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Argyll and Bute motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
59,189 licensed vehicles in Argyll and Bute
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 43,640 +0.4% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 474 UK 444
  • Battery electric cars 1,204 2.8% of cars (UK 5.8%)
  • Electric share of private cars 2.4% 81st lowest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 347 396 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 4.7% UK 10.0%

How many cars are there in Argyll and Bute?

There were 43,640 licensed cars in Argyll and Bute at the end of June 2026, and 59,189 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 5.8% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 474 for every 1,000 residents, 154th lowest of 361 councils (UK 444).

Licensed vehicles in Argyll and Bute

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Argyll and Bute at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 51,88141,231
2011 51,91441,226
2012 51,95941,064
2013 52,35241,335
2014 52,85941,712
2015 52,87641,595
2016 53,62742,064
2017 54,77742,704
2018 54,98142,587
2019 55,48942,752
2020 54,79242,196
2021 56,78443,122
2022 57,03642,915
2023 57,37642,877
2024 58,26643,371
2025 58,64143,454
2026 59,18943,640

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, Argyll and Bute compared
Year Argyll and ButeScotlandUnited Kingdom
2011 464429–
2012 471430–
2013 467436–
2014 472443–
2015 474446473
2016 477450480
2017 485457488
2018 486461490
2019 489465493
2020 484462489
2021 490469493
2022 488466489
2023 488465489
2024 495468490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Argyll and Bute

53.1% of cars in Argyll and Bute run on petrol and 32.5% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 45.4% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 9.2%, and cars that plug in 4.6%.

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 Argyll and Bute, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 67.3%32.5%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2011 65.3%34.4%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 63.5%36.1%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2013 61.7%37.8%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2014 59.6%39.9%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2015 57.8%41.6%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2016 56.1%43.1%0.5%0.1%0.1%
2017 54.6%44.5%0.7%0.1%0.1%
2018 53.4%45.4%0.9%0.1%0.2%
2019 53.2%45.2%1.2%0.2%0.2%
2020 53.0%44.9%1.4%0.3%0.3%
2021 53.2%43.7%2.1%0.5%0.4%
2022 53.1%42.4%3.0%0.7%0.6%
2023 53.0%41.0%3.9%1.1%0.7%
2024 53.4%38.5%5.2%1.6%0.9%
2025 53.5%35.6%7.0%2.1%1.3%
2026 53.1%32.5%9.2%2.8%1.9%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Argyll and Bute

1,204 battery electric cars were licensed in Argyll and Bute at the end of June 2026, 2.8% of all cars, 53rd lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 2,028 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 908.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.4% are battery electric (1,002 cars), 8th lowest of 32 councils in Scotland. Companies keep 16.8% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 4.7% of its cars overall. There are also 99 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, Argyll and Bute compared, end of March each year
Year Argyll and ButeScotlandUnited 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 0.7%1.2%1.5%
2023 1.1%1.9%2.3%
2024 1.6%2.5%3.2%
2025 2.1%3.4%4.4%
2026 2.8%4.5%5.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Argyll and Bute

There were 347 public chargers in Argyll and Bute on 1 July 2026, 56 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 396 for every 100,000 residents, 20th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 6.8% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 5.1 privately kept plug-in cars in Argyll and Bute (UK 12.9), 26th 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 Argyll and Bute by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 32559
Apr 2026 32758
Jul 2026 34756

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Argyll and Bute compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Argyll and Bute 39664
Scotland 23259
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Road traffic and collisions in Argyll and Bute

Vehicles travelled an estimated 614 million miles on roads in Argyll and Bute in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in Argyll and Bute
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 447
1994 461
1995 473
1996 487
1997 496
1998 496
1999 503
2000 491
2001 494
2002 534
2003 538
2004 539
2005 554
2006 559
2007 558
2008 554
2009 552
2010 545
2011 542
2012 538
2013 544
2014 560
2015 575
2016 595
2017 616
2018 607
2019 608
2020 451
2021 533
2022 587
2023 596
2024 603
2025 614

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Argyll and Bute, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 9346
2022 7841
2023 10561
2024 9751
2025 8241

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Argyll and Bute

Unleaded petrol averages 175.1p a litre across 16 filling stations in Argyll and Bute, 3.6p above the UK average. Diesel averages 203.8p, 5.1p above the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Jet Cot House Services Dunoon 159.9p
  2. Lochgilphead Esso Express Lochgilphead 165.9p
  3. Riverside Lochgilphead 165.9p

Every filling station and price in Argyll and Bute

Roadworks in Argyll and Bute

The Scottish Road Works Register lists 389 sets of roadworks in Argyll and Bute, of which 106 are under way and 283 are planned. 65 of them close a road, a lane, a slip road or the hard shoulder. BT is behind the most, 222 of them (57.1%). From the extract of 30 October 2026.

Works most likely to hold you up

  • Shore Road, Kames

    Road closed Under way, until 5 Nov 2026 Scottish Hydro Electric Power Dis

    UC8328 cable fault

  • Ardencraig Road, Rothesay

    Road closed Under way, until 7 Nov 2027 Argyll & Bute Council

    Traffic management for urgent road closure due to retaiming wall collappse and further subsidence on the carriageway

  • B832 From Crosskeys Roundabout To A82t At Duchlage, Arden

    Road closed Under way, until 7 Nov 2026 BT

    Collapsed Pole due to Storm Damage

  • Charlotte Street, Helensburgh

    Road closed Under way, until 7 Nov 2026 BT

    Collapsing Pole due to Storm damage

  • Ardencraig Road (plus 2 more), Rothesay

    Road closed Under way, until 7 Nov 2027 Argyll & Bute Council

    Traffic management for urgent road closure due to retaiming wall collappse and further subsidence on the carriageway

  • East Clyde Street, Helensburgh

    Road closed Under way, until 9 Feb 2027 Argyll & Bute Council

    Closure due to dangerous building

  • B8035 At Gribun From Dishaig Access Road To Ballochmore

    Road closed Under way, until 30 Mar 2027 Argyll & Bute Council

    Road closure for rock fall

  • A814 At Ardoch From Council Boundary At Dumbarton To Westerhill

    Road closed Under way, until 30 Oct 2026 Argyll & Bute Council

    Major flooding

  • U50 Achinduin Road

    Road closed On 27 Oct 2026 BT

    Poling works

  • B836 North Of Colintraive From Hillhouse To A886 Junction

    Road closed On 4 Nov 2026 BT

    Renew Pole

Who is digging

  • BT 222
  • Argyll & Bute Council 61
  • SGN 54
  • SP Energy Networks 17
  • Scottish Water 15

How traffic is managed

  • Give and take 125
  • Stop and go boards 99
  • Temporary traffic lights 72
  • Road closed 64
  • Footway only 19

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 Argyll and Bute compares

Argyll and Bute compared with Scotland, the UK
Argyll and Bute 474 2.8% 2.4% 4.7% 396 5.1
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 Argyll and Bute

There are 7 DVSA car practical test centres in Argyll and Bute, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 73.8% at Isle of Mull.

Other centres in Scotland:

  • Gairloch 73.5% pass rate, 2025/26

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 59,189 licensed vehicles in Argyll and Bute 26 October 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 2,171 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 Argyll and Bute 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.