Labour's 'war on motorists' leaves 1 in 4 families without a car - the highest rate in a decade

The proportion of households without a car has surged to a ten-year high amid Labour’s ‘war on motorists’.

Official data show a quarter (25 per cent) of households in England didn’t own a vehicle last year, the highest since 2015. It was also up from one in five (21 per cent) in 2020.

Meanwhile, walking and cycling rates didn’t increase, suggesting growing numbers of hard-pressed families are ditching cars amid the surging cost of running them. Public transport travel rates also remained around the same.

Critics said the figures showed families are being priced off the roads amid a blizzard of ‘anti-car’ measures since Labour came to power, including the rise of 20mph zones, which has sparked a surge in speeding tickets.

Since Labour won the 2024 election, they have also introduced a new pay per mile levy for electric and hybrid vehicles and are planning a Fuel Duty raid in the New Year which would push up pump prices even further after they spiralled following the Iran war.

In July, the Mail revealed how parking tickets could more than double outside of London under proposals being considered by ministers.

At present, tickets are capped at £70 but could soar to £160 under the proposals.

Around 42 per cent of households in England had one car last year, according to the annual National Travel Survey data 

Tory shadow transport minister Greg Smith said 'it could not be clearer that Labour are waging war on motorists'

Last year, around 31 per cent of trips were made by active travel - where cycling or walking is the main mode of travel - which was broadly similar to the year before 

Many councils have also hiked parking charges in a bid to replenish their coffers, with some even considering a tax on workplace parking spaces. Others have introduced low emission zones, which charge older vehicles, or congestion levies.

Today's figures were revealed in the annual National Travel Survey.

It found cars and vans by far remain the most popular form of transport, accounting for more than three-quarters (76 per cent) of all miles travelled by the public in England in 2025. They also accounted for 58% of all trips.

But it also showed the proportion of households with access to at least one car or van has fallen, with one in four (25 per cent) now saying they don’t have access to one.

This was up from 22 per cent the year (2024) before and 21 per cent in 2020.

Meanwhile, 44% of households in the lowest income quintile had no access to a car, compared to 17% in the highest income quintile.

Tory shadow transport minister Greg Smith said: ‘It could not be clearer that Labour are waging war on motorists. The Left think cars are a luxury.

‘The rest of us know cars are a necessity to get to work, drop the kids at school, do the family shop and so much more.

‘Labour needs to drop the anti-car measures and get on the side of real people trying to live their lives.’

Reform UK's deputy leader Richard Tice said: 'Labour is waging a war on motorists and working families are paying the price.

'Driving is not a luxury for millions of people, it's how they get to work, take their children to school and run their lives.

'Reform UK will stand up for motorists and protect people’s freedom to travel.'

Around a third (33 per cent) of households had two or more cars last year, while 42 per cent had one.

About 57% of cars were petrol, 28% diesel, 8% hybrid, 5% fully electric and 2% plug-in hybrid.

Average trips decreased compared to 2024 with 323 car driver trips per person (9% decrease) and 166 car passenger trips per person (12% decrease).

But trip rates also remained around the same or fell for other modes of transport.

Last year, around 31 per cent of trips were made by active travel - where cycling or walking is the main mode of travel - and 10 per cent by public transport. This was broadly similar to 2024.

Trips on buses outside London remained unchanged between 2024 and 2025, at 28 trips per person, while in London they increased slightly from 13 to 15 trips per person.

But trips on mainline rail decreased from 21 to 18 trips per person in 2025, a fall of 11% compared to 2024. This was despite Labour freezing rail fares.