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Aberdeen motoring statistics

How many cars and electric cars are registered in Aberdeen, which fuels they use, how many public chargers there are and how Aberdeen compares with Scotland. From DVLA licensing records, DfT charger statistics and ONS population estimates.

Last updated
Records analysed
112,784 licensed vehicles in Aberdeen
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 96,780 +0.6% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 399 UK 444
  • Battery electric cars 3,232 3.3% of cars (UK 5.8%)
  • Electric share of private cars 2.8% 140th lowest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 445 192 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 4.4% UK 10.0%

How many cars are there in Aberdeen?

There were 96,780 licensed cars in Aberdeen at the end of June 2026, and 112,784 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 6.4% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 399 for every 1,000 residents, 75th lowest of 361 councils (UK 444).

Licensed vehicles in Aberdeen

Counts at the end of March each year, 2010 to 2026.

Licensed cars and vehicles in Aberdeen at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 105,86190,965
2011 106,45791,579
2012 107,60892,584
2013 110,02294,793
2014 112,50596,686
2015 111,44595,715
2016 109,74894,231
2017 109,95994,533
2018 109,90794,534
2019 110,68995,191
2020 108,05193,553
2021 109,27194,254
2022 109,12693,943
2023 110,12494,722
2024 110,96295,361
2025 112,24696,212
2026 112,78496,780

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Licensed vehicles by type

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Cars per 1,000 residents

All licensed cars at the end of June, divided by the ONS mid-year population. Company fleets registered locally push this up.

Cars per 1,000 residents at mid-year, Aberdeen compared
Year AberdeenScotlandUnited Kingdom
2011 412429–
2012 413430–
2013 421436–
2014 428443–
2015 422446473
2016 418450480
2017 422457488
2018 426461490
2019 427465493
2020 420462489
2021 427469493
2022 419466489
2023 413465489
2024 411468490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Aberdeen

62.3% of cars in Aberdeen run on petrol and 21.0% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 35.5% in 2017. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 10.4%, and cars that plug in 5.7%.

Cars by fuel type

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Fuel mix over time

Share of licensed cars at the end of March each year.

Share of licensed cars by fuel type in Aberdeen, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 76.0%23.7%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2011 73.7%25.9%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2012 71.6%27.9%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2013 69.5%30.0%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2014 67.2%32.2%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2015 65.7%33.6%0.5%0.0%0.1%
2016 64.2%35.0%0.5%0.1%0.1%
2017 63.5%35.5%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2018 63.4%35.4%0.7%0.1%0.2%
2019 63.7%35.0%0.9%0.2%0.2%
2020 63.8%34.6%1.0%0.3%0.3%
2021 63.9%33.3%1.6%0.5%0.4%
2022 63.5%32.0%2.6%0.9%0.6%
2023 63.7%30.0%3.5%1.4%0.8%
2024 63.9%27.0%5.4%1.9%1.3%
2025 63.7%23.6%7.8%2.6%1.6%
2026 62.3%21.0%10.4%3.3%2.3%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Aberdeen

3,232 battery electric cars were licensed in Aberdeen at the end of June 2026, 3.3% of all cars, 112th lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 5,498 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 2,504.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.8% are battery electric (2,546 cars), 10th lowest of 32 councils in Scotland. Companies keep 21.2% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 4.4% of its cars overall. There are also 164 battery electric vans.

Battery electric share of licensed cars

End of March each year. Fleet re-registrations can move a single area’s line sharply.

Battery electric share of licensed cars, Aberdeen compared, end of March each year
Year AberdeenScotlandUnited Kingdom
2016 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2019 0.2%0.2%0.2%
2020 0.3%0.3%0.4%
2021 0.5%0.7%0.8%
2022 0.9%1.2%1.5%
2023 1.4%1.9%2.3%
2024 1.9%2.5%3.2%
2025 2.6%3.4%4.4%
2026 3.3%4.5%5.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Aberdeen

There were 445 public chargers in Aberdeen on 1 July 2026, 142 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 192 for every 100,000 residents, 103rd highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 9.9% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 10.2 privately kept plug-in cars in Aberdeen (UK 12.9), 85th fewest of 361 councils. A higher number means more competition for each public charger, though many drivers charge at home.

