and commercial vehicle registrations increased by 3.66%, indicating an upward trend in car ownership. Most U.S. households (91.7%) had at least one vehicle in 2021 (the latest data available), and 22.1% of households had three or more vehicles.

Forbes Advisor conducted a deep dive into the latest available data to uncover car ownership rates by state, car ownership costs by state (including car insurance costs), electric vehicle ownership rates and the most popular car models.

National Car Ownership Statistics at a Glance​

• A total of 278,063,737 personal and commercial vehicles were registered to drivers in the U.S. in 2021. [1]
• The number of registered vehicles in the United States increased by 3.66% between 2017 and 2021, indicating an upward trend in car ownership.[1]
• Trucks are the most popular vehicle type, with 166,079,082 private and commercial vehicle registrations in 2021, compared to 101,601,344 vehicle registrations for cars.[1]
• 91.7% of households had at least one vehicle in 2021. Only 8.3% of households did not have a vehicle.[2]
• Idaho and Wyoming tied for the highest rate of car ownership nationwide, with 96.2% of households in both states reporting access to at least one vehicle in 2021. [2]
• Only 64.3% of households in the District of Columbia had at least one vehicle in 2021, the lowest percentage nationwide.[2]
• Wyoming residents were most likely to own three or more vehicles (33.5%), followed by Utah residents (32.3%).[2]
• The Ford F-Series is the most popular vehicle model nationwide, based on sales in 2022.[4]

How Many Cars Are There in the U.S.?​

Total number of vehicles​

There were a total of 278,063,737 personal and commercial vehicles registered to drivers in the U.S. in 2021. [1]
The number of registered vehicles in the United States increased by 3.66% between 2017 and 2021, from 268,258,178 registered vehicles to 278,063,737 registered vehicles, indicating an upward trend in car ownership.[1]

States with the most vehicles​

Montana tops the list of states with the highest number of motor vehicle registrations per 1,000 licensed drivers[1] in 2021 (2,492.55), followed by:

• South Dakota (2,067.69)
• Wyoming (2,015.58)
• North Dakota (1,643.66)
• Iowa (1,619.97)

States with the fewest vehicles​

Delaware has the lowest number of motor vehicle registrations per 1,000 licensed drivers[1] in 2021 (547.23), followed by:

• District of Columbia (652.13)
• New York (787.69)
• New Jersey (956.75)
• Arizona (1,027.52)

Increases and decreases in car ownership​

Delaware had the largest increase in motor vehicle registrations (49.55%) between 2017 and 2021, followed by:

• Maine (28.09%)
• Arkansas (25.08%)
• Utah (19.99%)
• Montana (18.18%) [1]

The District of Columbia had the largest decrease in motor vehicle registrations between 2017 and 2021, with vehicle registrations dropping by 65.5%, followed by:

• West Virginia (27.42%)
• Alaska (13.98%)
• New York (13.27%)
• North Dakota (12.87% )

Trucks lead vehicle ownership​

Trucks are the most popular vehicle type, with 166,079,082 private and commercial vehicle registrations in 2021, compared to 101,601,344 vehicle registrations for cars.[1]
View attachment 934625

How Many Americans Own a Car?​

Car ownership in America is on the rise. Only 8.3% of households did not have a vehicle in 2021, a 5.7% decrease from 2017, when 8.8% of households did not have a vehicle.[2]

• Most households (91.7%) had at least one vehicle in 2021, up from 91.2% in 2017. [2]
• 37.1% of households had two vehicles in 2021, a 0.8% decrease from 2017 (37.4%).[2]
• 22.1% of households had three or more vehicles in 2021, a 7.28% increase from 2017 (20.6%).[2]

View attachment 934626

Car Ownership Statistics by State​

States with the highest rate of car ownership​

Idaho and Wyoming tied for the highest rate of car ownership nationwide [2] , with 96.2% of households in each state reporting access to at least one vehicle in 2021, followed by:

• Utah (96.1%)
• Montana (95.2%)
• New Hampshire (95.2%)

States with the lowest rate of car ownership​

Rounding out the states with the lowest percentage of households that have at least one vehicle [2] are:

• District of Columbia (64.3%)
• New York (71%)
• Massachusetts (87.9%)
• New Jersey (88.7%)
• Illinois (89.3%)

States with the most vehicles per household​

Wyoming residents were most likely to own three or more vehicles[2] (33.5%), followed by:

• Utah (32.3%)
• Idaho (32.1%)
• Montana (31.2%)
• South Dakota (30.2%)

View attachment 934627

Electric vehicle ownership by state​

Sales of electric vehicles (EVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and hybrid electric vehicles accounted for 12.3% of all new vehicles sold in 2022, up 2.7 percentage points from 2021, according to the National Automobile Dealers Association.

• California has the highest rate of EV ownership, with EVs representing 1.61% of total registered vehicles in the state as of 2021.[3]
• Mississippi and North Dakota have the lowest rate of electric vehicle ownership, with EVs representing 0.05% of total vehicles registered in both states as of 2021.[3]

View attachment 934628


View attachment 934630

Is this supposed to be some sort of an achievement? On the contrary, what an incredible pollution.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Is this supposed to be some sort of an achievement? On the contrary, what an incredible pollution.

How's that compare to the pollution of millions of motorcycles/cars in developing countries around the world that don't even have any pollution control enforcement. Like India/Pakistan/Bangladesh...

Is that some kind of great achievement by those countries too?
Maybe they should all just go back to walking to make you a happy camper....

At least we have made an effort to control the pollution of cars...

 

[Abdul Rehman Majeed]

WTF?
What exactly do you own or do Chinese consumers own or anybody else own other than your house (and Chinese don't even own the land with theirs so their asset stability is questionable) and cash that you are considering not a liability??

Please start naming all these things you physically own that are magically really considered assets...otherwise just keep quiet.

You want to invest in a bag of shiny gold/diamonds and bury it in the yard and call that a worthwhile useful life asset? If anything a car is a means to get wealth and live a better life..not worshipping a bag of rocks.

The US population likely owns the most land on the planet (~6Million sq kms of the ~10Million US total) ...so please explain to me more about who owns real assets.



No, giving up their land and being moved into some new high-rise apartment building shared with 1000 other people is not a way to prosper. It is however a great way to lose the generational wealth you had with your land. Here's hoping in 50 years that apartment building is still in good shape..otherwise you have lost everything in exchange for that old farm that served your ancestors well.

Land and other commodities like Gold, Silver, Copper are all assets.

Car and electronics are a liability. Their value depreciates over time.

 

[Hamartia Antidote]

Land and other commodities like Gold, Silver, Copper are all assets.

Car and electronics are a liability. Their value depreciates over time.

Exactly so don’t buy anything other than a home…not even clothes. Put the rest into gold and diamonds and bury it in all the backyard where it will be safe and do your life good. Don’t buy anything else as it is just a liability and that is just a waste.

Don’t buy a $25,000 car that can take you to a $75,000/yr job as that is just stupid since it is only a depreciating liability. Keeping an eye on that sack of rocks in the hole will serve you better!