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Bedford motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
129,235 licensed vehicles in Bedford
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 101,147 +0.4% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 486 UK 444
  • Battery electric cars 4,531 4.5% of cars (UK 5.8%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.6% 93rd highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 291 149 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 6.4% UK 10.0%

How many cars are there in Bedford?

There were 101,147 licensed cars in Bedford at the end of June 2026, and 129,235 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 19.7% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 486 for every 1,000 residents, 176th lowest of 361 councils (UK 444).

Licensed vehicles in Bedford

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Bedford at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 102,10484,507
2011 104,20988,446
2012 100,09884,989
2013 100,11085,413
2014 102,96187,753
2015 114,19597,035
2016 127,835108,622
2017 137,365116,953
2018 138,890117,847
2019 123,899105,068
2020 124,690106,959
2021 129,702111,237
2022 117,925100,778
2023 117,89996,773
2024 124,587100,035
2025 124,810100,723
2026 129,235101,147

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, Bedford compared
Year BedfordEast of EnglandUnited Kingdom
2011 560503–
2012 530502–
2013 522505–
2014 526524–
2015 570529473
2016 625537480
2017 666544488
2018 661542490
2019 582541493
2020 587536489
2021 599539493
2022 537532489
2023 505529489
2024 513531490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Bedford

54.5% of cars in Bedford run on petrol and 28.6% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 38.3% in 2017. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 9.2%, and cars that plug in 7.3%.

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 Bedford, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 71.7%27.9%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2011 69.5%30.0%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2012 69.5%29.9%0.3%0.2%0.0%
2013 68.4%30.9%0.5%0.0%0.0%
2014 66.7%32.5%0.7%0.0%0.0%
2015 63.9%34.9%0.8%0.2%0.0%
2016 61.2%36.8%1.2%0.5%0.0%
2017 59.2%38.3%1.4%0.8%0.1%
2018 60.2%37.0%1.5%1.0%0.1%
2019 61.5%36.0%1.9%0.2%0.2%
2020 61.6%35.3%2.3%0.3%0.4%
2021 61.9%33.1%3.3%0.8%0.6%
2022 58.5%34.1%4.6%1.7%0.8%
2023 57.7%34.2%5.2%1.6%1.0%
2024 56.2%32.2%7.6%2.2%1.5%
2025 55.3%30.2%8.8%3.2%2.0%
2026 54.5%28.6%9.2%4.5%2.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Bedford

4,531 battery electric cars were licensed in Bedford at the end of June 2026, 4.5% of all cars, 94th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 7,372 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 3,185.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.6% are battery electric (3,371 cars), 12th highest of 45 councils in the East of England. Companies keep 25.6% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 6.4% of its cars overall. There are also 561 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, Bedford compared, end of March each year
Year BedfordEast of EnglandUnited Kingdom
2016 0.5%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.8%0.2%0.1%
2018 1.0%0.2%0.1%
2019 0.2%0.2%0.2%
2020 0.3%0.4%0.4%
2021 0.8%0.8%0.8%
2022 1.7%1.2%1.5%
2023 1.6%1.9%2.3%
2024 2.2%2.9%3.2%
2025 3.2%4.1%4.4%
2026 4.5%5.6%5.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Bedford

There were 291 public chargers in Bedford on 1 July 2026, 94 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 149 for every 100,000 residents, 163rd highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 0.0% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 18.0 privately kept plug-in cars in Bedford (UK 12.9), 169th 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 Bedford by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 29191
Apr 2026 28993
Jul 2026 29194

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Bedford compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Bedford 14948
East of England 15049
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

Bedford has 21 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 2.7% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 5.9%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in Bedford with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
Bedford 022 5,250 310 5.9% 8.3%
Bedford 008 8,648 470 5.4% 8.0%
Bedford 020 6,800 354 5.2% 7.0%
Bedford 021 6,131 281 4.6% 6.8%
Bedford 001 4,561 188 4.1% 6.2%
Bedford 002 6,874 249 3.6% 5.9%
Bedford 011 3,139 100 3.2% 4.5%
Bedford 004 8,895 276 3.1% 5.1%
Bedford 003 5,990 182 3.0% 4.7%
Bedford 005 4,704 135 2.9% 4.8%
Lowest electric shares
Bedford 015 4,668 44 0.9% 2.5%
Bedford 014 4,959 74 1.5% 3.0%
Bedford 013 3,734 59 1.6% 3.7%
Bedford 010 3,311 54 1.6% 3.1%
Bedford 007 4,642 76 1.6% 2.9%

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

Road traffic and collisions in Bedford

Vehicles travelled an estimated 895 million miles on roads in Bedford in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in Bedford
Year Million vehicle miles
2009 765
2010 704
2011 694
2012 723
2013 733
2014 770
2015 793
2016 809
2017 859
2018 845
2019 859
2020 676
2021 764
2022 847
2023 874
2024 870
2025 895

Source:DfT 2009 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Bedford, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 26359
2022 32872
2023 33270
2024 28855
2025 29369

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Bedford

Unleaded petrol averages 173.7p a litre across 11 filling stations in Bedford, 2.2p above the UK average. Diesel averages 198.9p, 0.2p above the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.