Public chargers

Public EV chargers in Aberdeen by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 405123
Apr 2026 428131
Jul 2026 445142

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Aberdeen compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Aberdeen 19261
Scotland 23259
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Road traffic and collisions in Aberdeen

Vehicles travelled an estimated 975 million miles on roads in Aberdeen in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in Aberdeen
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 721
1994 732
1995 745
1996 772
1997 783
1998 790
1999 801
2000 811
2001 803
2002 819
2003 831
2004 818
2005 811
2006 855
2007 833
2008 825
2009 794
2010 782
2011 774
2012 779
2013 778
2014 797
2015 803
2016 826
2017 825
2018 830
2019 974
2020 761
2021 846
2022 916
2023 950
2024 967
2025 975

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Aberdeen, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 5928
2022 6726
2023 9151
2024 6736
2025 6537

Source:DfT STATS19,UK Motoring analysis 2021 to 2025 Updated

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Aberdeen

Unleaded petrol averages 171.1p a litre across 21 filling stations in Aberdeen, 0.4p below the UK average. Diesel averages 200.6p, 1.9p above the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Esso Ascona Five Mile Service Station Common Road 165.9p
  2. MFG Morrisons Aberdeen King Street Aberdeen 166.9p
  3. Sainsbury's Aberdeen Aberdeen 166.9p

Every filling station and price in Aberdeen

Roadworks in Aberdeen

The Scottish Road Works Register lists 729 sets of roadworks in Aberdeen, of which 149 are under way and 580 are planned. 268 of them close a road, a lane, a slip road or the hard shoulder. Aberdeen City Council is behind the most, 422 of them (57.9%). From the extract of 30 October 2026.

Works most likely to hold you up

  • Merkland Road East Lane, Aberdeen

    Road closed Under way, until 6 Nov 2026 BT

    Collapsing Pole due to Storm damage

  • Union Terrace, Aberdeen

    Road closed Under way, until 2 Nov 2026 Aberdeen City Council

    The measure is necessary to protect public safety during Union Street Masterplan works.

  • Cairncry Road, Aberdeen

    Contraflow Under way, until 3 Nov 2026 Scottish Water

    Repair burst main causing flooding

  • Millburn Street, Aberdeen

    Road closed Under way, until 30 Oct 2026 Scottish Hydro Electric Power Dis

    Works to repair leaking cable duct for SSEN Transmission. Work duration estimated at 4 weeks.

  • South College Street, Aberdeen

    Road closed Under way, until 18 Dec 2026 Scottish Hydro Electric Power Dis

    Works to repair leaking cable duct for SSEN Transmission.

  • Riverside Drive, Aberdeen

    Lane closed Under way, until 27 Nov 2026 Aberdeen City Council

    Scour Protection works, continuation of works under notice 3734620

  • Braeside Place, Aberdeen

    Road closed Under way, until 5 Mar 2027 Aberdeen City Council

    One-way restriction on Braeside Place, Aberdeen, from its junction with Braeside Terrace to the boundary between numbers 6 and 8 Braeside Place will…

  • Garthdee Crescent, Aberdeen

    Lane closed Under way, until 31 Jan 2027 SGN

    Gas mains replacement

  • Springfield Road, Aberdeen

    Road closed Under way, until 30 Jan 2027 SGN

    Gas mains replacement

  • Anderson Drive, Aberdeen

    Lane closed Under way, until 30 Jan 2027 SGN

    Replace mains

Who is digging

  • Aberdeen City Council 422
  • BT 100
  • SGN 77
  • Scottish Water 59
  • Scottish Hydro Electric Power Dis 38

How traffic is managed

  • Road closed 217
  • No obstruction 156
  • Give and take 134
  • Temporary traffic lights 83
  • Lane closed 49

The register publishes one extract a day, so works can start, finish or change after it is taken. Roadworks across Scotland.

Source:SRWR Extract of 2026-10-30 Updated

How Aberdeen compares

Aberdeen compared with Scotland, the UK
Aberdeen 399 3.3% 2.8% 4.4% 192 10.2
Scotland 439 4.5% 3.3% 7.8% 232 9.7
United Kingdom4445.8%3.1%10.0%17512.9

Private cars per 1,000 people use the ONS mid-2024 population. Chargers are counted at the latest date; plug-in cars at the end of June 2026.

