East of England · District council

Basildon motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
122,723 licensed vehicles in Basildon
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 101,094 0.0% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 459 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 3,704 3.7% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 2.3% 103rd lowest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 120 62 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 12.1% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in Basildon?

There were 101,094 licensed cars in Basildon at the end of March 2026, and 122,723 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 25.3% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 459 for every 1,000 residents, 128th lowest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in Basildon

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Basildon at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 96,21280,707
2011 97,17781,574
2012 97,50782,023
2013 98,66783,255
2014 101,12985,128
2015 103,33586,834
2016 106,12488,687
2017 107,93090,147
2018 108,29190,449
2019 109,77691,465
2020 119,272100,306
2021 118,82399,008
2022 119,29898,587
2023 120,34499,369
2024 121,499100,384
2025 122,374101,122
2026 122,723101,094

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, Basildon compared
Year BasildonEast of EnglandUnited Kingdom
2011 468503
2012 467502
2013 470505
2014 475524
2015 479529473
2016 482537480
2017 488544488
2018 487542490
2019 490541493
2020 526536489
2021 526539493
2022 525532489
2023 521529489
2024 522531490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Basildon

57.4% of cars in Basildon run on petrol and 23.1% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 35.0% in 2020. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 10.8%, and cars that plug in 8.3%.

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 Basildon, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 78.1%21.6%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2011 76.6%23.0%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 75.1%24.5%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2013 73.4%26.2%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2014 71.8%27.7%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2015 69.9%29.5%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2016 68.4%30.9%0.4%0.1%0.1%
2017 66.8%32.3%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2018 65.7%33.2%0.8%0.1%0.2%
2019 65.1%33.6%0.9%0.1%0.2%
2020 63.2%35.0%1.1%0.3%0.3%
2021 63.0%33.9%1.6%0.5%0.9%
2022 62.4%32.5%2.6%0.9%1.4%
2023 62.5%30.0%3.6%1.4%2.1%
2024 60.4%26.9%7.7%1.9%2.8%
2025 58.5%24.7%9.8%2.7%3.9%
2026 57.4%23.1%10.8%3.7%4.7%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Basildon

3,704 battery electric cars were licensed in Basildon at the end of March 2026, 3.7% of all cars, 154th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 8,414 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 2,714.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.3% are battery electric (2,027 cars), 14th lowest of 45 councils in the East of England. Companies keep 45.3% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 12.1% of its cars overall. There are also 257 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, Basildon compared, end of March each year
Year BasildonEast of EnglandUnited Kingdom
2016 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.1%0.2%0.1%
2019 0.1%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%2.6%3.0%
2025 2.7%3.8%4.1%
2026 3.7%5.2%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Basildon

There were 120 public chargers in Basildon on 1 July 2026, 51 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 62 for every 100,000 residents, 23rd lowest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 23.7% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 35.9 privately kept plug-in cars in Basildon (UK 11.9), 17th 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 Basildon by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 9749
Apr 2026 10751
Jul 2026 12051

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Basildon compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Basildon 6226
Essex 9045
East of England 15049
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

Basildon has 22 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 2.0% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 3.3%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in Basildon with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
Basildon 001 4,329 145 3.3% 6.0%
Basildon 004 4,680 156 3.3% 5.9%
Basildon 021 5,212 162 3.1% 5.5%
Basildon 009 4,797 128 2.7% 5.5%
Basildon 014 5,245 138 2.6% 4.7%
Basildon 003 4,498 110 2.4% 5.2%
Basildon 020 5,094 121 2.4% 4.4%
Basildon 012 5,021 115 2.3% 3.6%
Basildon 002 4,203 94 2.2% 4.3%
Basildon 006 4,996 104 2.1% 4.3%
Lowest electric shares
Basildon 013 3,118 15 0.5% 1.8%
Basildon 015 3,837 38 1.0% 2.3%
Basildon 018 3,890 47 1.2% 3.1%
Basildon 019 3,468 46 1.3% 2.6%
Basildon 022 4,033 58 1.4% 3.0%

Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of March 2026. 1 neighbourhood is left out because DfT withholds small counts there.

Road traffic and collisions in Basildon

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Basildon, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 20365
2022 19251
2023 22762
2024 27373
2025 25277

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Basildon

Unleaded petrol averages 168.7p a litre across 17 filling stations in Basildon, 3.0p below the UK average. Diesel averages 191.6p, 3.0p below the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

How Basildon compares

Basildon compared with Essex, the East of England, England, the UK
Basildon 459 3.7% 2.3% 12.1% 62 35.9
Essex 507 3.4% 2.7% 6.0% 90 26.8
East of England 497 5.2% 2.9% 8.6% 150 15.7
England 437 5.8% 2.9% 10.6% 173 12.4
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 Essex

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

Councils in Essex
Uttlesford 588 4.4% 3.8% 12.4% 164 22.5
Epping Forest 497 4.1% 3.3% 5.2% 126 24.6
Brentwood 499 3.8% 2.9% 4.6% 97 33.7
Basildon 459 3.7% 2.3% 12.1% 62 35.9
Chelmsford 502 3.7% 3.1% 4.7% 105 25.7
Colchester 471 3.3% 2.6% 4.6% 90 22.2
Maldon 598 3.2% 2.6% 3.6% 61 50.6
Braintree 533 3.0% 2.4% 4.0% 89 23.4
Harlow 442 3.0% 2.3% 4.7% 74 22.8
Rochford 549 3.0% 2.6% 4.1% 76 32.5
Tendring 509 2.6% 2.0% 4.9% 84 20.0
Castle Point 531 2.5% 2.0% 3.8% 42 49.8

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 122,723 licensed vehicles in Basildon 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 9,014 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 Basildon 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.