South West · District council
Cheltenham motoring statistics
How many cars and electric cars are registered in Cheltenham, which fuels they use, how many public chargers there are and how Cheltenham compares with the South West. From DVLA licensing records, DfT charger statistics and ONS population estimates.
- Licensed cars 58,834 +0.2% on a year earlier
- Private cars per 1,000 people 466 UK 444
- Battery electric cars 2,319 3.9% of cars (UK 5.8%)
- Electric share of private cars 3.4% 130th highest of 361 councils
- Public chargers 331 272 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
- Company-registered cars 3.5% UK 10.0%
How many cars are there in Cheltenham?
There were 58,834 licensed cars in Cheltenham at the end of June 2026, and 68,761 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 12.6% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 466 for every 1,000 residents, 135th lowest of 361 councils (UK 444).
Licensed vehicles in Cheltenham
Counts at the end of March each year, 2010 to 2026.
| Year | All vehicles | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 60,105 | 52,265 |
| 2011 | 60,615 | 52,682 |
| 2012 | 60,768 | 52,883 |
| 2013 | 61,726 | 53,829 |
| 2014 | 62,694 | 54,576 |
| 2015 | 63,114 | 55,018 |
| 2016 | 64,054 | 55,914 |
| 2017 | 65,521 | 56,996 |
| 2018 | 65,875 | 57,246 |
| 2019 | 66,713 | 57,861 |
| 2020 | 65,781 | 57,204 |
| 2021 | 66,971 | 57,769 |
| 2022 | 67,161 | 57,763 |
| 2023 | 67,472 | 57,892 |
| 2024 | 68,232 | 58,412 |
| 2025 | 68,529 | 58,727 |
| 2026 | 68,761 | 58,834 |
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 | Cheltenham | South West | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 456 | 524 | – |
| 2012 | 456 | 527 | – |
| 2013 | 463 | 533 | – |
| 2014 | 466 | 541 | – |
| 2015 | 468 | 546 | 473 |
| 2016 | 470 | 550 | 480 |
| 2017 | 478 | 565 | 488 |
| 2018 | 479 | 569 | 490 |
| 2019 | 484 | 580 | 493 |
| 2020 | 481 | 573 | 489 |
| 2021 | 486 | 575 | 493 |
| 2022 | 483 | 571 | 489 |
| 2023 | 479 | 570 | 489 |
| 2024 | 480 | 571 | 490 |
Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated
Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Cheltenham
59.4% of cars in Cheltenham run on petrol and 26.3% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 34.8% in 2017. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 7.8%, and cars that plug in 6.1%.
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 | 75.1% | 24.5% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 73.1% | 26.4% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2012 | 71.5% | 28.0% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 69.7% | 29.7% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2014 | 67.9% | 31.4% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 66.2% | 32.9% | 0.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2016 | 64.8% | 34.2% | 0.7% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 63.9% | 34.8% | 0.9% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 63.6% | 34.8% | 1.2% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2019 | 63.4% | 34.6% | 1.4% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| 2020 | 63.2% | 34.4% | 1.6% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 63.1% | 33.4% | 2.0% | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| 2022 | 62.5% | 32.7% | 2.6% | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| 2023 | 62.1% | 31.7% | 3.4% | 1.5% | 1.0% |
| 2024 | 61.5% | 30.1% | 4.7% | 2.1% | 1.3% |
| 2025 | 60.6% | 28.3% | 6.1% | 2.9% | 1.7% |
| 2026 | 59.4% | 26.3% | 7.8% | 3.9% | 2.2% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Electric cars in Cheltenham
2,319 battery electric cars were licensed in Cheltenham at the end of June 2026, 3.9% of all cars, 170th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 3,598 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 1,702.
Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.4% are battery electric (1,909 cars), 6th highest of 27 councils in the South West. Companies keep 17.7% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 3.5% of its cars overall. There are also 116 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 | Cheltenham | 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 | 0.6% | 1.2% | 0.8% |
| 2022 | 1.0% | 2.3% | 1.5% |
| 2023 | 1.5% | 3.5% | 2.3% |
| 2024 | 2.1% | 4.4% | 3.2% |
| 2025 | 2.9% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| 2026 | 3.9% | 5.2% | 5.8% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Public EV chargers in Cheltenham
There were 331 public chargers in Cheltenham on 1 July 2026, 46 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 272 for every 100,000 residents, 44th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 15.3% from 1 January 2026.
For every public charger there are 9.0 privately kept plug-in cars in Cheltenham (UK 12.9), 66th 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 | 287 | 40 |
| Apr 2026 | 291 | 46 |
| Jul 2026 | 331 | 46 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Chargers per 100,000 residents
| Area | All chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Cheltenham | 272 | 38 |
| Gloucestershire | 210 | 49 |
| South West | 157 | 50 |
| England | 173 | 41 |
| UK | 175 | 42 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Electric cars by neighbourhood
Cheltenham has 15 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 3.1% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 4.8%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.
| Neighbourhood (MSOA) | Private vehicles | Battery electric | Electric share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheltenham 015 | 3,475 | 166 | 4.8% | |
| Cheltenham 014 | 4,041 | 185 | 4.6% | |
| Cheltenham 012 | 7,395 | 320 | 4.3% | |
| Cheltenham 002 | 3,724 | 142 | 3.8% | |
| Cheltenham 010 | 4,383 | 161 | 3.7% | |
| Cheltenham 011 | 4,219 | 153 | 3.6% | |
| Cheltenham 007 | 5,086 | 157 | 3.1% | |
| Cheltenham 013 | 5,639 | 170 | 3.0% | |
| Cheltenham 008 | 4,854 | 125 | 2.6% | |
| Cheltenham 009 | 4,443 | 106 | 2.4% | |
| Lowest electric shares | ||||
| Cheltenham 006 | 2,872 | 26 | 0.9% | |
| Cheltenham 003 | 3,560 | 60 | 1.7% | |
| Cheltenham 001 | 3,270 | 55 | 1.7% | |
| Cheltenham 009 | 4,443 | 106 | 2.4% | |
| Cheltenham 008 | 4,854 | 125 | 2.6% | |
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 Cheltenham
Reported injury collisions
| Year | Collisions | Killed or seriously injured |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 101 | 33 |
| 2022 | 120 | 41 |
| 2023 | 158 | 41 |
| 2024 | 161 | 41 |
| 2025 | 134 | 37 |
Source:DfT STATS19,UK Motoring analysis 2021 to 2025 Updated
Petrol and diesel prices in Cheltenham
Unleaded petrol averages 169.7p a litre across 14 filling stations in Cheltenham, 1.8p below the UK average. Diesel averages 196.8p, 1.9p below the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.
Cheapest petrol
- Asda Cheltenham Cheltenham 167.7p
- Murco MFG Bouncers Lane Prestbury 167.9p
- MFG Morrisons Up Hatherley Up Hatherley 167.9p
How Cheltenham compares
| Cheltenham | 466 | 3.9% | 272 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gloucestershire | 541 | 4.0% | 210 |
| 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 Cheltenham
There is 1 DVSA car practical test centre in Cheltenham, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 43.2% at Cheltenham.
Other centres in Gloucestershire:
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 Gloucestershire
Sorted by battery electric share of cars. Select a column heading to sort by it.
| Stroud | 589 | 4.6% | 199 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tewkesbury | 567 | 4.5% | 157 |
| Cotswold | 606 | 4.2% | 310 |
| Cheltenham | 466 | 3.9% | 272 |
| Forest of Dean | 581 | 3.4% | 194 |
| Gloucester | 465 | 3.3% | 149 |
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 | 68,761 licensed vehicles in Cheltenham | 26 October 2026 |
| Plug-in and electric vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 3,762 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 Cheltenham 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.