Car ownership has risen steadily over the lifetime of the GHS with the 1980s recording the steepest increase. The proportion of households with access to a car or van rose from 52% in 1972 to 59% in 1981 rising to 68% in 1991 and then to 73% in 2000. The proportion of households with two or more cars tripled, from 9% in 1972 to 28% in 2000. In recent years there has also been an increase in three-car households, the proportion rising from 4% in 1996 to 6% in 2000.