South West · Unitary authority
Bristol motoring statistics
How many cars and electric cars are registered in Bristol, which fuels they use, how many public chargers there are and how Bristol compares with the South West. From DVLA licensing records, DfT charger statistics and ONS population estimates.
- Licensed cars 187,774 +1.1% on a year earlier
- Private cars per 1,000 people 362 UK 444
- Battery electric cars 5,589 3.0% of cars (UK 5.8%)
- Electric share of private cars 2.3% 71st lowest of 361 councils
- Public chargers 488 99 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
- Company-registered cars 4.7% UK 10.0%
How many cars are there in Bristol?
There were 187,774 licensed cars in Bristol at the end of June 2026, and 230,293 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 1.5% fewer cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 362 for every 1,000 residents, 47th lowest of 361 councils (UK 444).
Licensed vehicles in Bristol
Counts at the end of March each year, 2010 to 2026.
| Year | All vehicles | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 233,156 | 190,651 |
| 2011 | 246,763 | 202,313 |
| 2012 | 256,555 | 212,259 |
| 2013 | 280,331 | 229,020 |
| 2014 | 295,132 | 239,493 |
| 2015 | 312,770 | 252,400 |
| 2016 | 323,400 | 259,779 |
| 2017 | 329,160 | 263,614 |
| 2018 | 230,362 | 182,255 |
| 2019 | 227,794 | 183,225 |
| 2020 | 224,850 | 181,419 |
| 2021 | 229,248 | 183,290 |
| 2022 | 227,712 | 182,393 |
| 2023 | 226,493 | 182,151 |
| 2024 | 229,616 | 184,236 |
| 2025 | 230,700 | 185,698 |
| 2026 | 230,293 | 187,774 |
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 | Bristol | South West | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 473 | 524 | – |
| 2012 | 490 | 527 | – |
| 2013 | 522 | 533 | – |
| 2014 | 540 | 541 | – |
| 2015 | 559 | 546 | 473 |
| 2016 | 565 | 550 | 480 |
| 2017 | 569 | 565 | 488 |
| 2018 | 390 | 569 | 490 |
| 2019 | 390 | 580 | 493 |
| 2020 | 385 | 573 | 489 |
| 2021 | 389 | 575 | 493 |
| 2022 | 380 | 571 | 489 |
| 2023 | 375 | 570 | 489 |
| 2024 | 373 | 571 | 490 |
Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated
Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Bristol
68.1% of cars in Bristol run on petrol and 19.1% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 44.9% in 2017. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 7.9%, 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.
| Year | Petrol | Diesel | Hybrid | Battery electric | Plug-in hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 70.7% | 28.9% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 67.2% | 32.4% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2012 | 63.3% | 36.2% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 59.5% | 39.9% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2014 | 57.5% | 41.8% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 56.0% | 43.3% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 2016 | 54.3% | 44.8% | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 53.8% | 44.9% | 0.9% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2018 | 64.8% | 33.9% | 0.8% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2019 | 64.5% | 33.9% | 1.0% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 65.4% | 32.5% | 1.3% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| 2021 | 66.3% | 30.6% | 1.9% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| 2022 | 67.1% | 28.5% | 2.7% | 0.8% | 0.7% |
| 2023 | 69.0% | 25.1% | 3.6% | 1.2% | 0.9% |
| 2024 | 69.3% | 22.8% | 4.9% | 1.7% | 1.1% |
| 2025 | 69.0% | 20.8% | 6.3% | 2.3% | 1.3% |
| 2026 | 68.1% | 19.1% | 7.9% | 3.0% | 1.7% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Electric cars in Bristol
5,589 battery electric cars were licensed in Bristol at the end of June 2026, 3.0% of all cars, 71st lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 8,723 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 4,312.
Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.3% are battery electric (4,068 cars), 6th lowest of 27 councils in the South West. Companies keep 27.2% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 4.7% of its cars overall. There are also 1,177 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 | Bristol | South West | United 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% | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 0.5% | 1.2% | 0.8% |
| 2022 | 0.8% | 2.3% | 1.5% |
| 2023 | 1.2% | 3.5% | 2.3% |
| 2024 | 1.7% | 4.4% | 3.2% |
| 2025 | 2.3% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| 2026 | 3.0% | 5.2% | 5.8% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Public EV chargers in Bristol
There were 488 public chargers in Bristol on 1 July 2026, 136 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 99 for every 100,000 residents, 89th lowest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 57.4% from 1 January 2026.
