National statistics

National Travel Survey 2022: Household car availability and trends in car trips

Updated 14 December 2023

Applies to England

About this release

The National Travel Survey (NTS) is a household survey of personal travel by residents of England travelling within Great Britain, from data collected via interviews and a seven-day travel diary, which enables analysis of patterns and trends. This release covers the main findings from these travel behaviours during 2022. The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic from March 2020, has had a substantial impact on travel trends since 2020 and has affected the operation of this survey. Further details on these impacts can be found in the Introduction and main findings section of this report.

Household car access

Chart 7: Percentage of households by car access: Great Britain (1971 to 1988) and England (1989 to 2022) (NTS0205)

There have been long-term increases in the proportion of households with access to more than one car since 1971, with 34% of households having two or more cars in 2022 compared to 8% in 1971. The proportion of households with one car was 45% in 2022, however, the long-term trend has remained broadly constant since 1971 with an average of 43%. The proportion of households without a car fell from 48% in 1971 (based on the Census) to 22% in 2022. In 1985 to 1986, there were 8 cars for every 10 households in Great Britain; in 2022 there were 12 cars for every 10 households in England. These trends are comparable to the Census.

Types of vehicles people own

Chart 8: Proportion of cars^{[footnote 2]} people own by fuel type: England, 2019, 2021 and 2022 (ad hoc analyses NTSQ09029)

The NTS has a wealth of information about the types of vehicles that people own including fuel type, transmission and where they are usually parked. In England in 2022, 64% of cars people owned were petrol (64% in 2021 and 63% in 2019), 30% were diesel (32% in 2021 and 34% in 2019) and 6% were another fuel type (4% in 2021 and 2% in 2019) such as plug-in hybrid or electric. These figures are broadly comparable with vehicle statistics based on DVLA data. The National Travel Attitudes Study wave 7 statistical release contains more information on attitudes towards ultra-low emission vehicles and government policies relating to them.

In England in 2022, 67% of cars people owned were manual (71% in 2021 and 74% in 2019) and 32% automatic or semi-automatic (28% in 2021 and 26% in 2019). Around 62% of respondents usually parked their vehicles on private property (excluding garages) overnight in 2022 (this question is asked in the NTS every other year). This has shown a general upward trend since 2002 (50%). The proportion of parked vehicles in garages overnight decreased from 22% in 2002 to 10% in 2022, showing an opposite trend to vehicles parked on private property.

Trends in car trips

Chart 9: Trends in car trips and miles travelled (as driver or passenger): England, 2002 to 2022 (NTS0303)

In 2022, average trips increased for both car drivers and passengers to 337 trips per person and 165 trips per person respectively, however, these remain below pre-pandemic levels. Car driver and passenger trips in 2022 were 23% and 31% lower respectively than levels seen in 2002. There was a gradual decline in the number of trips per person since 2002 with 2019 levels being similar to 2015, followed by a sharp decline in 2020 to 295 car driver trips per person and 134 car passenger trips per person. For average miles travelled by car, the trend since 2002 is similar to that for trips.

Chart 10: Proportion of car trips per person per year, by trip purpose: England, 2019 to 2022 (NTS0409)

The most common purpose for a trip by car was for leisure, with 31% of trips in 2022. This was followed by shopping (20%), commuting (16%) and other escort (12%). Despite fluctuations in the number of trips overall, the proportions of those trips taken for different purposes remained similar to the previous three years.

Chart 11: Average car trips and miles travelled, by age and sex: England, 2022 (NTS0601)

Overall, females of all ages made more car trips than males, however, males made longer car trips. In 2022, females made 507 car trips per person and males made 495 car trips per person. Females travelled 3,806 miles per person by car, however, males travelled 4,593 miles per person by car. Females aged 0 to 20 and between 30 and 59 made more car trips on average compared to males, with males aged 21 to 29 and 60 and over making more car trips than females. The age group with the highest number of car trips on average for males was 50 to 59 with 595 trips and for females was 40 to 49 with 644 trips in 2022. Males of all ages apart from those aged 17 to 20 made longer car journeys than females. Both males and females aged 50 to 59 made the longest car journeys on average with 5,834 miles and 5,090 miles respectively.

Chart 12: Frequency of private car use: England, 2022 (NTS0313)

Around 84% of people reported to have used a private car at least once a week, and 5% less than once a year or never in 2022. These proportions were similar to the previous three years.

Background information

The 2022 National Travel Survey (NTS) is the latest in a series of household surveys of personal travel by residents of England travelling within Great Britain, from data collected via interviews and a seven-day travel diary. The NTS is part of a continuous survey that began in 1988, following ad-hoc surveys from the 1960s, which enables analysis of patterns and trends.

Some key uses of the data include describing patterns, for example how different groups of people travel, monitoring trends in travel, including sustainable modes; assessing the potential equality impacts of different groups; and contributing to the evaluation of policies.

We always welcome feedback to help ensure that the survey meets the needs of users, and any feedback provided will help inform the future design and development of the survey. If you have any feedback, please email National Travel Survey statistics.

National Statistics

These statistics are designated as National Statistics. National Statistics are produced to high professional standards as set out in the Code of Practice for Statistics. The Code of Practice for Statistics plays an essential role in ensuring that statistics published by government inspire the public confidence through demonstrating trustworthiness and providing high-quality statistics. These statistics were designated as National Statistics in July 2011. The continued designation was confirmed in September 2018.

Further information about these statistics is available, including:

• National Travel Survey statistics: data tables
• National Travel Survey statistics: notes and definitions
• National Travel Survey statistics: guidance and quality information
• National Travel Survey statistics: future developments

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Contact details

National Travel Survey statistics

Email national.travelsurvey@dft.gov.uk

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1. This chart includes cars only. ↩