How common were cars in 1940?

Cars were common in the United States by 1940—roughly one passenger car for every four to five people—but they were far less common in most other countries; globally, the majority of the world’s automobiles were concentrated in the U.S., while much of Europe and the rest of the world had far lower ownership rates and relied more on public transport, bicycles, and walking. This article explains how ownership varied by region, what “common” meant in daily life, and how wartime conditions shaped the picture.

The big picture in 1940

On the eve of World War II, the world’s motor vehicle fleet was on the order of 45–50 million, and the United States accounted for well over half of those vehicles. The Great Depression had slowed growth in the 1930s, but by 1940 America still stood out as the preeminent car-owning society. Elsewhere, private cars existed but were not yet a mass commodity: costs, incomes, urban form, and policy all kept ownership comparatively low.

United States in 1940

By 1940, the U.S. had widespread car access, especially outside dense city cores. There were roughly 27–28 million registered passenger cars (around 32 million motor vehicles including trucks and buses) for a population of about 132 million—approximately 200–210 passenger cars per 1,000 people and roughly 245 motor vehicles per 1,000 people. That translated to around half of households having a car, with significant variation between urban and rural areas and across income groups.

What that meant for daily life

In suburbs, small towns, and rural areas, a family car was increasingly a practical necessity, used for commuting, shopping, and social visits. In big-city neighborhoods, many households still relied on streetcars, subways, and buses; parking and costs limited car ownership, and transit offered dense coverage and frequent service.

Europe and other regions

Across Europe and most of the world, car ownership was markedly lower than in the U.S. A combination of lower incomes, denser cities, stronger rail and tram networks, and, from 1939 onward, wartime constraints, kept private cars from becoming universal. Ownership levels varied widely by country.

The following list highlights approximate prewar figures and per-capita car availability to illustrate how uncommon private cars were outside North America compared with the U.S.

• United Kingdom (1939): roughly 1.8–2.0 million private cars; about 40–45 cars per 1,000 people.
• France (1939): on the order of 1.8–2.0 million cars; around 45–50 per 1,000 people.
• Germany (late 1930s): roughly 1.0–1.5 million private cars; about 15–25 per 1,000 people, with motorcycles far more common.
• Canada (circa 1940): around 1.0–1.3 million cars; about 90–120 per 1,000 people—high by global standards and second only to the U.S.
• Australia (circa 1940): roughly 0.5–0.7 million cars; about 70–100 per 1,000 people.
• Rest of world: much lower rates; in many countries, private car ownership was rare and concentrated among elites or businesses.

These figures underscore the sharp divide: outside North America and a few wealthier countries, cars were present but far from ubiquitous in everyday life in 1940.

War and the auto market

World War II immediately reshaped the automotive landscape. In the U.K. and much of Europe, fuel rationing began in 1939, curbing civilian driving. In the U.S., civilian car production was halted in early 1942 and did not resume until the war’s end; gasoline and tire rationing further limited use. As a result, the number of civilian cars on the road stagnated or declined during the early 1940s, and public transport ridership surged.

Infrastructure and mobility patterns

Even where cars were available, they coexisted with robust non-car networks. U.S. cities still had extensive streetcar and bus systems, and intercity rail remained a primary long-distance mode. European cities leaned heavily on trams, trolleybuses, and trains, with bicycles playing a major role in daily travel. Road networks were expanding, but the high-speed, limited-access highways that would later define car-centric mobility (like the U.S. Interstate System) were not yet widespread in 1940.

By the numbers: how common were cars?

The data points below summarize how common cars were in 1940, using widely cited historical estimates and official registration counts where available.

• United States (1940): about 27–28 million passenger cars; roughly 200–210 cars per 1,000 people; around half of households had at least one car.
• Global fleet (circa 1939–1940): on the order of 45–50 million motor vehicles, with the U.S. accounting for well over half.
• Europe (late 1930s): typically 15–50 cars per 1,000 people, depending on the country; much lower than U.S. levels.
• Trend interruption: 1930s Depression slowed growth; World War II froze or reversed civilian car use and production until the mid-1940s.

Taken together, these figures show that cars were a mainstream part of American life by 1940, but globally they were still a minority mode—present, growing, yet far from universal.

Why the regional gap?

Several factors explain the gap between the U.S. and the rest of the world in 1940. Mass production and lower car prices emerged first at American scale; incomes and fuel were relatively cheap; housing patterns favored dispersed development; and policy and investment leaned toward roads. In Europe, denser urban form, strong rail and tram networks, higher relative costs, and war-related constraints slowed mass car adoption.

Bottom line

In 1940, cars were common in the United States—roughly one for every four to five people—and increasingly part of everyday life, especially outside dense city centers. Elsewhere, private automobiles were present but far less common, with most travel handled by transit, walking, cycling, and rail. The onset of World War II soon paused civilian car growth nearly everywhere.

Summary

Cars in 1940 were widespread in the U.S. but not yet the global norm. America had roughly 27–28 million passenger cars (about 200–210 per 1,000 people), while most European countries had an order of magnitude fewer per capita. War, economics, and urban form shaped this uneven landscape, postponing truly mass car ownership outside North America until the postwar decades.

What year did cars become common?

Cars became common for a significant portion of the population in the United States during the 1920s, with widespread adoption following the introduction of the affordable Ford Model T in 1908 and the subsequent implementation of assembly lines. By 1929, nearly 60% of American families owned a car, a dramatic increase from 20% at the start of the decade. While cars were first perfected in Europe in the late 1800s, mass production and affordability in the U.S. by the early 20th century made them a common household item, though their ownership grew more slowly in other parts of the world. 
Key Factors in Widespread Adoption

• Ford Model T and Assembly Line: The introduction of the Ford Model T in 1908 and its subsequent production on a conveyor belt assembly line made cars affordable for the average person. 
• Increased Affordability: Mass production lowered the cost of cars, allowing for rapid adoption in the United States. 
• Growing Infrastructure: The expansion of the National Highway System, starting in the mid-1950s, provided the infrastructure for faster and more extensive travel by car. 

Timeline of Commonality

• Early 1900s: Experimental and early commercial cars became more widely available. 
• 1920s: The U.S. experienced a significant increase in car ownership, with the automobile becoming common for many families. 
• 1950s: Car ownership was nearly universal for every family in the U.S., becoming a shared global enterprise. 

How common were cars in the 1940s?

Supporting Information

Year	U.S. vehicles per 1,000 people
1940	245.63
1941	261.57
1942	244.73
1943	225.89

What was a popular car in the 1940s?

The 1947 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan was Chevrolet’s most popular model in 1947. This car featured fastback styling which was in high demand in the 1940s. This led to increased sales. Learn all about the two-door 1947 Chevrolet Fleetline Aerosedan.

How common were cars in the 1950s?

By 1950, most factories had made the transition to a consumer-based economy, and more than 8 million cars were produced that year alone. By 1958, there were more than 67 million cars registered in the United States, more than twice the number at the start of the decade.