Number of motor vehicles (administrative data) (VEHAD)

This variable records the total number of motor vehicles registered to a household on Census night. It excludes motorbikes, scooters, heavy vehicles and company-owned vehicles. 

This variable is not derived from data collected in the Census. It is created by linking administrative data from the National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System (NEVDIS) to Census data.  

NEVDIS is a national database that contains information about both vehicles and drivers. Data from NEVDIS covers all vehicles registered with an Australian state or territory motor vehicle registry for unrestricted use on public roads.

Private dwellings

This variable is not collected from a question on the Census form.

This variable is derived by linking administrative data from the National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System (NEVDIS) administrative dataset with the Census dataset. It is point in time data from 10 August 2021. It is not collected from a Census question. 

The NEVDIS contains information on vehicles registered to an individual. However, if the registration cannot be linked to a person it is linked to a dwelling. This Census variable is calculated by summing the number of registered vehicles recorded in the administrative data for each person who is usually resident in the household.  

The registered vehicles of visitors to a household do not contribute to the total vehicle count in this variable, instead these vehicles will contribute to the total vehicle count at the visitor's usual residence.  

Vehicle types were derived using the method from the Road Vehicles, Australia report.  

The below inclusions and exclusions were decided as they align with the inclusion and exclusions used for the Census direct collect motor vehicle question.  

The following vehicle types have been included in the count: 

• campervans 
• light commercial vehicles 
• light rigid trucks 
• passenger vehicles 

While the following vehicle types have been excluded in the count: 

• articulated trucks 
• heavy buses 
• heavy rigid trucks 
• motorcycles 
• non-freight carrying vehicles 
• trailers 
• caravans 
• tractors 

This is a new variable which was added to the 2021 Census dataset in September 2026.  

This variable provides an alternative, more detailed view on motor vehicles compared with the motor vehicle data collected on the Census form. It is based on motor vehicle registration information recorded on the National Exchange of Vehicle and Driver Information System (NEVDIS) administrative dataset, and not data collected from a Census question.   

As NEVDIS records vehicle registration details rather than details of who uses the vehicle and why, company-owned vehicles registered to a business cannot be reliably linked to the individuals who primarily use them. For this reason, company-owned vehicles were excluded from the count. 

This variable is based on the registered owner's usual residence. This differs from the Census motor vehicle question, which is collected based on the number of motor vehicles owned or used by household members that were garaged or parked at the dwelling on Census night. For more information, please see Number of motor vehicles (VEHD).

Comparison to Census data  

Although this variable provides an alternative, more detailed view on motor vehicles to the motor vehicle data collected via the Census form, there are differences to consider. This includes conceptual differences between the two data sources such as definitional differences, coverage differences and methodology of data collection.  

• Administrative data 
• Age of newest motor vehicle (administrative data) (VANAD) 
• Age of oldest motor vehicle (administrative data) (VAOAD) 
• Number of diesel motor vehicles (administrative data) (VEHDAD) 
• Number of electric motor vehicles (administrative data) (VEHEAD) 
• Number of petrol motor vehicles (administrative data) (VEHPAD) 
• Number of motor vehicles (VEHD) 
• Number of motor vehicles (ranges) (VEHRD) 

• Transport: Census