While researching 50-year trends within the automotive industry, an interesting fact presented itself: households by number of vehicles in the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, “households with more than one vehicle” have shown a steady increase since 1977, while the percentage of households with no vehicles has continually declined.

In 1977, 15 percent of households had no vehicle. This changed to 13 percent in 1983, 9 percent in 1990, 8 percent in 1995 and an estimated 6 percent in 2000. It's interesting to know that only 6 percent of U.S. households do not have a vehicle.

Households with one vehicle have also steadily declined while the number of households with two vehicles has increased. In 1977, 35 percent of households had one vehicle. This decreased to 34 percent in 1983, 33 percent in 1990, 32 percent in 1995 and an estimated 31 percent in 2000. Two-vehicle households demonstrated larger percentage increases with 1977 showing 34 percent, 1983 with 34 percent, 1990 was 38 percent, 1995 grew to 40 percent and 2000 is estimated at 42 percent. A speculative relationship between dual out-of-home wage earners and vehicle numbers can be drawn.

Those households with three or more vehicles have demonstrated some change, with 1977 citing 16 percent followed with an increase to 19 percent in 1983, 1990 and 1995. In 2000, 21 percent of households are estimated to have three or more vehicles.

Stat Corner is written by Denise Caspersen, ASA's research management specialist. She can be reached at (800) 272-7467, ext. 236.

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