How many types of vehicles are there?

There isn’t a single, universally agreed number. Depending on how you classify them, you can reasonably say there are 4 broad transportation modes (land, water, air, space), roughly 8 internationally recognized road-legal categories, 13 U.S. traffic/weight classes, and about 6–10 mainstream powertrain types, with many more subtypes by body style and use case. The total expands or shrinks with the framework you choose.

Why there isn’t a single number

“Vehicle type” can mean very different things: the medium they travel in, their legal classification, how they’re powered, their body style, or their intended use (commercial, personal, emergency, military, etc.). Each framework yields a different count. Regulators often need narrow, mutually exclusive classes; consumers and journalists tend to group by form factor or purpose; engineers might classify by propulsion. As new technologies emerge—micromobility, drones, electric VTOL aircraft—categories evolve, so any fixed total quickly becomes outdated.

Major ways to count vehicle types

By transportation medium (mode)

A simple, high-level way to count types is by the medium a vehicle operates in. This is the broadest, most widely understood framework.

• Land: Road vehicles (cars, trucks, buses, motorcycles, bicycles, e-bikes, scooters), rail (trains, trams, metros), and off-road machines.
• Water: Boats and ships (kayaks, sailboats, motorboats, ferries, cargo ships, tankers, submarines), plus hovercraft that primarily traverse surfaces over water.
• Air: Aircraft (fixed-wing airplanes, helicopters, gliders, balloons, airships), unmanned drones (UAVs), and emerging eVTOL craft.
• Space: Launch vehicles (rockets), spacecraft (crewed and uncrewed), satellites, landers, and rovers.

This approach yields four primary modes—land, water, air, and space—but each mode contains many distinct vehicle families and subtypes.

By road‑legal class (international baseline)

For road vehicles, many countries reference United Nations/UNECE-style categories (widely mirrored in the EU) that group vehicles for safety and regulatory purposes.

• L: Two- and three-wheelers and quadricycles (mopeds, motorcycles, trikes, microcars).
• M: Passenger vehicles (M1 passenger cars up to 8 seats; M2/M3 minibuses and buses).
• N: Goods vehicles (light, medium, heavy trucks by mass: N1, N2, N3).
• O: Trailers and semi-trailers (O1–O4 by mass).
• T: Agricultural tractors.
• C: Agricultural and forestry tracked vehicles.
• R: Trailed agricultural/forestry equipment.
• S: Interchangeable towed equipment (specialized implements).

These eight umbrella categories are widely used for regulation and testing; each has multiple subcategories (for example, L includes several electric micromobility and quadricycle classes), so the detailed count expands quickly.

By U.S. traffic/weight classes (FHWA)

In the United States, the Federal Highway Administration’s Scheme F defines 13 traffic classes, commonly used for traffic counts and infrastructure planning.

1. Motorcycles
2. Passenger cars
3. Other two-axle, four-tire vehicles (light pickups/SUVs not counted as cars)
4. Buses
5. Two-axle, six-tire single-unit trucks
6. Three-axle single-unit trucks
7. Four-or-more-axle single-unit trucks
8. Four-or-fewer-axle single-trailer trucks
9. Five-axle single-trailer trucks
10. Six-or-more-axle single-trailer trucks
11. Five-or-fewer-axle multi-trailer trucks
12. Six-axle multi-trailer trucks
13. Seven-or-more-axle multi-trailer trucks

This framework yields a clear total—13 classes—but it’s specific to U.S. traffic analysis and doesn’t attempt to describe non-road vehicles or body styles.

By powertrain/energy source

Another common lens is how the vehicle is powered. This helps compare environmental impact and fueling needs.

• Human-powered (pedal, row, paddle)
• Internal combustion engine (ICE: gasoline, diesel)
• Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV)
• Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)
• Battery electric vehicle (BEV)
• Fuel cell electric vehicle (FCEV, hydrogen)
• Compressed natural gas (CNG) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG)
• Biofuel-capable (flex-fuel ethanol, biodiesel)
• Hydrogen ICE (emerging, limited deployment)

Depending on how finely you split alternatives, most summaries list around 6–10 mainstream powertrain types, with many niche or experimental variants beyond these.

