Wales · Council area
Cardiff motoring statistics
How many cars and electric cars are registered in Cardiff, which fuels they use, how many public chargers there are and how Cardiff compares with Wales. From DVLA licensing records, DfT charger statistics and ONS population estimates.
- Licensed cars 157,688 +1.5% on a year earlier
- Private cars per 1,000 people 385 UK 444
- Battery electric cars 5,369 3.4% of cars (UK 5.8%)
- Electric share of private cars 2.7% 120th lowest of 361 councils
- Public chargers 454 118 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
- Company-registered cars 6.3% UK 10.0%
How many cars are there in Cardiff?
There were 157,688 licensed cars in Cardiff at the end of June 2026, and 182,224 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 18.1% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 385 for every 1,000 residents, 61st lowest of 361 councils (UK 444).
Licensed vehicles in Cardiff
Counts at the end of March each year, 2010 to 2026.
| Year | All vehicles | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 150,802 | 133,554 |
| 2011 | 150,806 | 133,434 |
| 2012 | 151,139 | 133,838 |
| 2013 | 153,088 | 135,556 |
| 2014 | 155,085 | 137,440 |
| 2015 | 155,808 | 138,143 |
| 2016 | 158,280 | 140,215 |
| 2017 | 159,891 | 141,210 |
| 2018 | 161,615 | 142,479 |
| 2019 | 164,222 | 144,730 |
| 2020 | 162,811 | 143,927 |
| 2021 | 168,025 | 147,102 |
| 2022 | 170,971 | 148,481 |
| 2023 | 173,830 | 150,680 |
| 2024 | 176,453 | 152,912 |
| 2025 | 179,319 | 155,413 |
| 2026 | 182,224 | 157,688 |
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 | Cardiff | Wales | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 386 | 470 | – |
| 2012 | 385 | 471 | – |
| 2013 | 387 | 476 | – |
| 2014 | 392 | 482 | – |
| 2015 | 393 | 486 | 473 |
| 2016 | 397 | 493 | 480 |
| 2017 | 399 | 500 | 488 |
| 2018 | 401 | 504 | 490 |
| 2019 | 405 | 510 | 493 |
| 2020 | 400 | 504 | 489 |
| 2021 | 409 | 513 | 493 |
| 2022 | 402 | 510 | 489 |
| 2023 | 397 | 510 | 489 |
| 2024 | 398 | 514 | 490 |
Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated
Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Cardiff
57.5% of cars in Cardiff run on petrol and 28.2% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 37.8% in 2019. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 8.8%, and cars that plug in 5.2%.
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 | 76.1% | 23.6% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 73.9% | 25.8% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2012 | 71.9% | 27.7% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 69.7% | 29.8% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2014 | 67.6% | 31.8% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 65.5% | 33.9% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2016 | 63.4% | 35.9% | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| 2017 | 62.2% | 36.9% | 0.7% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 61.2% | 37.6% | 0.9% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 60.7% | 37.8% | 1.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 60.5% | 37.7% | 1.3% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| 2021 | 60.3% | 37.0% | 1.8% | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| 2022 | 60.1% | 36.0% | 2.5% | 0.7% | 0.5% |
| 2023 | 59.8% | 34.5% | 3.6% | 1.1% | 0.7% |
| 2024 | 59.3% | 32.6% | 5.2% | 1.7% | 0.9% |
| 2025 | 58.5% | 30.5% | 6.9% | 2.5% | 1.3% |
| 2026 | 57.5% | 28.2% | 8.8% | 3.4% | 1.8% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Electric cars in Cardiff
5,369 battery electric cars were licensed in Cardiff at the end of June 2026, 3.4% of all cars, 129th lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 8,165 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 3,817.
Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.7% are battery electric (3,972 cars), 5th highest of 22 councils in Wales. Companies keep 26.0% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 6.3% of its cars overall. There are also 406 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 | Cardiff | Wales | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 0.4% | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| 2022 | 0.7% | 0.6% | 1.5% |
| 2023 | 1.1% | 1.0% | 2.3% |
| 2024 | 1.7% | 1.5% | 3.2% |
| 2025 | 2.5% | 2.2% | 4.4% |
| 2026 | 3.4% | 3.1% | 5.8% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Public EV chargers in Cardiff
There were 454 public chargers in Cardiff on 1 July 2026, 181 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 118 for every 100,000 residents, 132nd lowest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 1.6% from 1 January 2026.
