More vehicles on the road in 2019
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Released: 2020-09-10
35.7 million
2019
1.8% 
(annual change)
691,619
2019
-0.1% 
(annual change)
128,226
2019
4.5%
(annual change)
791,614
2019
-0.7%
(annual change)
768,082
2019
1.2%
(annual change)
8,890,452
2019
2.2%
(annual change)
12,812,369
2019
2.1%
(annual change)
1,186,686
2019
1.0%
(annual change)
1,160,889
2019
0.3%
(annual change)
5,295,383
2019
1.6%
(annual change)
3,914,217
2019
1.7%
(annual change)
61,722
2019
2.5%
(annual change)
34,060
2019
-1.9%
(annual change)
7,093
2019
0.0%
(annual change)
In 2019, the number of motor vehicles registered in Canada increased 1.8% from 2018 to 35.7 million. This is the largest number of vehicle registrations ever recorded, despite the second consecutive decline in new registrations (see New motor vehicle registrations, 2019). With more motor vehicles registered overall but fewer registrations of new motor vehicles in 2017 and 2018, the Canadian motor vehicle fleet is aging.
Lightweight vehicles represent the largest segment
The increase in the volume of registrations was driven by growth in the light motor vehicle segment, which accounts for roughly two-thirds of total registrations. As such, registrations of light vehicles in Canada, which include passenger cars, light trucks and vans (weighing less than 4 500 kg), accounted for the largest growth in the number of registrations, reaching 23.5 million in 2019—up 335,000 units (+1.4%) from 2018. The composition of this category has changed and now contains a larger share of so-called light trucks, which include SUVs, pick-up trucks and minivans.
Other significant increases in registrations were reported in trailers (+194,000 units, +2.5%) and off-road vehicles (+77,000 units, +3.3%). Vehicle registrations for buses reported a slight decline for the second year in a row—down 0.2% from 2018 to roughly 92,000 units in 2019.
Higher growth reported in largest provinces
In 2019, there were increases in total motor vehicle registrations in almost every province and territory in Canada. Together, Ontario, Quebec, Alberta and British Columbia accounted for 86.5% (30.9 million) of vehicles registered in Canada. Ontario led the pack with 12.8 million registrations, up 2.1% (+267,000 units); followed by Quebec with 8.9 million, up 2.2% (+192,000 units); Alberta with 5.3 million, up 1.6% (+86,000 units); and British Columbia with 3.9 million, up 1.7% (+65,000 units). The number of vehicles registered in the other provinces and territories increased roughly 0.5% from 2018.
Chart 1
Vehicle registrations
Note to readers
This annual release presents a count of registered vehicles based on administrative files provided by each province and territory. Registered vehicles include road motor vehicles, such as light road motor vehicles, medium-duty trucks, heavy-duty trucks, buses, motorcycles and mopeds; trailers; and off-road, construction and farm vehicles.
In July 2020, Statistics Canada released more detailed information on new motor vehicle registrations by fuel type. See the New motor vehicle registrations, 2019 release.
The Transportation Data and Information Hub—a web portal developed jointly by Statistics Canada and Transport Canada—provides Canadians with online access to comprehensive statistics and measures on the country's transportation sector.
Contact information
For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, contact us (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; STATCAN.infostats-infostats.STATCAN@canada.ca) or Media Relations (613-951-4636; STATCAN.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.STATCAN@canada.ca).
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