A recent study has highlighted the region with the highest number of cars or vans per household, with Birmingham claiming the top spot.
Conducted by insurance experts at Howden Insurance, the study utilized data from the 2021 census to analyze car ownership across the top 25 largest regions in England and Wales.
Out of the 423,456 households in Birmingham, 6.3% own at least three cars or vans (26,683), while 31.7% do not own any vehicles.
Birmingham also leads in households with one or two cars or vans, making up 0.7% and 0.3% of the total households in England and Wales, respectively. The City Council in Birmingham has set a target to become carbon neutral by 2030, aiming to reduce the environmental impact of transportation.
Similarly, Leeds shows a similar trend with 142,676 households owning one car or van, accounting for 41.8% of total households. Leeds also reports 98,083 households without any vehicles, indicating a strong reliance on public transportation or urban infrastructure that supports non-vehicle travel.
Each city demonstrates varying degrees of reliance on personal vehicles. For instance, Sheffield has 67,843 households without any cars or vans and 14,381 households with three or more vehicles.
The Top Ten Regions for Car or Van Ownership per Household
| City | No Car or Van | One Car or Van | Two Cars or Vans | Three or More Cars or Vans |
The study shows a total of 246,315 households with three or more cars or vans, highlighting the diversity in vehicle ownership. On the other hand, 1,100,905 households do not own any vehicles.
In the City of London, known for its commercial districts, no households own three or more vehicles, reflecting the impracticality of car ownership in such dense urban areas.
Furthermore, factors such as public transport infrastructure and population density play a role in determining multi-vehicle ownership across different cities.
For example, London’s extensive public transport network provides efficient alternatives to personal vehicles, reducing the need for multiple cars per household.
Additionally, considerations like the cost of motor insurance and the prevalence of vehicle crime can influence car ownership patterns in different regions.
According to the Office for National Statistics, vehicle crime accounts for a significant portion of overall crimes, emphasizing the need for securing personal vehicles.
Commenting on the study findings, a representative from Howden Insurance emphasized the importance of sustainable transportation choices in shaping urban environments for the future.