As per the car ownership statistics Canada, auto ownership is quite common since over three-quarters of households own at least one vehicle. This high rate of auto ownership is probably due to many factors, including the large size of the country and cold winters.
For many Canadians, a car is essential for getting around, for both commuting and running errands. In addition, cars are often used for leisure activities.
While cars are a convenient and popular way to get around, owning one also has some drawbacks, like the maintenance and gasoline costs.
Check the article below, as it will give you a wider picture of everything you need to know about owning a car in Canada.
Crucial Car Ownership Statistics (Editor’s Choice)
- Almost 85% of study respondents stated they owned a car.
- 37% of study respondents reported having two or more cars.
- Canada registered more than 1.5 million new motor vehicles in 2020.
- More than 5 million Canadians stated they loved the concept of owning an EV.
- The cost of owning a car in Canada is about $955 per month.
- Around 1.6 million vehicles were sold in Canada in 2021.
- Canada sold 471,378 cars between January and April 2022.
- The average Canadian household spent over $5,700 on vehicle operating costs in 2019.
Number of Vehicles in Canada
In 2020, there was a decrease of almost 20% from 2019 in the number of registered vehicles in Canada.
1. In 2019, 35.7 million motor vehicles were registered in Canada.
(The Canadian Encyclopedia)
Among all the registrations, light motor vehicles, such as light trucks, passenger cars, and vans, represented around 66%. Even though the country exports many vehicles, it has one of the highest ratios of cars to inhabitants globally.
2. In 2020, over 1.5 million new motor vehicles were registered in Canada.
(150 Stat Can)
That represented a 19.9% decrease from 2019, car ownership statistics for Canada show. All in all, the decline in registrations is consistent with new car sales that decreased for the third consecutive year, dropping by 20% in 2020.
3. In the third quarter of 2021, Canada registered 446,620 new motor vehicles.
(150 Stat Can)
That equated to a drop of around 8.2% from the second quarter of the same year. In addition, that also translated to a decrease of approximately 12.2% from the third quarter of the year before, according to car ownership statistics.
4. In 2021, the Canadian car industry produced over 814,200 light commercial vehicles.
(Statista)
In comparison, that represented a decrease from both 2020 and 2019. More specifically, the Canadian auto industry produced around 1 million light commercial vehicles in 2020 and 1.4 million light commercial vehicles in 2019.
5. From January to September 2021, around 65,253 new battery-only and plug-in hybrid EVs were registered in Canada.
(City News Everywhere)
In other words, during this period, EVs accounted for 5% of new vehicles registered. Then again, electric vehicle sales statistics reveal that Canada registered 54,353 EVs in the whole of 2020, and they represented 3% of new cars registered.
6. The Canadian auto industry produced 288,240 passenger vehicles in 2021.
(Statista)
Compared to 2021, Canada produced more passenger vehicles in 2020—327,680. Then again, that represented a further decrease from 2019, when there were 461,370 passenger vehicles produced in Canada.
How Many People Own a Vehicle in Canada?
Almost everyone in Canada either owns or wants to own a vehicle. One of the reasons behind this interest is the harsh winter Canada faces.
7. A study conducted in 2019 in Canada showed that 84% of respondents owned a car.
(Driving)
The same study revealed that most Canadians owned or wanted to own a car. In fact, another 9% said they would like to own one in the future. Furthermore, people aged 18–34 had the lowest car ownership rates.
8. 37% of respondents in a study conducted in 2019 noted they had two or more cars.
(Driving)
The reason almost 40% of the respondents have two or more vehicles might be because many Canadians use their cars for commuting.
Let’s not forget that Canadian winters can be harsh, and you need to think about road safety; thus, cars represent an essential piece of winter gear.
9. How many people in Ontario own a car?—The latest info indicates that 8.7 million motor vehicles are registered.
(Cube Toronto)
Furthermore, 84 percent of people own a vehicle in Canada. To explain this better, the firm says that only 64 percent of Canadians aged 18–34 own a vehicle.
10. Over 5 million Canadians state they love the concept of owning an electric vehicle.
(Abacus Data)
This data results from a study that found 31% of respondents are interested in considering an electric vehicle. Then again, about a fifth of the respondents think they will probably never own one.
