Yorkshire and the Humber · Metropolitan borough
Bradford motoring statistics
How many cars and electric cars are registered in Bradford, which fuels they use, how many public chargers there are and how Bradford compares with the Yorkshire and the Humber. From DVLA licensing records, DfT charger statistics and ONS population estimates.
- Licensed cars 234,866 +2.9% on a year earlier
- Private cars per 1,000 people 390 UK 444
- Battery electric cars 7,276 3.1% of cars (UK 5.8%)
- Electric share of private cars 2.6% 106th lowest of 361 councils
- Public chargers 555 99 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
- Company-registered cars 6.4% UK 10.0%
How many cars are there in Bradford?
There were 234,866 licensed cars in Bradford at the end of June 2026, and 273,047 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 24.6% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 390 for every 1,000 residents, 68th lowest of 361 councils (UK 444).
Licensed vehicles in Bradford
Counts at the end of March each year, 2010 to 2026.
| Year | All vehicles | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 222,728 | 188,528 |
| 2011 | 220,649 | 186,523 |
| 2012 | 214,896 | 184,894 |
| 2013 | 215,813 | 185,479 |
| 2014 | 219,229 | 188,311 |
| 2015 | 221,422 | 190,656 |
| 2016 | 225,303 | 194,032 |
| 2017 | 229,600 | 197,526 |
| 2018 | 234,066 | 200,968 |
| 2019 | 239,257 | 205,328 |
| 2020 | 239,766 | 206,037 |
| 2021 | 247,976 | 211,498 |
| 2022 | 251,008 | 214,091 |
| 2023 | 255,339 | 218,208 |
| 2024 | 261,398 | 223,997 |
| 2025 | 265,729 | 228,280 |
| 2026 | 273,047 | 234,866 |
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.
| Year | Bradford | Yorkshire and the Humber | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 357 | 427 | – |
| 2012 | 352 | 427 | – |
| 2013 | 351 | 429 | – |
| 2014 | 354 | 429 | – |
| 2015 | 356 | 433 | 473 |
| 2016 | 361 | 442 | 480 |
| 2017 | 366 | 450 | 488 |
| 2018 | 370 | 456 | 490 |
| 2019 | 376 | 464 | 493 |
| 2020 | 377 | 463 | 489 |
| 2021 | 387 | 470 | 493 |
| 2022 | 388 | 469 | 489 |
| 2023 | 390 | 469 | 489 |
| 2024 | 397 | 472 | 490 |
Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated
Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Bradford
48.4% of cars in Bradford run on petrol and 35.1% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 42.3% in 2019. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 10.8%, and cars that plug in 5.3%.
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.
| Year | Petrol | Diesel | Hybrid | Battery electric | Plug-in hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 69.8% | 29.8% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 67.7% | 31.8% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2012 | 65.6% | 33.9% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 63.8% | 35.6% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2014 | 61.9% | 37.3% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 60.1% | 38.9% | 0.7% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2016 | 58.4% | 40.5% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 57.2% | 41.4% | 1.0% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 56.2% | 42.1% | 1.3% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 55.6% | 42.3% | 1.7% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 55.1% | 42.1% | 2.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| 2021 | 54.0% | 42.0% | 3.0% | 0.5% | 0.4% |
| 2022 | 52.8% | 41.1% | 4.5% | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| 2023 | 52.0% | 40.1% | 5.7% | 1.0% | 0.9% |
| 2024 | 51.2% | 38.5% | 7.3% | 1.5% | 1.2% |
| 2025 | 50.0% | 36.8% | 8.9% | 2.3% | 1.6% |
| 2026 | 48.4% | 35.1% | 10.8% | 3.1% | 2.2% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Electric cars in Bradford
7,276 battery electric cars were licensed in Bradford at the end of June 2026, 3.1% of all cars, 82nd lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 12,409 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 5,312.
Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.6% are battery electric (5,652 cars), 4th lowest of 15 councils in the Yorkshire and the Humber. Companies keep 22.3% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 6.4% of its cars overall. There are also 385 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 | Bradford | 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% | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 0.5% | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| 2022 | 0.6% | 1.4% | 1.5% |
| 2023 | 1.0% | 2.2% | 2.3% |
| 2024 | 1.5% | 3.0% | 3.2% |
| 2025 | 2.3% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| 2026 | 3.1% | 5.5% | 5.8% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Public EV chargers in Bradford
There were 555 public chargers in Bradford on 1 July 2026, 188 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 99 for every 100,000 residents, 88th lowest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 3.5% from 1 January 2026.
