Yorkshire and the Humber · Metropolitan borough
Barnsley motoring statistics
How many cars and electric cars are registered in Barnsley, which fuels they use, how many public chargers there are and how Barnsley compares with the Yorkshire and the Humber. From DVLA licensing records, DfT charger statistics and ONS population estimates.
- Licensed cars 123,431 +1.1% on a year earlier
- Private cars per 1,000 people 465 UK 441
- Battery electric cars 4,265 3.5% of cars (UK 5.4%)
- Electric share of private cars 2.6% 158th lowest of 361 councils
- Public chargers 208 83 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
- Company-registered cars 5.1% UK 9.9%
How many cars are there in Barnsley?
There were 123,431 licensed cars in Barnsley at the end of March 2026, and 151,708 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 24.8% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 465 for every 1,000 residents, 138th lowest of 361 councils (UK 441).
Licensed vehicles in Barnsley
Counts at the end of March each year, 2010 to 2026.
| Year | All vehicles | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 118,813 | 98,901 |
| 2011 | 119,724 | 99,629 |
| 2012 | 120,144 | 99,879 |
| 2013 | 120,891 | 100,621 |
| 2014 | 123,910 | 102,863 |
| 2015 | 125,927 | 104,840 |
| 2016 | 128,858 | 107,219 |
| 2017 | 132,539 | 109,980 |
| 2018 | 134,506 | 111,525 |
| 2019 | 137,649 | 114,034 |
| 2020 | 139,486 | 116,317 |
| 2021 | 141,562 | 116,762 |
| 2022 | 143,968 | 117,972 |
| 2023 | 145,334 | 118,807 |
| 2024 | 147,635 | 120,685 |
| 2025 | 149,577 | 122,044 |
| 2026 | 151,708 | 123,431 |
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.
| Year | Barnsley | Yorkshire and the Humber | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 432 | 427 | – |
| 2012 | 430 | 427 | – |
| 2013 | 433 | 429 | – |
| 2014 | 440 | 429 | – |
| 2015 | 444 | 433 | 473 |
| 2016 | 449 | 442 | 480 |
| 2017 | 459 | 450 | 488 |
| 2018 | 464 | 456 | 490 |
| 2019 | 472 | 464 | 493 |
| 2020 | 473 | 463 | 489 |
| 2021 | 481 | 470 | 493 |
| 2022 | 480 | 469 | 489 |
| 2023 | 480 | 469 | 489 |
| 2024 | 482 | 472 | 490 |
Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated
Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Barnsley
49.7% of cars in Barnsley run on petrol and 37.8% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 45.1% in 2021. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 7.0%, and cars that plug in 5.1%.
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.
| Year | Petrol | Diesel | Hybrid | Battery electric | Plug-in hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 69.1% | 30.6% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 67.0% | 32.7% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2012 | 65.0% | 34.6% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 63.0% | 36.6% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2014 | 60.9% | 38.6% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 59.3% | 40.2% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2016 | 57.6% | 41.7% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 56.1% | 43.0% | 0.6% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 54.8% | 44.2% | 0.7% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 54.1% | 44.6% | 0.9% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 53.5% | 44.9% | 1.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| 2021 | 52.5% | 45.1% | 1.6% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| 2022 | 51.8% | 44.7% | 2.3% | 0.6% | 0.4% |
| 2023 | 51.6% | 43.7% | 3.0% | 0.9% | 0.6% |
| 2024 | 51.3% | 42.1% | 4.1% | 1.4% | 0.8% |
| 2025 | 50.7% | 40.1% | 5.4% | 2.3% | 1.1% |
| 2026 | 49.7% | 37.8% | 7.0% | 3.5% | 1.7% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated
Electric cars in Barnsley
4,265 battery electric cars were licensed in Barnsley at the end of March 2026, 3.5% of all cars, 181st lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 6,343 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 2,851.
Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.6% are battery electric (3,087 cars), 8th lowest of 15 councils in the Yorkshire and the Humber. Companies keep 27.6% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 5.1% of its cars overall. There are also 104 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.
| Year | Barnsley | Yorkshire and the Humber | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| 2021 | 0.3% | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| 2022 | 0.6% | 1.3% | 1.3% |
| 2023 | 0.9% | 2.0% | 2.1% |
| 2024 | 1.4% | 2.8% | 3.0% |
| 2025 | 2.3% | 3.9% | 4.1% |
| 2026 | 3.5% | 5.0% | 5.4% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated
Public EV chargers in Barnsley
There were 208 public chargers in Barnsley on 1 July 2026, 54 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 83 for every 100,000 residents, 62nd lowest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 3.5% from 1 January 2026.
For every public charger there are 25.9 privately kept plug-in cars in Barnsley (UK 11.9), 60th most of 361 councils. A higher number means more competition for each public charger, though many drivers charge at home.
Public chargers
| Date | All public chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2026 | 201 | 48 |
| Apr 2026 | 189 | 49 |
| Jul 2026 | 208 | 54 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Chargers per 100,000 residents
| Area | All chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Barnsley | 83 | 21 |
| South Yorkshire | 99 | 37 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 111 | 37 |
| England | 173 | 41 |
| UK | 175 | 42 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Electric cars by neighbourhood
Barnsley has 30 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 2.2% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 4.5%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.
| Neighbourhood (MSOA) | Private vehicles | Battery electric | Electric share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnsley 016 | 4,596 | 209 | 4.5% | |
| Barnsley 027 | 4,988 | 200 | 4.0% | |
| Barnsley 024 | 6,623 | 230 | 3.5% | |
| Barnsley 012 | 6,927 | 195 | 2.8% | |
| Barnsley 001 | 4,227 | 108 | 2.6% | |
| Barnsley 004 | 4,984 | 129 | 2.6% | |
| Barnsley 005 | 4,908 | 127 | 2.6% | |
| Barnsley 022 | 3,789 | 97 | 2.6% | |
| Barnsley 009 | 4,583 | 116 | 2.5% | |
| Barnsley 010 | 5,491 | 136 | 2.5% | |
| Lowest electric shares | ||||
| Barnsley 007 | 4,682 | 50 | 1.1% | |
| Barnsley 025 | 4,206 | 59 | 1.4% | |
| Barnsley 020 | 6,023 | 94 | 1.6% | |
| Barnsley 021 | 5,078 | 84 | 1.7% | |
| Barnsley 030 | 4,203 | 77 | 1.8% | |
Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of March 2026. 2 neighbourhoods are left out because DfT withholds small counts there.
Petrol and diesel prices in Barnsley
Unleaded petrol averages 170.5p a litre across 24 filling stations in Barnsley, 1.2p below the UK average. Diesel averages 193.2p, 1.4p below the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.
Cheapest petrol
- The Co-operative Our Coop Carlton Road Barnsley 167.9p
- Asda Barnsley Superstore Barnsley 168.9p
- Tesco Barnsley Extra Barnsley 168.9p
How Barnsley compares
| Barnsley | 465 | 3.5% | 83 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Yorkshire | 432 | 3.8% | 99 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 437 | 5.0% | 111 |
| England | 437 | 5.8% | 173 |
| United Kingdom | 441 | 5.4% | 175 |
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 South Yorkshire
Sorted by battery electric share of cars. Select a column heading to sort by it.
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of March 2026 | 151,708 licensed vehicles in Barnsley | 15 September 2026 |
| Plug-in and electric vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of March 2026 | 6,637 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 |
| Neighbourhoods | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of March 2026 | 35,672 small areas (LSOAs) in England and Wales | 15 September 2026 |
- Coverage: licensing and charger figures cover the whole UK. Licensing figures in Barnsley 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.
- Neighbourhood figures cover England and Wales only; Scottish data zones and Northern Irish super data zones cannot be placed in councils without lookups we do not hold.
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.