In the Dominican Republic, a significant shift in vehicle ownership is emerging, with women increasingly taking the wheel on smaller roads, while men continue to dominate the main thoroughfares. According to recent data from the General Directorate of Internal Revenue (DGII) and the National Statistics Office (ONE), women now account for 23% of registered vehicles, a notable increase in a traditionally male-dominated sector. The data, updated to 2024, reveals that women own 432,256 motorcycles, 313,113 automobiles, 244,943 Jeeps, 19,410 buses, and 46,648 vehicles in other categories. The eastern provinces of Hato Mayor (28.7%), La Altagracia (28.1%), and El Seibo (27.3%), along with Peravia (27.7%) and Samaná (27.2%), show the highest percentages of female vehicle owners. In contrast, men still hold the majority, with 77% of vehicles registered in their names, including 1,894,849 motorcycles, 712,256 cars, 416,429 Jeeps, 79,229 buses, and 339,853 other vehicles. The 2024 vehicle fleet totaled 6,194,052 units, marking a 384,916 increase from 2023. Motorcycles dominate the fleet at 57.0%, followed by automobiles (18.7%), Jeeps (11.9%), and cargo vehicles, buses, and other categories (12.4%). Color preferences for cars lean towards white (23.7%), gray (22.9%), and blue (12.6%), while Jeeps favor white (28.6%), gray (20.8%), and black (17.4%). The year 2024 also saw a 40% rise in electric vehicle imports, with 6,640 units, and a 33% increase in hybrid vehicle imports, totaling 3,442 units. This data underscores a growing trend of women’s empowerment in transportation and a shift towards more sustainable vehicle choices in the Dominican Republic.
23% of vehicles in the country are registered in the name of women.