By common body style/form factor (road vehicles)

Consumers often think in terms of shape and use. This is especially true for passenger vehicles and light commercial vehicles.

• Hatchback, sedan/saloon, wagon/estate
• Coupé, convertible/roadster
• SUV, crossover (CUV)
• Pickup (compact, midsize, full-size)
• Van/MPV/minivan
• Sports car, supercar/hypercar
• Microcar/quadricycle
• Light commercial: panel van, chassis cab
• Truck bodies: box, flatbed, tipper/dumper, tanker, car carrier
• Buses: city bus, coach, articulated, double-decker, minibus

This perspective produces several dozen recognizable “types” when you include regional and commercial variants, though they’re not formal legal classes.

Rail vehicle families

Rail vehicles form a distinct set with their own subtypes and standards.

• Locomotives (diesel, electric, hybrid)
• Multiple units: EMU/DMU
• Passenger coaches (intercity, regional, sleeper)
• Freight wagons (box, hopper, tanker, flat)
• Trams/light rail vehicles
• Metro/subway cars
• Monorail vehicles
• Special rail vehicles (maintenance, inspection, snowplows)

Depending on granularity, rail alone can be grouped into roughly 8–12 families, each with numerous specialized subtypes.

Watercraft families

On water, propulsion method and mission largely define type.

• Human-powered: kayak, canoe, rowboat
• Sailing vessels: dinghy, keelboat, yacht
• Motorboats: runabout, cabin cruiser, RIB
• Personal watercraft (PWC)
• Commercial: fishing vessels, tugs, ferries
• Cargo ships: container, bulk carrier, RO-RO
• Tankers: oil, LNG/LPG
• Specialized: research vessels, icebreakers
• Submersibles/submarines
• Hovercraft (amphibious)

A practical catalog here easily reaches 10+ families, with many specialized configurations within each mission type.

Aircraft families

Aircraft are grouped by lift type, propulsion, and mission, with a rapidly growing unmanned segment.

• Fixed-wing airplanes (propeller, turboprop, jet)
• Rotary-wing: helicopters
• Gyroplanes/autogyros
• Gliders/sailplanes and motor-gliders
• Lighter-than-air: balloons, airships
• Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs/drones)
• eVTOL/VTOL aircraft (emerging advanced air mobility)
• Special mission: firefighting, surveillance, cargo-only

Counting across categories yields around 8 broad families, with many certified subtypes; several eVTOL models are advancing through certification, but widespread commercial service is still emerging.

Space vehicles

Spaceflight adds a small but distinct set of vehicle types.

• Launch vehicles/rockets (orbital and suborbital)
• Spacecraft: crewed capsules and spaceplanes
• Uncrewed spacecraft: cargo vehicles, probes
• Satellites (communication, Earth observation, navigation)
• Planetary landers and rovers

Depending on aggregation, space vehicle types typically sum to 5–7 families, with configurations tailored to mission profiles.

Putting the counts together

If you’re after a single headline figure, the honest answer is that it depends. At the highest level there are 4 modes. Within road transport, regulators often use about 8 umbrella categories internationally or 13 traffic classes in the U.S. By powertrain, you’ll commonly see roughly 6–10 types. Add body styles and mission-specific variants across land, water, air, and space, and you’re quickly into dozens (and, with fine subtyping, hundreds) of “vehicle types.” Because these frameworks overlap, adding them all together would double-count.

How to decide the “type” you need

To get a concrete number or a defensible list, first define your scope and criteria.

1. Choose the scope: road only, or include water, air, and space?
2. Pick a framework: legal class, powertrain, body style, or mission/payload.
3. Select a region/standard: UNECE/EU, U.S. FHWA/NHTSA, or another authority.
4. Decide granularity: umbrella families vs. detailed subcategories.
5. Document assumptions so others can reproduce your count.

Following these steps will give you a clear, context-specific tally that matches your purpose, whether regulatory, analytical, or descriptive.

Summary

There’s no single fixed number of vehicle types. Reasonable counts range from 4 broad modes to dozens or hundreds of categories once you consider legal classes, powertrains, body styles, and missions. For a meaningful answer, define your scope and classification system; under widely used frameworks, you’ll encounter 4 modes, about 8 international road categories, 13 U.S. traffic classes, and roughly 6–10 powertrain types—each expanding into many subtypes.

