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Cheshire West and Chester motoring statistics

How many cars and electric cars are registered in Cheshire West and Chester, which fuels they use, how many public chargers there are and how Cheshire West and Chester compares with the North West. From DVLA licensing records, DfT charger statistics and ONS population estimates.

Last updated
Records analysed
367,572 licensed vehicles in Cheshire West and Chester
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 290,338 +45.5% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 510 UK 444
  • Battery electric cars 58,148 20.0% of cars (UK 5.8%)
  • Electric share of private cars 4.0% 53rd highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 412 111 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 34.8% UK 10.0%

Company fleets. 34.8% of cars registered in Cheshire West and Chester have a company as their keeper, against 10.0% across the UK. DVLA counts company cars at the company’s registered address, so leasing and rental fleets land where those firms are based and move when they move. The figures for privately kept cars are the better guide to local drivers.

How many cars are there in Cheshire West and Chester?

There were 290,338 licensed cars in Cheshire West and Chester at the end of June 2026, and 367,572 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 22.8% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 510 for every 1,000 residents, 143rd highest of 361 councils (UK 444).

Licensed vehicles in Cheshire West and Chester

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Cheshire West and Chester at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 286,418236,340
2011 201,162172,183
2012 200,950171,982
2013 203,694174,194
2014 207,436176,879
2015 209,334178,492
2016 212,935181,019
2017 217,484183,885
2018 222,134186,489
2019 226,810189,716
2020 226,235189,906
2021 231,532191,390
2022 233,794192,119
2023 236,448194,554
2024 239,357197,127
2025 242,926199,599
2026 367,572290,338

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.

Cars per 1,000 residents at mid-year, Cheshire West and Chester compared
Year Cheshire West and ChesterNorth WestUnited Kingdom
2011 523429–
2012 519425–
2013 522428–
2014 526433–
2015 526435473
2016 529438480
2017 531440488
2018 533443490
2019 537448493
2020 535446489
2021 535477493
2022 531472489
2023 531472489
2024 530474490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Cheshire West and Chester

39.4% of cars in Cheshire West and Chester run on petrol and 21.9% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 41.8% in 2010. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 7.0%, and cars that plug in 31.4%.

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.

Share of licensed cars by fuel type in Cheshire West and Chester, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 57.4%41.8%0.7%0.0%0.0%
2011 69.8%29.8%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 68.1%31.4%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2013 66.2%33.3%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2014 64.2%35.2%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2015 62.5%36.8%0.5%0.0%0.0%
2016 61.0%38.2%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2017 59.9%39.1%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2018 59.3%39.5%0.8%0.2%0.2%
2019 59.3%39.2%1.0%0.2%0.2%
2020 59.3%38.9%1.1%0.3%0.3%
2021 58.8%38.4%1.6%0.5%0.5%
2022 58.4%37.4%2.2%1.0%0.7%
2023 58.1%36.0%3.1%1.5%0.9%
2024 57.5%34.3%4.4%2.1%1.2%
2025 56.2%32.1%6.0%3.4%1.7%
2026 39.4%21.9%7.0%20.0%11.3%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Cheshire West and Chester

58,148 battery electric cars were licensed in Cheshire West and Chester at the end of June 2026, 20.0% of all cars, 8th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 91,084 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 6,861.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 4.0% are battery electric (7,519 cars), 3rd highest of 35 councils in the North West. Companies keep 87.1% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 34.8% of its cars overall. There are also 3,121 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, Cheshire West and Chester compared, end of March each year
Year Cheshire West and ChesterNorth WestUnited Kingdom
2016 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.2%0.1%0.1%
2019 0.2%0.1%0.2%
2020 0.3%0.2%0.4%
2021 0.5%0.8%0.8%
2022 1.0%1.7%1.5%
2023 1.5%2.9%2.3%
2024 2.1%4.1%3.2%
2025 3.4%5.3%4.4%
2026 20.0%6.6%5.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Cheshire West and Chester

There were 412 public chargers in Cheshire West and Chester on 1 July 2026, 107 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 111 for every 100,000 residents, 112th lowest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 9.3% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 27.4 privately kept plug-in cars in Cheshire West and Chester (UK 12.9), 59th most 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 Cheshire West and Chester by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 37782
Apr 2026 37690
Jul 2026 412107

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Cheshire West and Chester compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Cheshire West and Chester 11129
North West 11240
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

Cheshire West and Chester has 47 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, 5.9%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in Cheshire West and Chester with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
Cheshire West and Chester 023 8,209 484 5.9% 8.5%
Cheshire West and Chester 004 4,511 223 4.9% 7.4%
Cheshire West and Chester 024 6,597 322 4.9% 7.8%
Cheshire West and Chester 037 4,545 219 4.8% 6.6%
Cheshire West and Chester 009 7,245 326 4.5% 6.6%
Cheshire West and Chester 018 5,501 247 4.5% 6.4%
Cheshire West and Chester 041 4,837 217 4.5% 6.8%
Cheshire West and Chester 039 4,348 187 4.3% 6.7%
Cheshire West and Chester 026 4,286 180 4.2% 6.1%
Cheshire West and Chester 030 5,038 214 4.2% 6.6%
Lowest electric shares
Cheshire West and Chester 031 3,214 16 0.5% 1.6%
Cheshire West and Chester 011 3,586 47 1.3% 2.6%
Cheshire West and Chester 010 2,556 37 1.4% 2.8%
Cheshire West and Chester 008 3,264 56 1.7% 2.5%
Cheshire West and Chester 029 2,600 47 1.8% 2.5%

