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Aberdeenshire motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
196,924 licensed vehicles in Aberdeenshire
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 146,222 0.0% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 528 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 5,130 3.5% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.0% 136th highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 428 162 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 4.3% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in Aberdeenshire?

There were 146,222 licensed cars in Aberdeenshire at the end of March 2026, and 196,924 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 9.8% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 528 for every 1,000 residents, 99th highest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in Aberdeenshire

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Aberdeenshire at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 169,587133,154
2011 172,233135,086
2012 174,780136,911
2013 177,614139,231
2014 182,228142,565
2015 185,251144,543
2016 186,361144,300
2017 187,707144,412
2018 188,552144,723
2019 190,266145,330
2020 191,621146,643
2021 190,225144,143
2022 192,207144,247
2023 193,619144,766
2024 195,696146,113
2025 196,510146,282
2026 196,924146,222

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Licensed vehicles by type

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 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, Aberdeenshire compared
Year AberdeenshireScotlandUnited Kingdom
2011 537429–
2012 541430–
2013 548436–
2014 554443–
2015 552446473
2016 549450480
2017 553457488
2018 556461490
2019 559465493
2020 552462489
2021 552469493
2022 550466489
2023 551465489
2024 556468490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Aberdeenshire

52.1% of cars in Aberdeenshire run on petrol and 33.3% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 49.3% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 8.2%, and cars that plug in 5.5%.

Cars by fuel type

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 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 Aberdeenshire, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 62.3%37.4%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2011 60.1%39.6%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 58.2%41.5%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2013 56.0%43.6%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2014 54.1%45.5%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2015 52.3%47.2%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2016 51.1%48.4%0.3%0.0%0.1%
2017 50.3%49.1%0.4%0.1%0.1%
2018 49.8%49.3%0.5%0.1%0.2%
2019 50.1%48.7%0.6%0.2%0.2%
2020 50.6%47.9%0.8%0.3%0.3%
2021 51.0%46.8%1.2%0.5%0.4%
2022 51.5%44.6%2.0%0.9%0.6%
2023 52.1%42.4%2.9%1.4%0.8%
2024 52.6%39.7%4.2%1.9%1.0%
2025 52.6%36.4%6.1%2.6%1.4%
2026 52.1%33.3%8.2%3.5%2.0%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Aberdeenshire

5,130 battery electric cars were licensed in Aberdeenshire at the end of March 2026, 3.5% of all cars, 181st lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 8,087 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 3,794.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.0% are battery electric (4,248 cars), 12th highest of 32 councils in Scotland. Companies keep 17.2% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 4.3% of its cars overall. There are also 171 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, Aberdeenshire compared, end of March each year
Year AberdeenshireScotlandUnited Kingdom
2016 0.0%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%0.3%
2021 0.5%0.6%0.7%
2022 0.9%1.1%1.3%
2023 1.4%1.7%2.1%
2024 1.9%2.3%3.0%
2025 2.6%3.2%4.1%
2026 3.5%4.2%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Aberdeenshire

There were 428 public chargers in Aberdeenshire on 1 July 2026, 118 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 162 for every 100,000 residents, 137th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 4.1% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 17.8 privately kept plug-in cars in Aberdeenshire (UK 11.9), 148th most 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 Aberdeenshire by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 411103
Apr 2026 388106
Jul 2026 428118

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Aberdeenshire compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Aberdeenshire 16245
Scotland 23259
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Road traffic and collisions in Aberdeenshire

Vehicles travelled an estimated 2,059 million miles on roads in Aberdeenshire in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in Aberdeenshire
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 1,390
1994 1,440
1995 1,468
1996 1,506
1997 1,537
1998 1,552
1999 1,567
2000 1,520
2001 1,535
2002 1,625
2003 1,658
2004 1,613
2005 1,619
2006 1,692
2007 1,693
2008 1,679
2009 1,652
2010 1,676
2011 1,660
2012 1,686
2013 1,704
2014 1,779
2015 1,816
2016 1,898
2017 2,012
2018 1,926
2019 2,008
2020 1,557
2021 1,772
2022 1,923
2023 1,975
2024 1,996
2025 2,059

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Aberdeenshire, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 14093
2022 14388
2023 14383
2024 15394
2025 12383

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Aberdeenshire

Unleaded petrol averages 172.3p a litre across 44 filling stations in Aberdeenshire, 0.6p above the UK average. Diesel averages 196.1p, 1.5p above the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Costco Wholesale Aberdeen Westhill, Aberdeen 163.9p
  2. Tesco Banchory Superstore Banchory 164.9p
  3. MFG Morrisons Banchory Banchory 166.9p

Every filling station and price in Aberdeenshire

Roadworks in Aberdeenshire

The Scottish Road Works Register lists 902 sets of roadworks in Aberdeenshire, of which 238 are under way and 664 are planned. 362 of them close a road, a lane, a slip road or the hard shoulder. Aberdeenshire Council is behind the most, 309 of them (34.3%). From the extract of 16 September 2026.

Works most likely to hold you up

  • C35k B9077 Near Kincluny To Park Bridge, Durris

    Road closed Under way, until 31 Dec 2026 Aberdeenshire Council

    Identification, during routine inspection work, of critical structural element deterioration and consequential weakening of the bridge structure

  • C67m C43m At Milltown Of Towie To A97 At Glenkindie Branch Via Towie School To C43m

    Road closed Under way, until 15 Jun 2030 Aberdeenshire Council

    Emergency closure due to bridge deterioration.