Driving test centres in Aberdeen

There are 2 DVSA car practical test centres in Aberdeen, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 52.4% at Aberdeen South (Cove).

Other centres in Scotland:

DVSA publishes pass rates by centre name, with no address, so centres are placed here by the place name in the name DVSA uses. See pass rates at every test centre.

Councils in Scotland

Sorted by battery electric share of cars. Select a column heading to sort by it.

Councils in Scotland
Stirling 471 14.8% 4.5% 32.2% 511 6.0
Renfrewshire 439 12.8% 3.5% 34.8% 243 10.1
East Renfrewshire 475 5.5% 4.9% 4.3% 82 43.0
East Dunbartonshire 482 5.1% 4.5% 4.0% 103 32.4
West Lothian 481 4.9% 4.3% 5.6% 137 21.7
East Lothian 476 4.8% 4.4% 4.4% 600 5.1
Edinburgh 326 4.5% 3.6% 5.2% 192 9.7
Midlothian 465 4.5% 4.1% 5.1% 223 12.7
Orkney Islands 496 4.5% 4.0% 5.2% 386 7.3
South Lanarkshire 465 4.5% 3.9% 6.2% 182 15.3
Perth and Kinross 510 4.4% 3.9% 5.1% 363 8.3
Dundee 373 4.1% 3.2% 6.6% 472 3.7
North Lanarkshire 436 4.0% 3.4% 7.2% 168 13.7
Falkirk 495 3.9% 3.3% 5.4% 163 15.2
Fife 481 3.9% 3.4% 4.8% 132 18.2
South Ayrshire 483 3.9% 3.4% 5.1% 205 12.2
Aberdeenshire 533 3.8% 3.3% 4.3% 162 17.8
East Ayrshire 469 3.6% 3.1% 6.0% 229 9.6
Glasgow 309 3.5% 2.4% 9.6% 180 6.8
North Ayrshire 458 3.5% 3.0% 5.9% 199 10.6
Angus 507 3.4% 3.0% 4.7% 221 10.7
Clackmannanshire 496 3.4% 3.0% 4.9% 205 10.9
Aberdeen 399 3.3% 2.8% 4.4% 192 10.2
Scottish Borders 510 3.2% 2.9% 4.8% 224 10.4
Inverclyde 426 2.9% 2.5% 5.6% 237 7.5
West Dunbartonshire 421 2.9% 2.4% 6.7% 204 8.3
Argyll and Bute 474 2.8% 2.4% 4.7% 396 5.1
Highland 500 2.8% 2.3% 5.0% 387 5.0
Moray 507 2.8% 2.3% 4.5% 153 13.3
Dumfries and Galloway 514 2.4% 2.0% 5.7% 549 3.2
Shetland Islands 476 2.2% 1.7% 9.1% 323 4.3
Na h-Eileanan Siar 507 1.6% 1.3% 4.2% 515 2.4

Data stories to read next

All insights

Data sources and methodology

Datasets used on this page
Figures Source Period Records Updated
Licensed vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 112,784 licensed vehicles in Aberdeen 26 October 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 5,829 plug-in vehicles 26 October 2026
Public chargers Electric vehicle public charging infrastructure statistics Department for Transport 1 July 2026 121,171 public chargers (UK) 26 October 2026
Population Mid-year population estimates Office for National Statistics Mid-2024 404 areas 26 October 2026
  • Coverage: licensing and charger figures cover the whole UK. Licensing figures in Aberdeen run from the end of 2009.
  • Vehicles are counted at the registered keeper’s postcode: for company cars that is the company’s address, not where the car is driven.
  • Battery electric and plug-in counts come from table VEH0142; petrol, diesel and hybrid counts from VEH0105. “Other fuels” is VEH0105’s other-fuel count less plug-in cars.
  • Charger counts are based on Zapmap data and are official statistics in development. In June 2026 one operator removed about 1,270 private chargers wrongly listed as public, so April and July are not strictly comparable.
How we calculate these figures All data sources

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Source: Office for National Statistics licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.