North East · Unitary authority
County Durham motoring statistics
How many cars and electric cars are registered in County Durham, which fuels they use, how many public chargers there are and how County Durham compares with the North East. From DVLA licensing records, DfT charger statistics and ONS population estimates.
- Licensed cars 257,411 +1.0% on a year earlier
- Private cars per 1,000 people 453 UK 444
- Battery electric cars 9,547 3.7% of cars (UK 5.8%)
- Electric share of private cars 3.1% 172nd highest of 361 councils
- Public chargers 802 149 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
- Company-registered cars 5.3% UK 10.0%
How many cars are there in County Durham?
There were 257,411 licensed cars in County Durham at the end of June 2026, and 317,863 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 16.7% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 453 for every 1,000 residents, 112th lowest of 361 councils (UK 444).
Licensed vehicles in County Durham
Counts at the end of March each year, 2010 to 2026.
| Year | All vehicles | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 264,529 | 220,482 |
| 2011 | 265,505 | 221,008 |
| 2012 | 265,618 | 221,248 |
| 2013 | 268,477 | 223,665 |
| 2014 | 272,409 | 227,146 |
| 2015 | 274,747 | 229,228 |
| 2016 | 279,387 | 232,661 |
| 2017 | 284,817 | 236,401 |
| 2018 | 287,589 | 238,500 |
| 2019 | 292,206 | 242,169 |
| 2020 | 291,794 | 242,209 |
| 2021 | 299,811 | 246,265 |
| 2022 | 300,964 | 246,148 |
| 2023 | 304,547 | 248,451 |
| 2024 | 309,598 | 252,338 |
| 2025 | 313,846 | 254,846 |
| 2026 | 317,863 | 257,411 |
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 | County Durham | North East | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 431 | 401 | – |
| 2012 | 431 | 402 | – |
| 2013 | 436 | 405 | – |
| 2014 | 442 | 411 | – |
| 2015 | 446 | 415 | 473 |
| 2016 | 452 | 420 | 480 |
| 2017 | 458 | 426 | 488 |
| 2018 | 462 | 429 | 490 |
| 2019 | 467 | 435 | 493 |
| 2020 | 467 | 436 | 489 |
| 2021 | 472 | 442 | 493 |
| 2022 | 466 | 439 | 489 |
| 2023 | 465 | 438 | 489 |
| 2024 | 469 | 439 | 490 |
Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated
Petrol, diesel and electric cars in County Durham
51.3% of cars in County Durham run on petrol and 35.2% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 44.8% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 7.9%, and cars that plug in 5.3%.
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 | 67.0% | 32.7% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 65.0% | 34.7% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2012 | 63.1% | 36.6% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 61.4% | 38.3% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2014 | 59.4% | 40.2% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 57.7% | 41.7% | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| 2016 | 56.1% | 43.3% | 0.3% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 55.0% | 44.2% | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 54.3% | 44.8% | 0.6% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 54.2% | 44.7% | 0.8% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2020 | 54.1% | 44.5% | 1.0% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| 2021 | 53.8% | 43.9% | 1.5% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| 2022 | 53.5% | 43.0% | 2.2% | 0.7% | 0.4% |
| 2023 | 53.2% | 41.7% | 3.1% | 1.1% | 0.5% |
| 2024 | 52.9% | 39.9% | 4.4% | 1.6% | 0.7% |
| 2025 | 52.3% | 37.7% | 6.0% | 2.5% | 1.0% |
| 2026 | 51.3% | 35.2% | 7.9% | 3.7% | 1.5% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Electric cars in County Durham
9,547 battery electric cars were licensed in County Durham at the end of June 2026, 3.7% of all cars, 162nd lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 13,522 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 6,458.
Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.1% are battery electric (7,662 cars), 4th highest of 12 councils in the North East. Companies keep 19.7% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 5.3% of its cars overall. There are also 356 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 | County Durham | North East | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.8% |
| 2022 | 0.7% | 0.7% | 1.5% |
| 2023 | 1.1% | 1.1% | 2.3% |
| 2024 | 1.6% | 1.7% | 3.2% |
| 2025 | 2.5% | 2.5% | 4.4% |
| 2026 | 3.7% | 3.6% | 5.8% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Public EV chargers in County Durham
There were 802 public chargers in County Durham on 1 July 2026, 204 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 149 for every 100,000 residents, 164th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 7.5% from 1 January 2026.