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

Road traffic and collisions in Cheshire West and Chester

Vehicles travelled an estimated 2,620 million miles on roads in Cheshire West and Chester in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in Cheshire West and Chester
Year Million vehicle miles
2009 2,391
2010 2,356
2011 2,380
2012 2,332
2013 2,352
2014 2,447
2015 2,477
2016 2,489
2017 2,470
2018 2,535
2019 2,585
2020 1,985
2021 2,266
2022 2,458
2023 2,507
2024 2,568
2025 2,620

Source:DfT 2009 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Cheshire West and Chester, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 524143
2022 561130
2023 496134
2024 512149
2025 522132

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Cheshire West and Chester

Unleaded petrol averages 171.6p a litre across 29 filling stations in Cheshire West and Chester, 0.1p above the UK average. Diesel averages 198.5p, 0.2p below the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Gordale Service Station Neston 153.9p
  2. Costco Wholesale Chester Chester 156.9p
  3. Gulf Barnhills of Broxton Chester 166.9p

Every filling station and price in Cheshire West and Chester

How Cheshire West and Chester compares

Cheshire West and Chester compared with the North West, England, the UK
Cheshire West and Chester 510 20.0% 4.0% 34.8% 111 27.4
North West 430 6.6% 3.1% 11.7% 112 18.9
England 440 6.2% 3.2% 10.7% 173 13.4
United Kingdom4445.8%3.1%10.0%17512.9

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 June 2026.

Driving test centres in Cheshire West and Chester

There are 2 DVSA car practical test centres in Cheshire West and Chester, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 57.6% at Northwich.

Other centres in the North West:

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 North West

Sorted by battery electric share of cars. Select a column heading to sort by it.

Councils in the North West
Stockport 467 24.6% 3.4% 45.3% 115 21.8
Cheshire West and Chester 510 20.0% 4.0% 34.8% 111 27.4
Halton 460 6.3% 3.4% 9.9% 67 36.3
Bury 432 5.6% 3.2% 18.8% 55 40.3
Cheshire East 532 5.2% 4.3% 5.4% 123 28.8
Salford 332 4.9% 2.8% 15.3% 96 15.9
Warrington 512 4.8% 4.0% 4.9% 160 19.7
Chorley 506 4.7% 4.0% 4.2% 124 24.4
Ribble Valley 546 4.7% 4.2% 3.8% 123 30.3
Trafford 450 4.7% 3.8% 5.2% 189 14.5
West Lancashire 491 4.7% 3.7% 6.5% 76 37.0
Knowsley 383 4.6% 3.7% 8.5% 57 39.4
South Ribble 527 4.4% 3.8% 4.3% 167 17.6
Fylde 533 4.3% 3.6% 4.9% 133 23.0
Wyre 508 4.0% 3.3% 4.8% 136 19.0
Preston 396 3.9% 3.0% 7.2% 79 24.4
St Helens 453 3.8% 3.0% 6.0% 72 29.5
Wirral 455 3.8% 3.1% 5.8% 71 30.3
Manchester 282 3.7% 2.1% 9.9% 128 8.3
Sefton 427 3.7% 3.0% 6.7% 61 34.6
Wigan 457 3.7% 3.1% 4.8% 76 28.7
Bolton 411 3.5% 2.8% 6.3% 55 34.2
Liverpool 304 3.5% 2.5% 9.4% 196 6.7
Rossendale 476 3.5% 2.9% 5.3% 179 13.1
Blackburn with Darwen 394 3.4% 2.6% 6.6% 79 21.7
Rochdale 406 3.4% 2.7% 6.2% 72 26.0
Lancaster 438 3.3% 2.8% 4.2% 135 13.6
Oldham 381 3.1% 2.3% 7.5% 71 21.6
Tameside 414 3.1% 2.4% 5.5% 59 27.9
Hyndburn 421 2.9% 2.1% 6.7% 58 24.9
Blackpool 386 2.8% 2.1% 6.4% 111 11.1
Burnley 393 2.8% 2.2% 6.2% 108 13.0
Westmorland and Furness 516 2.8% 2.4% 4.7% 266 7.9
Cumberland 508 2.6% 2.2% 4.7% 157 11.8
Pendle 425 2.5% 2.0% 6.0% 63 22.5

Data stories to read next

All insights

Data sources and methodology

Datasets used on this page
Figures Source Period Records Updated
Licensed vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 367,572 licensed vehicles in Cheshire West and Chester 26 October 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 95,299 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 Cheshire West and Chester 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.