For every public charger there are 13.9 privately kept plug-in cars in Cardiff (UK 12.9), 136th 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 | 447 | 161 |
| Apr 2026 | 431 | 159 |
| Jul 2026 | 454 | 181 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Chargers per 100,000 residents
| Area | All chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Cardiff | 118 | 47 |
| Wales | 186 | 43 |
| UK | 175 | 42 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Electric cars by neighbourhood
Cardiff has 48 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 1.9% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 5.4%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.
| Neighbourhood (MSOA) | Private vehicles | Battery electric | Electric share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiff 001 | 4,681 | 255 | 5.4% | |
| Cardiff 014 | 6,203 | 314 | 5.1% | |
| Cardiff 006 | 5,268 | 244 | 4.6% | |
| Cardiff 008 | 3,588 | 162 | 4.5% | |
| Cardiff 003 | 6,126 | 266 | 4.3% | |
| Cardiff 019 | 3,604 | 133 | 3.7% | |
| Cardiff 026 | 4,947 | 183 | 3.7% | |
| Cardiff 024 | 3,444 | 113 | 3.3% | |
| Cardiff 004 | 4,107 | 128 | 3.1% | |
| Cardiff 011 | 4,216 | 132 | 3.1% | |
| Lowest electric shares | ||||
| Cardiff 030 | 2,433 | 0 | 0.0% | |
| Cardiff 044 | 2,936 | 7 | 0.2% | |
| Cardiff 038 | 2,332 | 6 | 0.3% | |
| Cardiff 028 | 1,674 | 9 | 0.5% | |
| Cardiff 042 | 2,407 | 14 | 0.6% | |
Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of June 2026. 2 neighbourhoods are left out because DfT withholds small counts there.
Road traffic and collisions in Cardiff
Vehicles travelled an estimated 2,037 million miles on roads in Cardiff in 2025.
Traffic on all roads
| Year | Million vehicle miles |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 1,525 |
| 1994 | 1,551 |
| 1995 | 1,578 |
| 1996 | 1,614 |
| 1997 | 1,653 |
| 1998 | 1,699 |
| 1999 | 1,731 |
| 2000 | 1,682 |
| 2001 | 1,718 |
| 2002 | 1,743 |
| 2003 | 1,757 |
| 2004 | 1,803 |
| 2005 | 1,701 |
| 2006 | 1,713 |
| 2007 | 1,715 |
| 2008 | 1,677 |
| 2009 | 1,622 |
| 2010 | 1,600 |
| 2011 | 1,635 |
| 2012 | 1,671 |
| 2013 | 1,690 |
| 2014 | 1,789 |
| 2015 | 1,841 |
| 2016 | 1,888 |
| 2017 | 1,882 |
| 2018 | 1,961 |
| 2019 | 1,995 |
| 2020 | 1,551 |
| 2021 | 1,736 |
| 2022 | 1,917 |
| 2023 | 1,961 |
| 2024 | 1,980 |
| 2025 | 2,037 |
Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated
Reported injury collisions
| Year | Collisions | Killed or seriously injured |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 265 | 50 |
| 2022 | 275 | 55 |
| 2023 | 293 | 56 |
| 2024 | 240 | 38 |
| 2025 | 272 | 53 |
Source:DfT STATS19,UK Motoring analysis 2021 to 2025 Updated
Petrol and diesel prices in Cardiff
Unleaded petrol averages 171.6p a litre across 26 filling stations in Cardiff, 0.1p above the UK average. Diesel averages 199.2p, 0.5p above the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.
Cheapest petrol
- Asda Cardiff Coryton Supercentre Cardiff 168.7p
- MFG Morrisons Cardiff Tyglass Llanishen 168.9p
- Asda Leckwith Road Superstore Cardiff 169.7p
How Cardiff compares
| Cardiff | 385 | 3.4% | 118 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | 493 | 3.1% | 186 |
| 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 Cardiff
There is 1 DVSA car practical test centre in Cardiff, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 46.6% at Cardiff (Llanishen).
Other centres in Wales:
- Pwllheli 68.1% pass rate, 2025/26
- Abergavenny 64.2% pass rate, 2025/26
- Bangor 62.2% pass rate, 2025/26
- Bala 61.6% pass rate, 2025/26
- Brecon 58.7% pass rate, 2025/26
- Newtown 58.0% pass rate, 2025/26
- Barry 57.0% 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 Wales
Sorted by battery electric share of cars. Select a column heading to sort by it.
| Bridgend | 490 | 4.7% | 146 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monmouthshire | 581 | 4.1% | 283 |
| Vale of Glamorgan | 516 | 3.8% | 139 |
| Swansea | 487 | 3.7% | 154 |
| Newport | 461 | 3.5% | 303 |
| Cardiff | 385 | 3.4% | 118 |
| Denbighshire | 508 | 3.2% | 179 |
| Flintshire | 559 | 3.2% | 118 |
| Conwy | 519 | 2.9% | 152 |
| Torfaen | 499 | 2.9% | 155 |
| Carmarthenshire | 531 | 2.8% | 216 |
| Neath Port Talbot | 477 | 2.8% | 73 |
| Caerphilly | 497 | 2.7% | 108 |
| Wrexham | 507 | 2.7% | 204 |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf | 474 | 2.6% | 121 |
| Ceredigion | 517 | 2.5% | 306 |
| Pembrokeshire | 540 | 2.5% | 365 |
| Powys | 554 | 2.5% | 270 |
| Isle of Anglesey | 555 | 2.4% | 245 |
| Gwynedd | 498 | 2.3% | 390 |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 455 | 2.2% | 139 |
| Blaenau Gwent | 503 | 1.9% | 228 |
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 | 182,224 licensed vehicles in Cardiff | 26 October 2026 |
| Plug-in and electric vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 8,741 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 Cardiff 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.