For every public charger there are 13.9 privately kept plug-in cars in County Durham (UK 12.9), 136th 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 | 746 | 180 |
| Apr 2026 | 769 | 184 |
| Jul 2026 | 802 | 204 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Chargers per 100,000 residents
| Area | All chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| County Durham | 149 | 38 |
| North East | 150 | 37 |
| England | 173 | 41 |
| UK | 175 | 42 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Electric cars by neighbourhood
County Durham has 65 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 2.5% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 6.0%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.
| Neighbourhood (MSOA) | Private vehicles | Battery electric | Electric share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| County Durham 033 | 5,580 | 337 | 6.0% | |
| County Durham 060 | 5,825 | 250 | 4.3% | |
| County Durham 020 | 3,777 | 157 | 4.2% | |
| County Durham 054 | 4,980 | 203 | 4.1% | |
| County Durham 022 | 4,176 | 162 | 3.9% | |
| County Durham 041 | 4,072 | 158 | 3.9% | |
| County Durham 002 | 3,605 | 134 | 3.7% | |
| County Durham 013 | 4,834 | 178 | 3.7% | |
| County Durham 015 | 4,495 | 165 | 3.7% | |
| County Durham 003 | 6,192 | 225 | 3.6% | |
| Lowest electric shares | ||||
| County Durham 061 | 1,977 | 0 | 0.0% | |
| County Durham 035 | 3,315 | 19 | 0.6% | |
| County Durham 032 | 3,723 | 40 | 1.1% | |
| County Durham 058 | 3,162 | 37 | 1.2% | |
| County Durham 036 | 2,464 | 33 | 1.3% | |
Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of June 2026. 5 neighbourhoods are left out because DfT withholds small counts there.
Road traffic and collisions in County Durham
Vehicles travelled an estimated 2,888 million miles on roads in County Durham in 2025.
Traffic on all roads
| Year | Million vehicle miles |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 1,933 |
| 1994 | 1,984 |
| 1995 | 2,022 |
| 1996 | 2,074 |
| 1997 | 2,157 |
| 1998 | 2,201 |
| 1999 | 2,252 |
| 2000 | 2,240 |
| 2001 | 2,252 |
| 2002 | 2,302 |
| 2003 | 2,319 |
| 2004 | 2,335 |
| 2005 | 2,333 |
| 2006 | 2,378 |
| 2007 | 2,443 |
| 2008 | 2,413 |
| 2009 | 2,379 |
| 2010 | 2,355 |
| 2011 | 2,365 |
| 2012 | 2,394 |
| 2013 | 2,404 |
| 2014 | 2,475 |
| 2015 | 2,542 |
| 2016 | 2,540 |
| 2017 | 2,624 |
| 2018 | 2,681 |
| 2019 | 2,769 |
| 2020 | 2,170 |
| 2021 | 2,476 |
| 2022 | 2,701 |
| 2023 | 2,792 |
| 2024 | 2,814 |
| 2025 | 2,888 |
Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated
Reported injury collisions
| Year | Collisions | Killed or seriously injured |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 509 | 166 |
| 2022 | 507 | 184 |
| 2023 | 464 | 179 |
| 2024 | 452 | 180 |
| 2025 | 438 | 177 |
Source:DfT STATS19,UK Motoring analysis 2021 to 2025 Updated
Petrol and diesel prices in County Durham
Unleaded petrol averages 170.0p a litre across 65 filling stations in County Durham, 1.5p below the UK average. Diesel averages 196.9p, 1.8p below the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.
Cheapest petrol
- G W Holmes & Son Bishop Auckland 162.7p
- Sainsbury's Bishop Auckland Bishop Auckland 162.9p
- Asda Bishop Auckland Superstore Bishop Auckland 164.7p
How County Durham compares
| County Durham | 453 | 3.7% | 149 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North East | 424 | 3.6% | 150 |
| 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 County Durham
There is 1 DVSA car practical test centre in County Durham, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 53.2% at Durham.
Other centres in the North East:
- Alnwick 55.5% pass rate, 2025/26
- Berwick-On-Tweed 53.9% pass rate, 2025/26
- Hexham 53.0% pass rate, 2025/26
- Sunderland 51.2% pass rate, 2025/26
- Hartlepool 51.0% pass rate, 2025/26
- Blyth 50.9% pass rate, 2025/26
- Gosforth 48.4% pass rate, 2025/26
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 East
Sorted by battery electric share of cars. Select a column heading to sort by it.
| Northumberland | 505 | 4.1% | 238 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newcastle upon Tyne | 315 | 4.0% | 122 |
| North Tyneside | 419 | 4.0% | 62 |
| Stockton-on-Tees | 453 | 3.8% | 133 |
| County Durham | 453 | 3.7% | 149 |
| Gateshead | 388 | 3.5% | 198 |
| Sunderland | 404 | 3.5% | 192 |
| Darlington | 460 | 3.3% | 143 |
| South Tyneside | 399 | 3.3% | 175 |
| Hartlepool | 418 | 3.1% | 91 |
| Redcar and Cleveland | 469 | 2.7% | 103 |
| Middlesbrough | 385 | 2.6% | 91 |
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 | 317,863 licensed vehicles in County Durham | 26 October 2026 |
| Plug-in and electric vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 13,984 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 County Durham 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.