For every public charger there are 18.0 privately kept plug-in cars in Bradford (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
| Date | All public chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2026 | 536 | 180 |
| Apr 2026 | 550 | 185 |
| Jul 2026 | 555 | 188 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Chargers per 100,000 residents
| Area | All chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Bradford | 99 | 33 |
| West Yorkshire | 106 | 38 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 111 | 37 |
| England | 173 | 41 |
| UK | 175 | 42 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Electric cars by neighbourhood
Bradford has 63 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, 5.2%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.
| Neighbourhood (MSOA) | Private vehicles | Battery electric | Electric share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bradford 005 | 4,045 | 212 | 5.2% | |
| Bradford 002 | 7,312 | 360 | 4.9% | |
| Bradford 001 | 3,661 | 175 | 4.8% | |
| Bradford 013 | 4,071 | 173 | 4.2% | |
| Bradford 010 | 5,694 | 216 | 3.8% | |
| Bradford 017 | 4,366 | 163 | 3.7% | |
| Bradford 018 | 4,525 | 169 | 3.7% | |
| Bradford 003 | 3,581 | 124 | 3.5% | |
| Bradford 062 | 5,619 | 193 | 3.4% | |
| Bradford 006 | 4,770 | 145 | 3.0% | |
| Lowest electric shares | ||||
| Bradford 048 | 2,329 | 12 | 0.5% | |
| Bradford 064 | 2,614 | 15 | 0.6% | |
| Bradford 045 | 1,830 | 11 | 0.6% | |
| Bradford 034 | 3,065 | 22 | 0.7% | |
| Bradford 033 | 3,506 | 33 | 0.9% | |
Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of June 2026. 6 neighbourhoods are left out because DfT withholds small counts there.
Road traffic and collisions in Bradford
Vehicles travelled an estimated 1,519 million miles on roads in Bradford in 2025.
Traffic on all roads
| Year | Million vehicle miles |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 1,328 |
| 1994 | 1,348 |
| 1995 | 1,367 |
| 1996 | 1,393 |
| 1997 | 1,414 |
| 1998 | 1,440 |
| 1999 | 1,446 |
| 2000 | 1,436 |
| 2001 | 1,449 |
| 2002 | 1,485 |
| 2003 | 1,484 |
| 2004 | 1,486 |
| 2005 | 1,495 |
| 2006 | 1,522 |
| 2007 | 1,542 |
| 2008 | 1,528 |
| 2009 | 1,509 |
| 2010 | 1,493 |
| 2011 | 1,497 |
| 2012 | 1,493 |
| 2013 | 1,490 |
| 2014 | 1,541 |
| 2015 | 1,568 |
| 2016 | 1,581 |
| 2017 | 1,574 |
| 2018 | 1,578 |
| 2019 | 1,579 |
| 2020 | 1,304 |
| 2021 | 1,389 |
| 2022 | 1,448 |
| 2023 | 1,477 |
| 2024 | 1,508 |
| 2025 | 1,519 |
Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated
Reported injury collisions
| Year | Collisions | Killed or seriously injured |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,059 | 283 |
| 2022 | 1,062 | 261 |
| 2023 | 1,056 | 336 |
| 2024 | 1,030 | 294 |
| 2025 | 956 | 266 |
Source:DfT STATS19,UK Motoring analysis 2021 to 2025 Updated
Petrol and diesel prices in Bradford
Unleaded petrol averages 167.7p a litre across 41 filling stations in Bradford, 3.8p below the UK average. Diesel averages 197.0p, 1.7p below the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.
Cheapest petrol
- Asda Keighley Superstore Keighley 162.7p
- Sainsbury's Keighley Keighley 162.9p
- Murco Sun Garage Bingley 162.9p
How Bradford compares
| Bradford | 390 | 3.1% | 99 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Yorkshire | 413 | 7.6% | 106 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 440 | 5.5% | 111 |
| England | 440 | 6.2% | 173 |
| United Kingdom | 444 | 5.8% | 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 June 2026.
Driving test centres in Bradford
There are 3 DVSA car practical test centres in Bradford, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 56.1% at Bradford (Heaton).
- Bradford (Heaton) 56.1% pass rate, 2025/26
- Steeton 52.8% pass rate, 2025/26
- Bradford (Thornbury) 47.8% pass rate, 2025/26
Other centres in West Yorkshire:
- Leeds (Colton Mill) 51.8% pass rate, 2025/26
- Leeds (Fearnville) 51.8% pass rate, 2025/26
- Horsforth 49.7% pass rate, 2025/26
- Huddersfield 49.2% pass rate, 2025/26
- Pontefract 46.9% 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 West Yorkshire
Sorted by battery electric share of cars. Select a column heading to sort by it.
| Leeds | 384 | 14.5% | 138 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirklees | 443 | 3.6% | 61 |
| Wakefield | 461 | 3.6% | 98 |
| Calderdale | 441 | 3.4% | 101 |
| Bradford | 390 | 3.1% | 99 |
Data stories to read next
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 273,047 licensed vehicles in Bradford | 26 October 2026 |
| Plug-in and electric vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 12,905 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 Bradford 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.