How many vehicle types are there?

There isn’t a single, universally defined number of vehicle types; classifications vary by context (e.g., legal, market segment, or purpose), but generally include categories such as passenger cars (sedans, hatchbacks, SUVs), light-duty trucks, commercial vehicles (buses, trucks), motorcycles, and specialized vehicles like trains, boats, and aircraft. Broad categories like human-powered, animal-powered, and motor-powered can also be used to group all types of transport.
 
Here’s a breakdown by common groupings:
By Power Source & Function

• Human-Powered: Bicycles, tricycles, kayaks, and wheelbarrows. 
• Animal-Powered: Horse-drawn carriages, ox carts, and reindeer sleds. 
• Motor Vehicles: The largest category, including:
  • Cars: Sedans, hatchbacks, coupes, convertibles, and SUVs. 
  • Trucks: Pickup trucks, semi-trucks, and dump trucks. 
  • Buses: Includes standard buses, double-decker buses, and trolley buses. 
  • Motorcycles: Includes dirt bikes, touring bikes, and scooters. 
• Railed Vehicles: Trains, trams, and streetcars. 
• Watercraft: Ships, boats, yachts, canoes, and hovercraft. 
• Aircraft: Airplanes, helicopters, hot air balloons, and drones. 

By Market Segment (Cars)
Vehicle manufacturers and organizations often use more specific segments to define cars: 

• Subcompact and Compact: Small, efficient cars like city cars and superminis. 
• Mid-size and Full-size: Larger cars like sedans and SUVs. 
• Sports and Luxury: High-performance vehicles (supercars) and high-end luxury cars. 

By Legal and Governmental Classification
Government agencies categorize vehicles for legal and regulatory purposes, which can differ by country but often include: 

• Light-Duty Vehicles: Passenger cars, light trucks, and some vans.
• Medium-Duty Vehicles: Buses and heavier trucks.
• Heavy-Duty Vehicles: The largest trucks and other commercial vehicles.

What are the 6 types of cars?

Hatchbacks, sedans, SUVs, MUVs, coupes, convertibles, pickup trucks – you name it, we have it.

How many kinds of cars are there in the world?

There isn’t a single, exact number for “types of cars” because “type” can refer to different classifications, such as body style (sedan, SUV), powertrain (electric, hybrid), or vehicle class (subcompact, mid-size). Broadly, there are about 8-12 primary car body styles, but these can be further categorized into thousands of distinct models from over 5000 car brands globally, making the number of unique types extremely large and constantly changing.
 
Classifying Car Types
Car classifications are often based on:

• Body Style: This describes the physical shape of the car, such as: 
  • Sedan: A four-door car with a separate trunk. 
  • Hatchback: A car with a rear door that swings upward to access the cargo area. 
  • SUV: A Sport Utility Vehicle that combines passenger car characteristics with off-road capability and a higher ride height. 
  • Coupe: Traditionally a two-door car with a sporty design. 
  • Convertible: A car with a retractable roof. 
  • Pickup Truck: A vehicle with an open cargo bed at the back. 
• Powertrain: How the car is powered, including:
  • Gasoline/Petrol: The traditional internal combustion engine. 
  • Electric Vehicle (EV): Powered by one or more electric motors, using electricity from a battery. 
  • Hybrid: Combines a gasoline engine with an electric motor and battery. 
• Vehicle Class: A segmentation system that groups cars by size and market position, such as A-segment (minicompact), B-segment (subcompact), and C-segment (compact). 

The Vast Number of Models
Beyond these broad categories, the number of distinct car models available worldwide is enormous. 

• There are over 5,000 car brands globally. 
• Motorway estimates there are over 5,000 car models in total. 
• Different regions may have different naming conventions or market segments for vehicle types. 

What are the 10 most popular cars?

Top 10 Most Popular Cars in the World

1. Toyota Corolla. Maintaining its leadership for 4 consecutive years!
2. Toyota Camry. Another “leading” model from Toyota is the representative and more comfortable Camry.
3. Honda CR-V.
4. Toyota RAV4.
5. Ford F-Series.
6. Hyundai Tucson.
7. Chevrolet Silverado.
8. Tesla Model 3.