Cheapest petrol

  1. MFG Morrisons Bedford Bedford 171.9p
  2. Tesco Bedford Extra Bedford 172.9p
  3. Tesco Bedford Riverfield Dr Superstore Bedford 172.9p

Every filling station and price in Bedford

How Bedford compares

Bedford compared with the East of England, England, the UK
Bedford 486 4.5% 3.6% 6.4% 149 18.0
East of England 501 5.6% 3.2% 8.7% 150 17.3
England 440 6.2% 3.2% 10.7% 173 13.4
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 Bedford

There is 1 DVSA car practical test centre in Bedford, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 53.7% at Bedford.

Other centres in the East of England:

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 the East of England

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

Councils in the East of England
Peterborough 430 29.7% 2.7% 60.3% 129 14.9
South Cambridgeshire 547 5.9% 5.4% 3.5% 205 21.3
St Albans 503 5.8% 5.0% 3.7% 111 36.8
Hertsmere 469 5.7% 4.4% 6.5% 229 15.2
Three Rivers 513 5.1% 4.2% 4.2% 161 23.4
Cambridge 270 5.0% 4.4% 3.8% 313 5.8
Huntingdonshire 549 5.0% 3.8% 8.3% 175 18.6
Uttlesford 593 4.8% 4.2% 12.0% 164 24.4
Central Bedfordshire 542 4.7% 4.1% 4.5% 168 20.0
North Hertfordshire 515 4.7% 4.0% 4.3% 117 27.7
Bedford 486 4.5% 3.6% 6.4% 149 18.0
East Hertfordshire 529 4.4% 3.7% 3.8% 135 24.6
Epping Forest 499 4.4% 3.6% 5.3% 126 25.2
Welwyn Hatfield 458 4.4% 3.6% 5.5% 350 7.8
East Cambridgeshire 567 4.3% 3.9% 3.7% 90 36.5
Brentwood 501 4.2% 3.2% 4.9% 97 33.0
Dacorum 508 4.2% 3.5% 4.1% 159 19.0
Chelmsford 504 4.0% 3.3% 4.8% 105 27.0
South Norfolk 574 4.0% 3.5% 4.1% 131 22.3
Watford 398 4.0% 3.0% 5.4% 563 4.0
Basildon 461 3.9% 2.5% 11.9% 62 34.8
Mid Suffolk 612 3.9% 3.2% 4.6% 135 21.9
Broadland 576 3.8% 3.2% 3.9% 116 23.8
Colchester 474 3.6% 2.9% 4.6% 90 24.5
Maldon 605 3.5% 2.9% 3.6% 61 49.5
Breckland 558 3.4% 2.7% 4.3% 114 20.2
Broxbourne 486 3.4% 2.8% 4.7% 153 15.8
East Suffolk 551 3.4% 2.7% 4.3% 143 16.6
Babergh 590 3.3% 2.9% 3.2% 164 16.8
Rochford 554 3.3% 2.9% 4.0% 76 36.3
Thurrock 458 3.3% 2.6% 5.2% 115 20.6
Braintree 537 3.2% 2.7% 4.1% 89 27.3
Harlow 444 3.2% 2.5% 4.6% 74 25.7
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 540 3.2% 2.6% 4.1% 172 13.1
Stevenage 450 3.1% 2.6% 4.3% 194 9.8
West Suffolk 547 3.1% 2.7% 4.6% 236 9.5
Norwich 351 3.0% 1.9% 5.7% 196 5.2
Fenland 539 2.9% 2.4% 4.3% 53 38.6
Luton 378 2.9% 2.3% 5.2% 65 26.8
North Norfolk 575 2.8% 2.4% 3.5% 225 9.7
Tendring 513 2.8% 2.2% 4.8% 84 21.7
Castle Point 534 2.7% 2.2% 3.8% 42 51.7
Ipswich 446 2.7% 1.9% 4.9% 294 4.8
Southend-on-Sea 430 2.7% 2.2% 3.9% 51 31.6
Great Yarmouth 472 2.4% 1.9% 4.7% 211 6.7

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 129,235 licensed vehicles in Bedford 26 October 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 8,256 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
Neighbourhoods Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 35,672 small areas (LSOAs) in England and Wales 26 October 2026
  • Coverage: licensing and charger figures cover the whole UK. Licensing figures in Bedford 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.
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.