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Motor Vehicle Registrations
Los Angeles County

Traffic, Motor Vehicles, Downtown Los Angeles

Traffic on the 101 in Downtown Los Angeles. Photo by Felicia Aparicio.


Also see: Licensed Drivers in Los Angeles County



Year* Autos Trucks Motorcycles Total
2022 6,291,868 1,136,152 150,464 7,578,484
2021 6,386,830 1,150,957 155,065 7,692,852
2020 6,361,987 1,117,072 155,438 7,634,497
2019 6,567,187 1,137,057 157,850 7,862,094
2018 6,479,206 1,107,381 158,309 7,744,896
Year* Autos Trucks Motorcycles Total
2017 6,490,537 1,109,042 162,874 7,762,453
2016 6,481,351 1,103,918 165,275 7,750,544
2015 6,293,639 1,075,340 164,152 7,533,131
2014 6,197,573 1,066,409 159,464 7,423,446
2013 6,079,057 1,080,125 158,402 7,317,584
Year* Autos Trucks Motorcycles Total
2012 5,904,847 1,079,883 154,108 7,138,838
2011 5,805,760 1,086,927 150,143 7,042,830
2010 5,810,035 1,110,636 146,703 7,067,374
2009 5,785,091 1,128,495 146,822 7,060,408
2008 5,859,407 1,152,856 149,987 7,162,250
Year* Autos Trucks Motorcycles Total
2007 5,933,335 1,188,050 139,842 7,261,227
2006 N/A* N/A* N/A* N/A*
2005 5,850,140 1,164,578 121,675 7,136,393
2004 5,881,156 1,163,819 114,622 7,044,975
2003 5,498,554 1,080,094 100,693 6,679,341
Year* Autos Trucks Motorcycles Total
2002 5,529,023 1,066,155 95,233 6,690,411
2001 5,296,141 1,026,961 87,986 6,411,088
2000 5,134,168 1,021,397 81,167 6,155,565
1999 4,935,605 991,315 75,569 6,002,489
1998 4,825,512 970,993 74,210 5,870,715
Year* Autos Trucks Motorcycles Total
1997 4,547,715 926,934 75,645 4,547,715
1996 4,840,522 1,012,818 102,950 4,840,522
1995 4,787,739 1,004,097 105,391 4,787,739
1994 4,712,314 1,005,059 110,560 4,712,314
1993 4,796,476 1,022,308 120,219 4,796,476
Year* Autos Trucks Motorcycles Total
1992 4,793,345 1,030,824 129,270 4,793,345
1991 4,860,169 1,058,064 146,106 4,860,169
1990 4,817,814 1,057,695 147,464 4,817,814

* Estimated Fee-Paid as of December 31

Above figures are estimated vehicle registrations in Los Angeles County. Although official counts, these were not exact numbers.

Source: California Dept. of Motor Vehicles (DMV)


Motor Vehicle Registrations Prior to 1990
Los Angeles County - Every Five Years, 1950-1985

Estimated Fee-Paid as of December 31

Year Autos Trucks Motorcycles Total
1985 4,329,971 911,267 175,794 4,329,971
1980 4,048,996 743,629 192,902 4,048,996
1975 3,775,427 644,575 194,355 3,775,427
1970 3,670,496 477,075 183,444 3,670,496
Year Autos Trucks Motorcycles Total
1965 3,304,602 385,286 95,140 3,304,602
1960 2,772,523 297,762 27,649 2,772,523
1955 2,328,828 243,174 20,782 2,328,828
1950 1,712,545 152,001 119,885 1,712,545

Above figures are estimated vehicle registrations by county. Although official counts, these were not exact numbers.

Source: California Dept. of Motor Vehicles (DMV)


ADDITIONAL HISTORIC MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATIONS
LOS ANGELES COUNTY


We also sought historic motor vehicle registration numbers prior to 1950 for Los Angeles County, but found only specific numbers for the following years:

1925 - Automobiles: 410,517; Trucks: 15,065; Motorcycles: 4,755; Total Motor Vehicles: 430,337
1930 - Automobiles: 758,097; Trucks: 5,506; Motorcycles: 2,739; Total Motor Vehicles: 766,342

We also found total registered vehicle numbers for L.A. County for 1915 (55,217) and 1941 (1,241,795). We were unable to determine, however, if these numbers included trailers. Although trailers are registered as vehicles by the DMV, we do not count them here as "motor vehicles."


In 1900, the horse was still the primary mode of transportation in Los Angeles. That year, the city counted 8,065 horses within its boundaries - one horse for almost every 13 residents. Soon thereafter, however, motor vehicles quickly began replacing horses. Nevertheless, horse-drawn wagons continued to be seen on Los Angeles streets well into the 1920s.


At one time, Long Beach limited all automobile parking to no more than 15 minutes because leaking oil from motor vehicles corroded the streets.


The Automobile Club of Southern California, founded by 10 auto enthusiasts in Los Angeles in 1900, is the largest affiliate in the AAA network. It lists more than 5 million members. Between 1906 and 1946, the Club was the primary installer of directional road signs in Southern California.


One million new cars enter Southern California each year. This accounts for one-seventh of U.S. auto/truck sales.