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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 6,229,731 | 1,123,162 | 144,037 | 7,496,930 |
| 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 |
| Year* | Autos | Trucks | Motorcycles | Total | 2018 | 6,479,206 | 1,107,381 | 158,309 | 7,744,896 |
| 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 |
| Year* | Autos | Trucks | Motorcycles | Total |
| 2013 | 6,079,057 | 1,080,125 | 158,402 | 7,317,584 |
| 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 |
| Year* | Autos | Trucks | Motorcycles | Total |
| 2008 | 5,859,407 | 1,152,856 | 149,987 | 7,162,250 |
| 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 |
| Year* | Autos | Trucks | Motorcycles | Total |
| 2003 | 5,498,554 | 1,080,094 | 100,693 | 6,679,341 |
| 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 |
| Year* | Autos | Trucks | Motorcycles | Total |
| 1998 | 4,825,512 | 970,993 | 74,210 | 5,870,715 |
| 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 |
| Year* | Autos | Trucks | Motorcycles | Total |
| 1993 | 4,796,476 | 1,022,308 | 120,219 | 4,796,476 |
| 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)
New Light Vehicle Sales (Cars & Light Trucks) by Year in L.A. & Orange Counties
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, motor vehicles began to relentlessly replace 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.
