My Garage

Popular searches

East of England · Unitary authority

Central Bedfordshire motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
217,335 licensed vehicles in Central Bedfordshire
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 177,902 +1.1% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 539 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 7,564 4.3% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.6% 51st highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 530 168 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 4.4% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in Central Bedfordshire?

There were 177,902 licensed cars in Central Bedfordshire at the end of March 2026, and 217,335 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 30.5% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 539 for every 1,000 residents, 77th highest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in Central Bedfordshire

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Central Bedfordshire at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 164,134136,289
2011 166,367138,250
2012 169,462140,632
2013 171,643142,787
2014 176,367146,151
2015 179,301148,679
2016 184,115152,290
2017 188,318155,442
2018 190,063157,086
2019 193,340160,607
2020 196,267164,116
2021 198,259164,076
2022 203,884167,584
2023 208,420170,984
2024 212,410174,312
2025 214,715175,957
2026 217,335177,902

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, Central Bedfordshire compared
Year Central BedfordshireEast of EnglandUnited Kingdom
2011 544503–
2012 545502–
2013 548505–
2014 553524–
2015 554529473
2016 558537480
2017 563544488
2018 566542490
2019 569541493
2020 562536489
2021 562539493
2022 559532489
2023 558529489
2024 556531490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Central Bedfordshire

58.2% of cars in Central Bedfordshire run on petrol and 27.2% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 35.7% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 7.7%, and cars that plug in 6.6%.

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 Central Bedfordshire, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 75.5%24.2%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2011 73.7%25.9%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 72.0%27.5%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2013 70.2%29.2%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2014 68.3%31.0%0.5%0.0%0.0%
2015 66.5%32.8%0.5%0.1%0.0%
2016 64.9%34.1%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2017 63.7%35.2%0.8%0.1%0.1%
2018 62.9%35.7%1.0%0.2%0.2%
2019 62.7%35.6%1.1%0.2%0.3%
2020 62.5%35.4%1.3%0.3%0.3%
2021 62.1%35.0%1.7%0.6%0.4%
2022 61.2%34.2%2.5%1.0%0.8%
2023 60.6%32.8%3.5%1.6%1.2%
2024 60.1%31.2%4.6%2.2%1.5%
2025 59.4%29.3%6.1%3.0%1.8%
2026 58.2%27.2%7.7%4.3%2.3%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Central Bedfordshire

7,564 battery electric cars were licensed in Central Bedfordshire at the end of March 2026, 4.3% of all cars, 80th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 11,686 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 5,326.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.6% are battery electric (6,177 cars), 7th highest of 45 councils in the East of England. Companies keep 18.3% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 4.4% of its cars overall. There are also 255 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, Central Bedfordshire compared, end of March each year
Year Central BedfordshireEast of EnglandUnited Kingdom
2016 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.2%0.2%0.1%
2019 0.2%0.2%0.2%
2020 0.3%0.3%0.3%
2021 0.6%0.6%0.7%
2022 1.0%1.1%1.3%
2023 1.6%1.7%2.1%
2024 2.2%2.6%3.0%
2025 3.0%3.8%4.1%
2026 4.3%5.2%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Central Bedfordshire

There were 530 public chargers in Central Bedfordshire on 1 July 2026, 209 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 168 for every 100,000 residents, 127th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count fell 12.4% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 15.3 privately kept plug-in cars in Central Bedfordshire (UK 11.9), 172nd fewest 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 Central Bedfordshire by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 605194
Apr 2026 620208
Jul 2026 530209

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Central Bedfordshire compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Central Bedfordshire 16866
East of England 15049
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

Central Bedfordshire has 33 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 3.2% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 4.5%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in Central Bedfordshire with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
Central Bedfordshire 008 7,532 337 4.5% 6.7%
Central Bedfordshire 007 6,410 283 4.4% 6.7%
Central Bedfordshire 014 8,594 382 4.4% 6.1%
Central Bedfordshire 013 7,940 328 4.1% 6.1%
Central Bedfordshire 017 7,410 307 4.1% 6.3%
Central Bedfordshire 009 7,614 302 4.0% 5.8%
Central Bedfordshire 023 3,026 120 4.0% 5.4%
Central Bedfordshire 012 5,527 214 3.9% 5.7%
Central Bedfordshire 019 8,666 322 3.7% 5.7%
Central Bedfordshire 006 6,590 237 3.6% 5.3%
Lowest electric shares
Central Bedfordshire 021 4,849 87 1.8% 2.8%
Central Bedfordshire 030 2,860 54 1.9% 3.2%
Central Bedfordshire 001 3,422 69 2.0% 3.7%
Central Bedfordshire 025 5,661 117 2.1% 4.0%
Central Bedfordshire 031 4,108 100 2.4% 4.2%

Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of March 2026.

