More and more people are choosing not to have a car and it's being attributed to emerging Auckland lifestyle trends.

Official figures show the number of licences issued increased each year until 2010, now it's dropped back to levels of more than a decade ago.

Former Auckland mayor candidate Chloe Swarbrick told Mike Hosking many young people find a car too expensive and not environmentally friendly.

She said if they have a car it's only because of a lack of, or poor public transport.

"A great public transport system is the great social equaliser, so I'd really like to see that before I purchase a car, and I do think there's scope to even take my potential future children on that."

Listen above: Chloe Swarbrick speaks to Mike Hosking