For every public charger there are 13.7 privately kept plug-in cars in Bristol (UK 12.9), 131st fewest 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 | 310 | 132 |
| Apr 2026 | 413 | 126 |
| Jul 2026 | 488 | 136 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Chargers per 100,000 residents
| Area | All chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Bristol | 99 | 28 |
| South West | 157 | 50 |
| England | 173 | 41 |
| UK | 175 | 42 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Electric cars by neighbourhood
Bristol has 57 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 1.8% 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 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol 011 | 3,541 | 185 | 5.2% | |
| Bristol 015 | 4,934 | 245 | 5.0% | |
| Bristol 009 | 3,770 | 176 | 4.7% | |
| Bristol 006 | 3,286 | 128 | 3.9% | |
| Bristol 020 | 4,025 | 157 | 3.9% | |
| Bristol 017 | 3,913 | 139 | 3.6% | |
| Bristol 012 | 3,307 | 103 | 3.1% | |
| Bristol 007 | 3,465 | 101 | 2.9% | |
| Bristol 004 | 3,061 | 84 | 2.7% | |
| Bristol 022 | 2,611 | 71 | 2.7% | |
| Lowest electric shares | ||||
| Bristol 055 | 2,528 | 6 | 0.2% | |
| Bristol 045 | 3,321 | 12 | 0.4% | |
| Bristol 056 | 2,554 | 15 | 0.6% | |
| Bristol 057 | 3,869 | 27 | 0.7% | |
| Bristol 051 | 2,585 | 26 | 1.0% | |
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 Bristol
Vehicles travelled an estimated 1,423 million miles on roads in Bristol in 2025.
Traffic on all roads
| Year | Million vehicle miles |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 1,224 |
| 1994 | 1,240 |
| 1995 | 1,261 |
| 1996 | 1,267 |
| 1997 | 1,278 |
| 1998 | 1,297 |
| 1999 | 1,303 |
| 2000 | 1,317 |
| 2001 | 1,337 |
| 2002 | 1,378 |
| 2003 | 1,378 |
| 2004 | 1,399 |
| 2005 | 1,408 |
| 2006 | 1,422 |
| 2007 | 1,466 |
| 2008 | 1,458 |
| 2009 | 1,456 |
| 2010 | 1,413 |
| 2011 | 1,432 |
| 2012 | 1,424 |
| 2013 | 1,423 |
| 2014 | 1,461 |
| 2015 | 1,463 |
| 2016 | 1,495 |
| 2017 | 1,515 |
| 2018 | 1,493 |
| 2019 | 1,495 |
| 2020 | 1,169 |
| 2021 | 1,306 |
| 2022 | 1,404 |
| 2023 | 1,421 |
| 2024 | 1,443 |
| 2025 | 1,423 |
Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated
Reported injury collisions
| Year | Collisions | Killed or seriously injured |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 835 | 198 |
| 2022 | 873 | 216 |
| 2023 | 809 | 203 |
| 2024 | 841 | 240 |
| 2025 | 753 | 205 |
Source:DfT STATS19,UK Motoring analysis 2021 to 2025 Updated
Petrol and diesel prices in Bristol
Unleaded petrol averages 170.3p a litre across 27 filling stations in Bristol, 1.2p below the UK average. Diesel averages 197.7p, 1.0p below the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.
Cheapest petrol
- Costco Wholesale Bristol Bristol 164.9p
- Asda Bedminster Bristol 167.7p
- Esso MFG Redland Redland / Bristol 167.9p
How Bristol compares
| Bristol | 362 | 3.0% | 99 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South West | 509 | 5.2% | 157 |
| 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 Bristol
There are 2 DVSA car practical test centres in Bristol, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 55.5% at Bristol (Avonmouth).
Other centres in the South West:
- Isles of Scilly 75.0% pass rate, 2025/26
- Dorchester 69.0% pass rate, 2025/26
- Yeovil 63.4% pass rate, 2025/26
- Weston-super-Mare 61.0% pass rate, 2025/26
- Taunton 59.5% pass rate, 2025/26
- Chippenham 56.4% 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 the South West
Sorted by battery electric share of cars. Select a column heading to sort by it.
| South Gloucestershire | 523 | 18.8% | 162 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wiltshire | 556 | 8.9% | 117 |
| Exeter | 357 | 5.2% | 259 |
| Stroud | 589 | 4.6% | 199 |
| Tewkesbury | 567 | 4.5% | 157 |
| North Somerset | 549 | 4.3% | 107 |
| Bath and North East Somerset | 450 | 4.2% | 90 |
| Cotswold | 606 | 4.2% | 310 |
| Cheltenham | 466 | 3.9% | 272 |
| South Hams | 572 | 3.9% | 145 |
| Swindon | 471 | 3.8% | 138 |
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | 475 | 3.4% | 112 |
| Dorset | 576 | 3.4% | 196 |
| East Devon | 546 | 3.4% | 200 |
| Forest of Dean | 581 | 3.4% | 194 |
| Gloucester | 465 | 3.3% | 149 |
| Teignbridge | 551 | 3.3% | 147 |
| Isles of Scilly | 238 | 3.2% | 676 |
| Mid Devon | 562 | 3.1% | 91 |
| Somerset | 560 | 3.1% | 137 |
| West Devon | 564 | 3.1% | 178 |
| Bristol | 362 | 3.0% | 99 |
| Cornwall | 528 | 3.0% | 235 |
| North Devon | 518 | 2.7% | 208 |
| Torbay | 469 | 2.6% | 97 |
| Torridge | 555 | 2.6% | 107 |
| Plymouth | 426 | 2.2% | 162 |
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 | 230,293 licensed vehicles in Bristol | 26 October 2026 |
| Plug-in and electric vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 10,102 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 Bristol 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.