East Midlands · District council

Chesterfield motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
120,957 licensed vehicles in Chesterfield
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 57,101 +0.2% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 476 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 2,675 4.7% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 2.7% 177th lowest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 274 258 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 11.6% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in Chesterfield?

There were 57,101 licensed cars in Chesterfield at the end of March 2026, and 120,957 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 12.2% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 476 for every 1,000 residents, 164th lowest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in Chesterfield

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Chesterfield at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 93,52850,906
2011 96,39951,390
2012 97,37751,872
2013 103,73353,012
2014 109,40055,002
2015 113,82057,342
2016 116,78159,813
2017 114,89757,090
2018 115,51057,170
2019 118,91458,444
2020 117,19556,382
2021 119,61255,543
2022 123,53956,543
2023 125,82658,490
2024 124,13657,461
2025 120,97457,003
2026 120,95757,101

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, Chesterfield compared
Year ChesterfieldEast MidlandsUnited Kingdom
2011 500482
2012 512480
2013 523485
2014 542490
2015 561493473
2016 534496480
2017 546503488
2018 551504490
2019 561509493
2020 525501489
2021 549508493
2022 541505489
2023 560505489
2024 539506490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Chesterfield

51.5% of cars in Chesterfield run on petrol and 31.2% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 43.8% in 2016. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 8.8%, and cars that plug in 8.2%.

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 Chesterfield, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 69.5%30.2%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2011 68.3%31.5%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 65.5%34.1%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2013 63.1%36.4%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2014 60.9%38.6%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2015 58.3%40.9%0.4%0.0%0.2%
2016 55.3%43.8%0.6%0.0%0.2%
2017 56.8%42.0%0.8%0.1%0.2%
2018 57.6%40.8%1.2%0.1%0.3%
2019 58.6%39.0%1.4%0.1%0.9%
2020 58.7%38.8%1.6%0.2%0.6%
2021 56.4%38.3%3.1%1.1%0.9%
2022 55.8%36.5%4.0%2.4%1.1%
2023 55.8%34.2%4.8%2.6%2.3%
2024 54.4%33.7%6.5%3.0%2.1%
2025 52.5%32.9%7.6%3.8%2.7%
2026 51.5%31.2%8.8%4.7%3.5%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Chesterfield

2,675 battery electric cars were licensed in Chesterfield at the end of March 2026, 4.7% of all cars, 49th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 4,659 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 2,176.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.7% are battery electric (1,376 cars), 11th lowest of 35 councils in the East Midlands. Companies keep 48.6% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 11.6% of its cars overall. There are also 9,768 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, Chesterfield compared, end of March each year
Year ChesterfieldEast MidlandsUnited Kingdom
2016 0.0%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%0.3%
2021 1.1%0.4%0.7%
2022 2.4%0.8%1.3%
2023 2.6%1.3%2.1%
2024 3.0%1.9%3.0%
2025 3.8%2.7%4.1%
2026 4.7%3.9%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Chesterfield

There were 274 public chargers in Chesterfield on 1 July 2026, 154 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 258 for every 100,000 residents, 50th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 36.3% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 9.0 privately kept plug-in cars in Chesterfield (UK 11.9), 76th 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 Chesterfield by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 20180
Apr 2026 232110
Jul 2026 274154

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Chesterfield compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Chesterfield 258145
Derbyshire 11945
East Midlands 12247
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

Chesterfield has 13 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 2.2% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 3.9%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in Chesterfield with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
Chesterfield 011 5,513 215 3.9% 6.1%
Chesterfield 009 4,501 137 3.0% 4.3%
Chesterfield 005 4,524 125 2.8% 4.2%
Chesterfield 007 4,033 103 2.6% 3.7%
Chesterfield 008 4,304 109 2.5% 4.2%
Chesterfield 003 4,145 90 2.2% 2.9%
Chesterfield 010 4,356 95 2.2% 3.1%
Chesterfield 012 6,527 136 2.1% 3.1%
Chesterfield 004 4,400 90 2.0% 3.3%
Chesterfield 006 4,468 90 2.0% 3.1%
Lowest electric shares
Chesterfield 013 2,801 38 1.4% 2.5%
Chesterfield 001 4,028 61 1.5% 2.7%
Chesterfield 002 4,460 84 1.9% 3.1%
Chesterfield 006 4,468 90 2.0% 3.1%
Chesterfield 004 4,400 90 2.0% 3.3%

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

Road traffic and collisions in Chesterfield

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Chesterfield, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 14632
2022 15734
2023 16337
2024 13344
2025 14430

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Chesterfield

Unleaded petrol averages 173.2p a litre across 13 filling stations in Chesterfield, 1.5p above the UK average. Diesel averages 196.1p, 1.5p above the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

How Chesterfield compares

Chesterfield compared with Derbyshire, the East Midlands, England, the UK
Chesterfield 476 4.7% 2.7% 11.6% 258 9.0
Derbyshire 520 3.8% 3.1% 5.3% 119 21.9
East Midlands 479 3.9% 2.9% 5.9% 122 18.1
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 Derbyshire

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

Councils in Derbyshire
Chesterfield 476 4.7% 2.7% 11.6% 258 9.0
South Derbyshire 537 4.3% 3.8% 3.5% 114 28.5
Amber Valley 529 3.8% 3.1% 5.0% 75 36.1
Bolsover 506 3.8% 2.9% 5.8% 156 13.8
Derbyshire Dales 584 3.6% 3.1% 3.6% 180 16.1
North East Derbyshire 532 3.6% 3.0% 4.2% 38 63.7
High Peak 511 3.4% 2.9% 3.8% 108 20.5
Erewash 488 3.3% 2.7% 4.8% 66 37.9

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 120,957 licensed vehicles in Chesterfield 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 14,685 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 Chesterfield 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.