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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
331,632 licensed vehicles in Cheshire West and Chester
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 264,605 +34.0% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 506 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 42,310 16.0% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.5% 66th highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 412 111 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 28.9% UK 9.9%

Company fleets. 28.9% of cars registered in Cheshire West and Chester have a company as their keeper, against 9.9% 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 264,605 licensed cars in Cheshire West and Chester at the end of March 2026, and 331,632 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 0.0% fewer cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 506 for every 1,000 residents, 140th highest of 361 councils (UK 441).

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 323,968264,644
2011 210,488180,882
2012 199,533171,427
2013 201,274172,858
2014 204,387175,243
2015 207,254177,379
2016 211,261180,268
2017 215,211182,797
2018 219,679185,238
2019 224,262188,412
2020 227,456191,385
2021 227,757189,666
2022 232,157191,505
2023 234,171193,191
2024 237,224196,032
2025 239,375197,539
2026 331,632264,605

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, 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

42.8% of cars in Cheshire West and Chester run on petrol and 24.0% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 45.9% in 2010. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 7.1%, and cars that plug in 25.8%.

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 Cheshire West and Chester, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 53.3%45.9%0.7%0.0%0.0%
2011 67.9%31.6%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2012 68.5%31.0%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2013 66.6%32.9%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2014 64.7%34.7%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2015 62.8%36.5%0.5%0.0%0.0%
2016 61.3%37.9%0.5%0.1%0.1%
2017 60.0%39.0%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2018 59.3%39.5%0.7%0.1%0.2%
2019 59.2%39.3%0.9%0.2%0.2%
2020 59.1%39.1%1.1%0.3%0.3%
2021 58.9%38.6%1.4%0.4%0.4%
2022 58.4%37.8%2.0%0.9%0.6%
2023 58.1%36.4%2.9%1.3%0.9%
2024 57.5%34.9%4.1%2.0%1.1%
2025 56.7%32.9%5.6%2.9%1.5%
2026 42.8%24.0%7.1%16.0%9.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Cheshire West and Chester

42,310 battery electric cars were licensed in Cheshire West and Chester at the end of March 2026, 16.0% of all cars, 10th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 68,179 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 5,720.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.5% are battery electric (6,655 cars), 5th highest of 35 councils in the North West. Companies keep 84.3% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 28.9% of its cars overall. There are also 2,273 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 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2019 0.2%0.1%0.2%
2020 0.3%0.2%0.3%
2021 0.4%0.7%0.7%
2022 0.9%1.5%1.3%
2023 1.3%2.6%2.1%
2024 2.0%3.8%3.0%
2025 2.9%5.4%4.1%
2026 16.0%6.2%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 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 26.8 privately kept plug-in cars in Cheshire West and Chester (UK 11.9), 54th 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, 2.8% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 5.3%. 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 8,110 433 5.3% 7.8%
Cheshire West and Chester 024 6,523 299 4.6% 7.3%
Cheshire West and Chester 004 4,442 196 4.4% 6.6%
Cheshire West and Chester 037 4,450 191 4.3% 5.9%
Cheshire West and Chester 009 7,216 298 4.1% 6.0%
Cheshire West and Chester 018 5,467 222 4.1% 5.6%
Cheshire West and Chester 041 4,808 196 4.1% 6.2%
Cheshire West and Chester 030 4,964 193 3.9% 6.1%
Cheshire West and Chester 039 4,343 169 3.9% 6.1%
Cheshire West and Chester 045 4,912 188 3.8% 6.2%
Lowest electric shares
Cheshire West and Chester 031 3,190 14 0.4% 1.5%
Cheshire West and Chester 011 3,552 37 1.0% 2.2%
Cheshire West and Chester 010 2,535 31 1.2% 2.5%
Cheshire West and Chester 029 2,582 42 1.6% 2.2%
Cheshire West and Chester 008 3,199 51 1.6% 2.3%

Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of March 2026. 1 neighbourhood is left out because DfT withholds small counts there.

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 173.0p a litre across 42 filling stations in Cheshire West and Chester, 1.3p above the UK average. Diesel averages 195.3p, 0.7p above the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Asda Barons Quay, Northwich Supermarket Northwich 164.7p
  2. Tesco Northwich Superstore Northwich 164.9p
  3. Sainsbury's Northwich Northwich 164.9p

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 506 16.0% 3.5% 28.9% 111 26.8
North West 427 6.2% 2.7% 11.8% 112 17.4
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 North West

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

Councils in the North West
Stockport 466 27.0% 3.0% 50.2% 115 19.7
Cheshire West and Chester 506 16.0% 3.5% 28.9% 111 26.8
Halton 458 5.8% 3.0% 9.8% 67 32.5
Bury 429 4.9% 2.8% 18.8% 55 36.8
Cheshire East 529 4.7% 3.9% 5.4% 123 29.3
Salford 330 4.6% 2.4% 16.1% 96 14.7
Chorley 503 4.3% 3.6% 4.1% 124 24.4
Ribble Valley 543 4.3% 3.8% 3.8% 123 27.3
Trafford 448 4.3% 3.5% 5.1% 189 13.7
Warrington 510 4.3% 3.6% 4.9% 160 18.7
West Lancashire 488 4.3% 3.3% 6.5% 76 18.2
Knowsley 380 4.1% 3.2% 8.5% 57 35.7
South Ribble 524 4.0% 3.3% 4.3% 167 15.7
Fylde 530 3.9% 3.3% 4.8% 133 21.9
Preston 393 3.6% 2.7% 7.2% 79 20.2
Wyre 504 3.6% 3.0% 4.9% 136 16.9
Manchester 279 3.5% 1.9% 9.8% 128 8.1
St Helens 452 3.5% 2.6% 6.0% 72 26.1
Wirral 453 3.4% 2.8% 5.9% 71 29.9
Liverpool 302 3.3% 2.2% 9.5% 196 6.4
Sefton 425 3.3% 2.7% 6.8% 61 33.9
Wigan 455 3.3% 2.7% 4.8% 76 26.2
Bolton 408 3.2% 2.4% 6.4% 55 31.3
Blackburn with Darwen 391 3.1% 2.3% 6.6% 79 23.7
Rochdale 403 3.1% 2.4% 6.3% 72 22.0
Rossendale 474 3.1% 2.5% 5.3% 179 11.3
Lancaster 436 3.0% 2.5% 4.2% 135 12.4
Oldham 378 2.8% 2.1% 7.4% 71 19.5
Tameside 412 2.8% 2.1% 5.5% 59 25.0
Hyndburn 418 2.7% 1.9% 6.7% 58 24.0
Blackpool 384 2.6% 1.8% 6.6% 111 9.8
Burnley 389 2.6% 1.9% 6.1% 108 11.6
Westmorland and Furness 512 2.6% 2.2% 4.7% 266 6.9
Pendle 420 2.4% 1.7% 6.0% 63 20.2
Cumberland 504 2.3% 1.9% 4.7% 157 10.1

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 331,632 licensed vehicles in Cheshire West and Chester 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 71,314 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 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.