The Cost of Car Ownership in Canada
Anyone who has ever owned a car knows that ownership costs go way beyond the initial purchase price. Then, there are also unexpected costs, like repairs after an accident or tickets for speeding.
11. The monthly cost of owning a car is around $955 in Canada.
(RateHub)
Let’s break that down and explain how we got that sum. For instance, finance payments amount to $350 per month. Then, gas costs around $145, and there’s another $100 for maintenance.
Let’s not forget the car administrative fees that amount to around $10 and $50 for parking fees. Last but not least—car insurance. On average, you pay about $300 for it.
12. As per experts, vehicle ownership expenses shouldn’t surpass 15–20% of your monthly take-home pay.
(RateHub)
If you want to know ways to save money when buying a car, here are several:
- Extend the financing or leasing term to five years;
- Cut maintenance to $20 monthly (oil changes);
- Park in a driveway or on a free parking place;
- Get a gas credit card, earning 4% cashback;
- Bundling auto with home insurance saves you 10%–15%.
13. Stats on car ownership for Canada reveal that the average household spent $5,707 on vehicle operating costs in 2019.
(Marlon Sanchez)
Those costs included gas, maintenance, vehicle inspections, registration and insurance. Let’s not forget that the insurance is not cheap. In addition, these costs can add up quickly, so it’s important to consider them carefully before purchasing.
At the same time, for many people, the convenience and freedom of owning a car outweigh the financial costs.
Annual and Monthly Car Sales Statistics for Canada
Compared to 2020, new motor vehicle sales increased slightly in 2021. Moreover, from the beginning of 2022, the highest number of vehicle sales was recorded in April.
14. In 2021, 1.6 million cars were sold in Canada.
(MarkLines)
More specifically, the most successful quarter of 2021 was the second one, when 478,717 cars were sold in Canada. Moreover, Canada sold 378,730 units in the first quarter and 439,166 in the third. The fourth quarter had the lowest sales—341,786.
In comparison, the United States sold 14.9 million cars in 2021.
15. As per the car ownership statistics Canada provides, Canada sold 330,593 vehicles in Q1 of 2022.
(MarkLines)
When we break this down by month, March showed the highest number of vehicle sales. Namely, there were sales of 140,460 units that month in Canada. In comparison, February had 98,722 such sales.
On the other hand, January had the lowest number, as Canada sold only 91,411 vehicles that month.
16. Between January and April 2022, Canada sold 471,378 cars.
(MarkLines)
In fact, among those four months, April was the month with the highest number of sales. For instance, 140,785 units were sold that month. Compared to the same month of 2021, sales declined by 13.3%. The most sold car in Canada for the first quarter of 2022 was the Ford F-Series.
17. New car ownership trends uncover that compared to 2020, new motor vehicle sales rose by 0.9% in 2021.
(150 Stat Can)
In dollar terms, there was an increase of 6.8% in new motor car sales. At the same time, new motor car sales dropped in both units and sales compared to 2019. More specifically, there was an 18.9% decline in units and an 11% decrease in sales in 2021.
18. In 2020, retail sales of used car dealers reached almost $11.6 billion in Canada.
(Statista)
Then again, used car sales statistics in Canada uncover that eight years before that, these sales reached only $6 billion. Given this, used car retail sales nearly doubled between 2012 and 2020.
Retail sales of used car dealerships are vital to the Canadian economy, as they offer cars for Canadians who might otherwise be unable to afford a new one. Moreover, they create jobs for people to work in the automotive industry.
Summary: Car Ownership Statistics Canada
All in all, it’s evident that Canadians love their cars. There are a lot of vehicles on the road, and the majority of Canadians own one. Additionally, auto ownership is expensive, but people continue to buy new cars every year. People who can’t afford paying the expenses any longer sometimes give cars to family members.
What does this mean for you if you are a business owner or marketer? If you want to reach Canadian consumers, automotive is a sector you should consider. According to the car ownership statistics Canada provides, whether you sell vehicles or automotive products and services, there’s a good chance your target audience is behind the wheel.
