Motivations for car ownership
This study investigates how people in Ireland progress into and sometimes out of car ownership, and how these decisions relate to everyday travel behaviour. Using a nationally representative survey of 2,086 people aged 16 and over, we provide the first integrated evidence on the motivations that shape learning to drive, acquiring a first car, adding or shedding household vehicles, and the purposes for which cars are subsequently used. Understanding these behavioural pathways is increasingly important in the context of national ambitions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, alleviate traffic congestion and encourage uptake of more sustainable transport modes.
The findings show that the primary motivation for car ownership is not tied to a specific use but rather the sense of independence it affords. This independence dominates early decisions: it is the most common reason for both learning to drive and getting a first car. Work emerged as a close secondary driver. Two-thirds of respondents linked acquiring a first car to a ‘moment of change’ in their life, most commonly starting a new job. Conversely, decisions to delay learning to drive are largely shaped by material constraints, particularly cost and access to a vehicle, rather than attitudinal factors such as environmental concern. However, alternative transport modes influence this decision. Approximately four-in-ten of those who had not learned to drive or did so after the age of 22 cited availability of alternatives as a primary reason.
For most households, subsequent cars are obtained mainly as replacements, rather than in response to new motivations. The reasons for increasing the number of cars in a household closely mirror those associated with first ownership, with work the most common justification. By contrast, reducing the number of household cars is relatively rare. Among those who have shed a car or are considering doing so, financial pressures and changes in travel needs are the dominant triggers. Environmental motivations, improvements in alternatives, or worsening driving conditions are less influential and more common among those merely contemplating change, rather than those who have actually reduced their car stock.
A comparison of ownership motivations with day-to-day use reveals a notable mismatch. While work is the dominant functional motive for ownership, everyday car trips are most frequently undertaken for short, practical purposes such as shopping and errands. These findings indicate that although households tend to acquire cars to secure flexibility and avoid perceived risks of being without one, a substantial proportion of actual use involves lower‑stakes journeys that may be amenable to modal shift.
The results also highlight the structural foundations of car-free living. About half of those without a car cite affordability as the primary barrier, and one-third report having no household driver. A smaller group report that public transport or other options sufficiently meet their needs, implying that improvements in accessibility and service quality may support car-free living for some households.
Taken together, the evidence suggests that car ownership decisions in Ireland are shaped predominantly by the psychological benefit of transport flexibility followed by an economic calculus relating to affordability and work-related need. Policies that rely on information or persuasion alone are therefore likely to have limited impact. Instead, effective demand management strategies will require shifts in the underlying economics by making alternative modes more attractive, reliable and flexible, while recognising that car ownership remains closely tied to access to employment and perceived independence. The findings also imply that emissions reduction initiatives may find greater purchase by prioritising EV uptake, though this will do little for traffic congestion. Although reducing ownership may be challenging, the findings point to opportunities for reducing car use, particularly for short routine trips, and to targeted interventions for households already considering change.
This study provides a foundation for future behavioural research into mobility transitions. These insights can support the development of socially equitable, evidence-based transport policies aligned with Ireland’s climate and mobility objectives.