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Dumfries and Galloway motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
109,518 licensed vehicles in Dumfries and Galloway
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 78,976 +0.7% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 510 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 1,753 2.2% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 1.8% 38th lowest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 800 549 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 5.8% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in Dumfries and Galloway?

There were 78,976 licensed cars in Dumfries and Galloway at the end of March 2026, and 109,518 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 9.0% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 510 for every 1,000 residents, 133rd highest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in Dumfries and Galloway

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Dumfries and Galloway at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 93,90872,437
2011 94,27372,618
2012 94,79872,775
2013 95,15372,847
2014 96,25073,541
2015 97,17774,135
2016 98,60274,924
2017 99,94975,585
2018 100,68975,856
2019 101,53275,921
2020 102,50476,652
2021 103,10276,290
2022 104,59176,681
2023 105,77076,853
2024 107,08877,822
2025 108,29678,417
2026 109,51878,976

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, Dumfries and Galloway compared
Year Dumfries and GallowayScotlandUnited Kingdom
2011 482429–
2012 484430–
2013 490436–
2014 496443–
2015 500446473
2016 506450480
2017 514457488
2018 518461490
2019 521465493
2020 518462489
2021 528469493
2022 528466489
2023 530465489
2024 537468490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Dumfries and Galloway

49.4% of cars in Dumfries and Galloway run on petrol and 38.2% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 49.0% in 2019. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 8.1%, and cars that plug in 3.7%.

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 Dumfries and Galloway, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 63.7%36.1%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2011 61.7%38.0%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 59.9%39.8%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2013 58.1%41.6%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2014 56.1%43.5%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2015 54.4%45.1%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2016 52.9%46.6%0.3%0.0%0.1%
2017 51.6%47.8%0.4%0.0%0.1%
2018 50.3%48.9%0.5%0.1%0.1%
2019 50.0%49.0%0.6%0.1%0.2%
2020 49.9%48.9%0.8%0.1%0.2%
2021 49.8%48.4%1.2%0.3%0.3%
2022 49.7%47.2%2.0%0.5%0.4%
2023 49.8%45.6%2.8%0.8%0.5%
2024 49.9%43.6%4.1%1.2%0.7%
2025 49.7%41.1%5.9%1.6%1.0%
2026 49.4%38.2%8.1%2.2%1.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Dumfries and Galloway

1,753 battery electric cars were licensed in Dumfries and Galloway at the end of March 2026, 2.2% of all cars, 15th lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 2,890 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 1,264.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 1.8% are battery electric (1,304 cars), 3rd lowest of 32 councils in Scotland. Companies keep 25.6% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 5.8% of its cars overall. There are also 101 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, Dumfries and Galloway compared, end of March each year
Year Dumfries and GallowayScotlandUnited Kingdom
2016 0.0%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.0%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2019 0.1%0.2%0.2%
2020 0.1%0.3%0.3%
2021 0.3%0.6%0.7%
2022 0.5%1.1%1.3%
2023 0.8%1.7%2.1%
2024 1.2%2.3%3.0%
2025 1.6%3.2%4.1%
2026 2.2%4.2%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Dumfries and Galloway

There were 800 public chargers in Dumfries and Galloway on 1 July 2026, 132 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 549 for every 100,000 residents, 13th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 9.0% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 2.9 privately kept plug-in cars in Dumfries and Galloway (UK 11.9), 11th 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 Dumfries and Galloway by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 734132
Apr 2026 785133
Jul 2026 800132

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Dumfries and Galloway compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Dumfries and Galloway 54991
Scotland 23259
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Road traffic and collisions in Dumfries and Galloway

Vehicles travelled an estimated 1,414 million miles on roads in Dumfries and Galloway in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in Dumfries and Galloway
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 970
1994 1,000
1995 1,028
1996 1,065
1997 1,092
1998 1,110
1999 1,119
2000 1,120
2001 1,129
2002 1,190
2003 1,179
2004 1,186
2005 1,200
2006 1,205
2007 1,248
2008 1,247
2009 1,233
2010 1,225
2011 1,218
2012 1,203
2013 1,218
2014 1,259
2015 1,293
2016 1,333
2017 1,405
2018 1,385
2019 1,388
2020 1,045
2021 1,270
2022 1,377
2023 1,401
2024 1,417
2025 1,414

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Dumfries and Galloway, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 15076
2022 19072
2023 18774
2024 19277
2025 22285

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Dumfries and Galloway

Unleaded petrol averages 173.3p a litre across 32 filling stations in Dumfries and Galloway, 1.6p above the UK average. Diesel averages 196.2p, 1.6p above the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Tesco Annan Superstore Annan 159.9p
  2. Creetown Service Station Creetown 161.9p
  3. Thames Cally Service Station Annan 167.9p

Every filling station and price in Dumfries and Galloway

Roadworks in Dumfries and Galloway

The Scottish Road Works Register lists 550 sets of roadworks in Dumfries and Galloway, of which 150 are under way and 400 are planned. 203 of them close a road, a lane, a slip road or the hard shoulder. BT is behind the most, 189 of them (34.4%). From the extract of 16 September 2026.

