Car ownership rate down among young people

Fewer young people own cars, but the car ownership rate among older people is growing. The total number of cars, mopeds and motorcycles in the Netherlands is still growing, though less rapidly. On 1 January 2013, the number of commercial vehicles was down from one year previously.

Fewer cars among young people

The number of cars owned by 18 to 25-year-olds has diminished for two years now. The 18 to 25-year-old population increased by 0.4 percent in 2013 relative to 2012, but the number of cars registered in this age category decreased by 4.5 percent. The reverse happened among over-65s. The over-65 population grew by 4 percent in 2013 relative to 2012, while the number of cars registered in their names rose by nearly 7 percent.

Number of cars by age owner, 1 January

Lowest increase since 2008

Although the total number of motor vehicles in the Netherlands is still increasing, the growth rate is slowing down. Onn 1 January this year, the number of motor vehicles had increased by 72 thousand relative to one year previously, the lowest increase in years. In 2008 and 2009 the number of motor vehicles still grew by nearly 3 percent annually. Subsequently, the growth rate slowed down to less than 1 percent in 2013 compared to 2012.

Increase motor vehicles, 1 January

Small increase passenger cars, fewer commercial vehicles

Passenger cars constitute the largest category of motor vehicles. Although the number of passenger cars is still growing, the annual growth rate has slowed down from more than 2 percent in 2008 to less than 1 percent in 2013. The figures are even more remarkable for motorcycles and mopeds. Since record year 2009, the motorcycle growth rate slowed down from 3.5 percent to less than 1 percent and the moped growth rate plummeted from 11 percent to just over 2 percent. In the category commercial vehicles, the growth in 2011 turned into decline in 2012. The decline continued into 2013 (-0.6 percent). This is partly due to the fact that fewer commercial vehicles were sold in 2012 than in 2011.

Motor vehicles by type of vehicle, 1 January

Doreen Ewalds and Roger Voncken