Being a multi-car society is a sign of prosperity. And judging by the UK’s ever-busy roads, you might think that every household has at least two cars and that’s the reason the roads are always so jam-packed.
Yet behind the scenes, there’s a significant mix of world events and political and socio-economic factors at play. This has forced some to reduce their car usage and others to consider reducing the number of cars they own altogether.
This begs the question: will the UK stop being a multi-car society?
The history of car ownership in the UK
Historically, the UK has always had a soft spot for cars. Since as early as 1971, UK households (up to 43%) have had access to at least one car.
And per family in general, car ownership has only increased from there. The percentage of households without a car decreased from 48% in 1971 to a much smaller 22% in 2021. In the same year, the average number of cars for each 10 households in England was 12.
Will car ownership decrease?
However, since the pandemic, many have thought twice about their motoring habits. With many of us continuing to work part time at home, it would seem that one car is enough to service a whole household.
Now, research shows that up to a third of UK households are considering shrinking the amount of cars they own, with almost a quarter saying that they need their car less often. The current cost-of-living crisis is only adding pressure. With many households looking for ways to cut their everyday costs, a spare motor that drinks fuel and money in repair costs is the first thing to go.
Moreover, the UK Government has set bold Net Zero goals, declaring that the sale of petrol and diesel cars will be banned by as soon as 2030. Granted, Brits will still be able to buy and sell used internal combustion vehicles.
Yet with a finite number of fuel-powered vehicles available, and no sign of electric vehicle prices decreasing as of yet, this could be another factor that will make multi-car ownership less affordable in the future.
The state of car usage in the UK
Around 35% of British households own more than one car and opt for multi car insurance, whereas 41% own one vehicle. However, those households who own more than one car admitted to not using their second or third vehicles for weeks at a time.
Moreover, people seem to be travelling shorter distances on the road. During the pandemic, distances covered dropped significantly. In fact, research has shown a 38% distance decrease compared to journeys undertaken in 2002.
What is the future of car ownership?
For many, the pandemic brought the startling realisation that we don’t need as many cars as previously thought. The current economic pressures add another compelling reason for households to sell their unnecessary cars. And political factors are likely to create more barriers to car ownership in the coming years.
Put together with the fact that people are already decreasingly using their cars, it seems inevitable that the UK will stop being a multi-car society at some point in the future. But for now, it’s still too early to tell.