Road traffic and collisions in Central Bedfordshire

Vehicles travelled an estimated 2,208 million miles on roads in Central Bedfordshire in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in Central Bedfordshire
Year Million vehicle miles
2009 1,808
2010 1,762
2011 1,758
2012 1,802
2013 1,878
2014 1,916
2015 1,984
2016 2,007
2017 2,059
2018 2,149
2019 2,191
2020 1,751
2021 1,907
2022 2,100
2023 2,154
2024 2,114
2025 2,208

Source:DfT 2009 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Central Bedfordshire, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 471112
2022 528120
2023 580130
2024 510125
2025 475113

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Central Bedfordshire

Unleaded petrol averages 171.7p a litre across 38 filling stations in Central Bedfordshire, the same as the UK average. Diesel averages 194.8p, 0.2p above the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Tesco Dunstable Extra Dunstable 163.9p
  2. BP Karan Lake Street Service Station Bedfordshire 164.7p
  3. MFG Morrisons Leighton Buzzard Leighton Buzzard 164.7p

Every filling station and price in Central Bedfordshire

How Central Bedfordshire compares

Central Bedfordshire compared with the East of England, England, the UK
Central Bedfordshire 539 4.3% 3.6% 4.4% 168 15.3
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 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 427 28.7% 2.3% 59.8% 129 12.8
South Cambridgeshire 543 5.5% 4.9% 3.5% 205 17.9
Hertsmere 467 5.4% 4.1% 6.5% 229 15.8
St Albans 500 5.4% 4.6% 3.7% 111 41.3
Three Rivers 511 4.8% 3.9% 4.2% 161 16.7
Cambridge 270 4.7% 4.0% 3.8% 313 5.8
Huntingdonshire 545 4.6% 3.5% 8.4% 175 18.8
North Hertfordshire 512 4.4% 3.6% 4.3% 117 27.6
Uttlesford 588 4.4% 3.8% 12.4% 164 22.5
Central Bedfordshire 539 4.3% 3.6% 4.4% 168 15.3
Bedford 481 4.1% 3.2% 6.8% 149 16.3
East Hertfordshire 526 4.1% 3.4% 4.0% 135 22.2
Epping Forest 497 4.1% 3.3% 5.2% 126 24.6
Welwyn Hatfield 455 4.1% 3.3% 5.4% 350 6.5
East Cambridgeshire 562 4.0% 3.5% 3.7% 90 29.8
Dacorum 505 3.9% 3.2% 4.0% 159 17.1
Watford 397 3.9% 2.9% 5.2% 563 3.2
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
South Norfolk 568 3.6% 3.1% 4.1% 131 18.5
Mid Suffolk 605 3.5% 2.9% 4.6% 135 19.8
Broadland 571 3.3% 2.8% 3.9% 116 22.1
Colchester 471 3.3% 2.6% 4.6% 90 22.2
Maldon 598 3.2% 2.6% 3.6% 61 50.6
Breckland 553 3.1% 2.4% 4.3% 114 18.4
Broxbourne 484 3.1% 2.5% 4.6% 153 14.8
Thurrock 455 3.1% 2.4% 5.2% 115 19.3
Babergh 584 3.0% 2.6% 3.2% 164 14.1
Braintree 533 3.0% 2.4% 4.0% 89 23.4
East Suffolk 547 3.0% 2.4% 4.3% 143 16.0
Harlow 442 3.0% 2.3% 4.7% 74 22.8
Rochford 549 3.0% 2.6% 4.1% 76 32.5
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 535 2.9% 2.3% 4.1% 172 12.1
West Suffolk 544 2.9% 2.4% 4.5% 236 10.6
Stevenage 449 2.8% 2.2% 4.3% 194 8.6
Fenland 535 2.7% 2.1% 4.3% 53 34.3
Norwich 350 2.7% 1.6% 5.7% 196 4.7
Luton 375 2.6% 2.1% 5.1% 65 25.1
North Norfolk 569 2.6% 2.2% 3.5% 225 8.0
Tendring 509 2.6% 2.0% 4.9% 84 20.0
Castle Point 531 2.5% 2.0% 3.8% 42 49.8
Ipswich 444 2.5% 1.7% 4.9% 294 4.9
Southend-on-Sea 428 2.5% 2.0% 3.9% 51 29.2
Great Yarmouth 470 2.3% 1.7% 4.7% 211 6.3

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 217,335 licensed vehicles in Central Bedfordshire 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 12,578 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 Central Bedfordshire 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.