  • Bridgeview Road, Aboyne

    Road closed Under way, until 31 Dec 2027 Aberdeenshire Council

    B968 Aboyne Bridge - bridge closed due to deck failure. Investigations ongoing.

  • U115k Branch Road To B967 At Townhead, Arbuthnott

    Road closed Under way, until 30 Oct 2026 Aberdeenshire Council

    U115K Whitefield Bridge, Arbuthnott - Bridge closed, structurally compromised beyond repair.

  • C80b C77b At Waterside To U80b Northeast Of Ashallow, Hatton

    Road closed Under way, until 30 Oct 2026 Aberdeenshire Council

    C80B Bishops Bridge - Bridge closed as an emergency 24/01/2022.

  • U98b A948 At Burngrains To C112b At Hill Of Northseat, Auchnagatt

    Road closed Under way, until 8 Oct 2026 Aberdeenshire Council

    U98B Ebrie Lodge - emergency closure due to damaged parapet

  • U106b A950 At Saplinbrae To B9029 At Bridgend, Mintlaw

    Road closed Under way, until 26 Jun 2027 Aberdeenshire Council

    Emergency closure due to bridge damage

  • Castle Road, Alford

    Road closed Under way, until 14 Sept 2026 BT

    'Customer cable damaged – full cable needs replaced'

  • Hanover Street, Peterhead

    Road closed Under way, until 16 Sept 2026 Scottish Water

    Road closure to repair valves and burst

  • C3k A90t Near Fordoun To B966 At Redhall Crossroads - Section Old Aberdeen Road To B966 At Airfield

    Road closed Under way, until 15 Sept 2026 Scottish Water

    Repair burst comm pipe

Who is digging

  • Aberdeenshire Council 309
  • BT 263
  • Gofibre Holdings Limited 123
  • Scottish Water 77
  • SGN 62

How traffic is managed

  • Road closed 348
  • Temporary traffic lights 234
  • Give and take 183
  • Stop and go boards 38
  • Footway only 34

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 2026-09-16 Updated

How Aberdeenshire compares

Aberdeenshire compared with Scotland, the UK
Aberdeenshire 528 3.5% 3.0% 4.3% 162 17.8
Scotland 436 4.2% 3.0% 7.8% 232 8.9
United Kingdom4415.4%2.8%9.9%17511.9

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 March 2026.

Councils in Scotland

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

Councils in Scotland
Stirling 468 13.9% 4.1% 32.1% 511 5.6
Renfrewshire 436 11.9% 3.2% 34.9% 243 9.1
East Renfrewshire 473 5.1% 4.5% 4.2% 82 40.4
East Dunbartonshire 481 4.7% 4.1% 4.0% 103 32.8
East Lothian 472 4.5% 4.0% 4.4% 600 5.0
Orkney Islands 490 4.4% 3.8% 5.0% 386 6.9
West Lothian 479 4.4% 3.8% 5.7% 137 22.2
Edinburgh 325 4.2% 3.3% 5.3% 192 8.6
South Lanarkshire 463 4.2% 3.5% 6.2% 182 14.0
Midlothian 461 4.1% 3.7% 5.1% 223 11.6
Perth and Kinross 506 4.0% 3.5% 5.1% 363 7.6
Dundee 371 3.9% 3.0% 6.7% 472 3.3
North Lanarkshire 434 3.6% 3.0% 7.2% 168 12.1
South Ayrshire 482 3.6% 3.0% 5.3% 205 10.5
Aberdeenshire 528 3.5% 3.0% 4.3% 162 17.8
Falkirk 493 3.5% 2.9% 5.4% 163 13.9
Fife 478 3.5% 3.0% 4.9% 132 17.2
Glasgow 307 3.4% 2.2% 9.7% 180 6.2
East Ayrshire 467 3.3% 2.8% 6.0% 229 9.1
North Ayrshire 457 3.2% 2.7% 5.9% 199 9.2
Aberdeen 396 3.1% 2.5% 4.5% 192 9.6
Clackmannanshire 492 3.1% 2.7% 4.9% 205 9.5
Angus 504 3.0% 2.6% 4.7% 221 9.7
Scottish Borders 506 3.0% 2.6% 4.8% 224 9.6
West Dunbartonshire 420 2.8% 2.3% 6.5% 204 7.7
Inverclyde 425 2.7% 2.3% 5.6% 237 6.8
Moray 501 2.6% 2.1% 4.5% 153 11.7
Argyll and Bute 471 2.5% 2.2% 4.7% 396 4.9
Highland 496 2.5% 2.0% 5.0% 387 4.4
Dumfries and Galloway 510 2.2% 1.8% 5.8% 549 2.9
Shetland Islands 471 1.9% 1.4% 9.1% 323 3.9
Na h-Eileanan Siar 500 1.5% 1.2% 4.1% 515 2.4

Data sources and methodology

Datasets used on this page
Figures Source Period Records Updated
Licensed vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 196,924 licensed vehicles in Aberdeenshire 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 8,328 plug-in vehicles 15 September 2026
Public chargers Electric vehicle public charging infrastructure statistics Department for Transport 1 July 2026 121,171 public chargers (UK) 15 September 2026
Population Mid-year population estimates Office for National Statistics Mid-2024 404 areas 15 September 2026
  • Coverage: licensing and charger figures cover the whole UK. Licensing figures in Aberdeenshire 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.