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California License Plate Lookup /Car Registration Statistics

How Many Cars Are in California in 2025

Registration Statistics in California

In 2023, the estimated total number of registered vehicles in the state stood at approximately 32.5 million. This figure includes passenger cars, motorcycles, light trucks, commercial trucks, and other vehicle types. Factors such as population growth, economic conditions, and shifts in public transportation preferences contribute to overall fluctuations in registrations each year.

Vehicle Registrations by Year in California

Below is a table showing an approximate year-by-year overview of total registrations and the corresponding percentage growth:

Year Total Registrations Percentage Growth
2020 29,500,000 N/A
2021 30,200,000 2.4%
2022 31,000,000 2.6%
2023 32,500,000 4.8%

Breakdown by Vehicle Type in California (2024)

Below is a breakdown by key vehicle categories anticipated for 2024:

Vehicle Type Approximate Count
Passenger Cars 22,000,000
Light Trucks 7,500,000
Motorcycles 900,000
Commercial Trucks 2,500,000
Trailers 1,200,000
Buses 100,000

Registration Statistics by Major Census Areas in California (2024)

The table below highlights estimated registrations for 2024 in select major census areas:

Major Census Area 2024 Registrations
Los Angeles–Long Beach–Anaheim 12,500,000
San Francisco–Oakland–Berkeley 5,200,000
San Diego–Chula Vista–Carlsbad 3,200,000
Riverside–San Bernardino–Ontario 3,600,000
Sacramento–Roseville–Folsom 1,800,000
Fresno–Madera–Hanford 890,000
Bakersfield 660,000

Vehicle Registration Counts by Fuel Type in California

As more environmentally conscious options emerge, the composition of vehicles by fuel type continues to evolve. The data below reflects approximate registrations for 2024:

Fuel Type Approximate Number of Registrations (2024)
Gasoline 25,000,000
Diesel 1,500,000
Hybrid (Gas/Electric) 3,500,000
Electric 2,000,000
Hydrogen Fuel Cell 50,000

These resources offer additional details and official data:

Resource Link
California DMV https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/
California Air Resources Board https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/
U.S. Census Bureau https://www.census.gov/
Caltrans https://dot.ca.gov/