Works most likely to hold you up

  • Kingholm Road, Dumfries

    Road closed Under way, until 16 Apr 2027 Dumfries & Galloway Council

    Closure for Retaining Wall Collapse

  • C33s From C1s Near Blaiket Mains To C5s Near Auchengibbert, Crocketford

    Road closed Under way, until 8 Oct 2026 Dumfries & Galloway Council

    Road undermined due to badger sett

  • C33s From A711 Near Edingham Loch To C1s Near Blaiket Mains, Dalbeattie

    Road closed Under way, until 8 Oct 2026 Dumfries & Galloway Council

    Investigation works and discussions with Scottish Wildlife Heritage regarding undermining of road due to Badger Set

  • Margaret Walk, Dumfries

    Road closed Under way, until 15 Jan 2027 Scottish Water

    Watermain diversion & exc & lay sewer

  • Stewartry Road, Dumfries

    Road closed Under way, until 24 Oct 2026 Scottish Water

    Watermain diversion & exc & lay sewer

  • Nith Avenue, Dumfries

    Road closed Under way, until 28 Oct 2027 Dumfries & Galloway Council

    Whitesands Flood Protection Scheme - Green Sands car park between Nith Avenue and Park Lane. Flood Protection and regeneration of area specified on…

  • Whitesands, Dumfries

    Road closed Under way, until 5 Aug 2027 Dumfries & Galloway Council

    Whitesands Flood Protection Scheme - Pumping station and new parking

  • Beaconsfield Place, Kirkcudbright

    Road closed Under way, until 7 Apr 2027 Scottish Water

    Exc & lay sewer

  • Station Place, Stranraer

    Road closed Under way, until 17 Nov 2026 SP Energy Networks

    Overhead line clearance, installation of new underground cable works

  • B797 From A76t To Boundary, Sanquhar

    Road closed Under way, until 24 Sept 2026 Dumfries & Galloway Council

    To repair various landslips

Who is digging

  • BT 189
  • Dumfries & Galloway Council 174
  • Scottish Water 84
  • SP Energy Networks 69
  • SGN 18

How traffic is managed

  • Road closed 199
  • Give and take 139
  • Temporary traffic lights 105
  • Footway only 54
  • No obstruction 16

The register publishes one extract a day, so works can start, finish or change after it is taken. Roadworks across Scotland.

Source:SRWR Extract of 2026-09-16 Updated

How Dumfries and Galloway compares

Dumfries and Galloway compared with Scotland, the UK
Dumfries and Galloway 510 2.2% 1.8% 5.8% 549 2.9
Scotland 436 4.2% 3.0% 7.8% 232 8.9
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 Scotland

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

Councils in Scotland
Stirling 468 13.9% 4.1% 32.1% 511 5.6
Renfrewshire 436 11.9% 3.2% 34.9% 243 9.1
East Renfrewshire 473 5.1% 4.5% 4.2% 82 40.4
East Dunbartonshire 481 4.7% 4.1% 4.0% 103 32.8
East Lothian 472 4.5% 4.0% 4.4% 600 5.0
Orkney Islands 490 4.4% 3.8% 5.0% 386 6.9
West Lothian 479 4.4% 3.8% 5.7% 137 22.2
Edinburgh 325 4.2% 3.3% 5.3% 192 8.6
South Lanarkshire 463 4.2% 3.5% 6.2% 182 14.0
Midlothian 461 4.1% 3.7% 5.1% 223 11.6
Perth and Kinross 506 4.0% 3.5% 5.1% 363 7.6
Dundee 371 3.9% 3.0% 6.7% 472 3.3
North Lanarkshire 434 3.6% 3.0% 7.2% 168 12.1
South Ayrshire 482 3.6% 3.0% 5.3% 205 10.5
Aberdeenshire 528 3.5% 3.0% 4.3% 162 17.8
Falkirk 493 3.5% 2.9% 5.4% 163 13.9
Fife 478 3.5% 3.0% 4.9% 132 17.2
Glasgow 307 3.4% 2.2% 9.7% 180 6.2
East Ayrshire 467 3.3% 2.8% 6.0% 229 9.1
North Ayrshire 457 3.2% 2.7% 5.9% 199 9.2
Aberdeen 396 3.1% 2.5% 4.5% 192 9.6
Clackmannanshire 492 3.1% 2.7% 4.9% 205 9.5
Angus 504 3.0% 2.6% 4.7% 221 9.7
Scottish Borders 506 3.0% 2.6% 4.8% 224 9.6
West Dunbartonshire 420 2.8% 2.3% 6.5% 204 7.7
Inverclyde 425 2.7% 2.3% 5.6% 237 6.8
Moray 501 2.6% 2.1% 4.5% 153 11.7
Argyll and Bute 471 2.5% 2.2% 4.7% 396 4.9
Highland 496 2.5% 2.0% 5.0% 387 4.4
Dumfries and Galloway 510 2.2% 1.8% 5.8% 549 2.9
Shetland Islands 471 1.9% 1.4% 9.1% 323 3.9
Na h-Eileanan Siar 500 1.5% 1.2% 4.1% 515 2.4

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 109,518 licensed vehicles in Dumfries and Galloway 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 3,038 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
  • Coverage: licensing and charger figures cover the whole UK. Licensing figures in Dumfries and Galloway 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.
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.