Ahmedabad: Gujarat has crossed the 50-lakh mark in car registrations, underlining the state’s rapid motorization and the ownership rate of cars and jeeps that is significantly higher than the national average.According to the Gujarat govt’s Socio-Economic Review, the state had 49.5 lakh cars and jeeps as of March 31, 2025. Data from the Vahan dashboard indicates that around 3.5 lakh more cars have been added since, taking the total number of cars in the state to about 53 lakh. The figures show that Gujarat is not only among the leading states in terms of total car and jeep numbers, but also far ahead of the national average in per capita ownership. The Socio-Economic Review data indicates that Gujarat has 6,735 cars and jeeps per lakh population, compared to the national average of 4,229 cars and jeeps per lakh population. The state’s projected population is 7.3 crore, while India’s estimated population is 141.3 crore. Nationally, the number of cars and jeeps stands at 5.9 crore. The review says that in Gujarat, 47,177 vehicles of all categories have been registered per lakh population. Gujarat had a total of 3.5 crore registered vehicles as of March 31, 2025, reflecting the scale of personal mobility in the state. In absolute car numbers, Gujarat is among the top five states in the country. Vahan dashboard data shows Maharashtra leading with 70.8 lakh cars, followed by Uttar Pradesh with 55.5 lakh, Gujarat with 53 lakh, Karnataka with 49.5 lakh, and Delhi with 43.9 lakh. The latest numbers place Gujarat ahead of Karnataka and Delhi in total car registrations. The growth in car ownership in Gujarat has been sharp over the past five years. The number of cars and jeeps rose from 36.9 lakh in 2020-21 to 49.5 lakh in 2024-25. This translates into a rise of about 34.4% in five years. Over a longer period, the increase in overall vehicle ownership is also notable. The number of vehicles per lakh population in Gujarat rose from 31,249 in 2015-16 to 47,177 in 2024-25, marking a 51% increase in a decade. Officials of the transport department attribute the rise to a mix of economic and social factors. Amit Khatri, a traffic expert, said, “In major cities such as Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, and Rajkot, expanding urban boundaries and limited public transport have pushed more families towards private vehicles.” Khatri added, “Gujarat has witnessed horizontal urban growth. These stretching boundaries have increased dependence on cars for daily travel.” A senior officer said that industrial growth and rising incomes in GIDC-linked areas have also contributed to the rise in car ownership, with many people commuting between cities and nearby towns such as Nadiad, Vadodara and Padra. In rural areas, appreciation of land value has improved household finances, enabling more families to buy cars. An official said that many residents prefer using cars for road trips of 150-200 km because of inadequate public transport. Easy financing has further accelerated purchases. According to RTO officials, nearly 80% of car buyers opt for loans because credit is available at affordable rates, while the remaining 20%, often senior citizens or those nearing retirement, tend to make cash purchases. Automatic transmission has made driving easier, encouraging more women and younger buyers to shift from two-wheelers to cars.
