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East Ayrshire motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
73,972 licensed vehicles in East Ayrshire
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 60,304 +1.1% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 467 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 2,011 3.3% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 2.8% 171st highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 278 229 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 6.0% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in East Ayrshire?

There were 60,304 licensed cars in East Ayrshire at the end of March 2026, and 73,972 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 14.5% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 467 for every 1,000 residents, 141st lowest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in East Ayrshire

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in East Ayrshire at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 62,57952,668
2011 62,64552,851
2012 63,29852,956
2013 63,16353,244
2014 64,03253,876
2015 65,24455,101
2016 65,98255,568
2017 67,09456,147
2018 68,06456,808
2019 70,08057,345
2020 71,18558,282
2021 71,39158,079
2022 71,63658,078
2023 71,34358,433
2024 72,24859,164
2025 72,93259,654
2026 73,97260,304

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, East Ayrshire compared
Year East AyrshireScotlandUnited Kingdom
2011 432429–
2012 433430–
2013 438436–
2014 446443–
2015 453446473
2016 456450480
2017 465457488
2018 473461490
2019 477465493
2020 478462489
2021 486469493
2022 484466489
2023 486465489
2024 490468490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in East Ayrshire

56.1% of cars in East Ayrshire run on petrol and 30.3% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 43.6% in 2019. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 8.2%, and cars that plug in 4.9%.

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 East Ayrshire, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 71.8%28.0%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2011 69.6%30.2%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2012 67.8%31.9%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2013 66.0%33.6%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2014 63.8%35.9%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2015 61.5%38.1%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2016 59.4%40.1%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2017 57.6%41.8%0.4%0.1%0.1%
2018 55.9%43.4%0.5%0.1%0.1%
2019 55.4%43.6%0.7%0.1%0.1%
2020 55.3%43.5%0.8%0.2%0.1%
2021 55.3%42.8%1.2%0.3%0.2%
2022 55.5%41.4%1.9%0.6%0.3%
2023 56.1%39.5%2.6%1.0%0.4%
2024 56.5%37.0%4.0%1.5%0.6%
2025 56.5%33.7%6.0%2.4%0.9%
2026 56.1%30.3%8.2%3.3%1.5%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in East Ayrshire

2,011 battery electric cars were licensed in East Ayrshire at the end of March 2026, 3.3% of all cars, 152nd lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 2,933 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 1,408.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.8% are battery electric (1,570 cars), 15th lowest of 32 councils in Scotland. Companies keep 21.9% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 6.0% of its cars overall. There are also 92 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, East Ayrshire compared, end of March each year
Year East AyrshireScotlandUnited 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%0.2%0.2%
2020 0.2%0.3%0.3%
2021 0.3%0.6%0.7%
2022 0.6%1.1%1.3%
2023 1.0%1.7%2.1%
2024 1.5%2.3%3.0%
2025 2.4%3.2%4.1%
2026 3.3%4.2%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in East Ayrshire

There were 278 public chargers in East Ayrshire on 1 July 2026, 77 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 229 for every 100,000 residents, 62nd highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 5.7% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 9.1 privately kept plug-in cars in East Ayrshire (UK 11.9), 78th 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 East Ayrshire by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 26358
Apr 2026 26360
Jul 2026 27877

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, East Ayrshire compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
East Ayrshire 22963
Scotland 23259
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Road traffic and collisions in East Ayrshire

Vehicles travelled an estimated 755 million miles on roads in East Ayrshire in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in East Ayrshire
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 484
1994 494
1995 502
1996 516
1997 528
1998 535
1999 549
2000 562
2001 579
2002 595
2003 608
2004 611
2005 583
2006 653
2007 650
2008 645
2009 644
2010 647
2011 643
2012 641
2013 641
2014 666
2015 673
2016 681
2017 704
2018 711
2019 709
2020 554
2021 646
2022 698
2023 713
2024 725
2025 755

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in East Ayrshire, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 7139
2022 8846
2023 10347
2024 7033
2025 8633

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in East Ayrshire

Unleaded petrol averages 167.0p a litre across 14 filling stations in East Ayrshire, 4.7p below the UK average. Diesel averages 190.2p, 4.4p below the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Pace Barrhill Garage Cumnock 162.9p
  2. Campbell Fuel Oils Limited Kilmarnock 162.9p
  3. Londis Ayr Road Service Station Ayr 162.9p

Every filling station and price in East Ayrshire

Roadworks in East Ayrshire

The Scottish Road Works Register lists 344 sets of roadworks in East Ayrshire, of which 78 are under way and 266 are planned. 84 of them close a road, a lane, a slip road or the hard shoulder. East Ayrshire Council is behind the most, 128 of them (37.2%). From the extract of 16 September 2026.

Works most likely to hold you up

  • Sandbed Lane, Kilmarnock

    Road closed Under way, until 26 Jan 2027 East Ayrshire Council

    Road closure to protect pedestrians from demolition site on Sandbed lane.

  • Milton Road, Crookedholm

    Road closed Under way, until 1 Oct 2026 East Ayrshire Council

    Excavating road slip section and reinstating also installing rock armour down river banking

  • C22 Coal Road From B7083 To A70 At Cronberry, Auchinleck

    Road closed Under way, until 24 Sept 2026 East Ayrshire Council

    Bridge parapet repairs and installation of signage

  • Green Street, Kilmarnock

    Lane closed Under way, until 2 Apr 2028 East Ayrshire Council

    Road occupation for TM for hoarding and scaffolding and other building works

  • C135 Allanton Plains Avon Bridge, Darvel

    Road closed Under way, until 19 Apr 2027 East Ayrshire Council

    TM only for various over night closures within permitted period to allow vehicles to park over night prior to being driven into position the next…

  • C135 Allanton Plains Avon Bridge (plus 5 more), Darvel

    Road closed Under way, until 19 Apr 2027 East Ayrshire Council

    Diversion route during closure of C135

  • C108 Stewarton Cabroc Hill From B769 Nr Stewarton To Renfrewshire Boundary Nr Long Loch (plus 3 more)

    Road closed Under way, until 16 Sept 2026 East Ayrshire Council

    Diversion route closure of C108

  • C108 Stewarton Cabroc Hill From B769 Nr Stewarton To Renfrewshire Boundary Nr Long Loch

    Road closed Under way, until 28 Sept 2026 East Ayrshire Council

    Carriageway resurfacing

  • C116 Loudonston From B730 To South Ayrshire Boundary (plus 11 more), Stair

    Road closed Under way, until 17 Sept 2026 East Ayrshire Council

    Diversion route during closure of C116

  • C116 Loudonston From B730 To South Ayrshire Boundary, Stair

    Road closed 15 Sept 2026 to 17 Sept 2026 Network Rail

    Carry out masonry repairs to railway bridge. Site times 09:00 - 16:00 for 3 dayshifts

Who is digging

  • East Ayrshire Council 128
  • BT 99
  • Scottish Water 38
  • SP Energy Networks 38
  • Network Rail 14

How traffic is managed

  • Temporary traffic lights 100
  • Give and take 86
  • Road closed 80
  • No obstruction 53
  • Footway only 15

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 East Ayrshire compares

East Ayrshire compared with Scotland, the UK
East Ayrshire 467 3.3% 2.8% 6.0% 229 9.1
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 73,972 licensed vehicles in East Ayrshire 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 3,051 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 East Ayrshire 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.