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East Lothian motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
68,248 licensed vehicles in East Lothian
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 56,802 +1.4% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 472 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 2,542 4.5% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 4.0% 27th highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 691 600 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 4.4% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in East Lothian?

There were 56,802 licensed cars in East Lothian at the end of March 2026, and 68,248 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 25.9% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 472 for every 1,000 residents, 157th lowest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in East Lothian

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in East Lothian at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 53,45545,125
2011 54,16145,777
2012 54,49345,997
2013 55,42346,547
2014 56,40747,447
2015 57,27248,226
2016 58,49849,175
2017 59,40750,181
2018 60,39950,990
2019 61,57951,935
2020 62,89153,189
2021 63,26253,184
2022 64,25653,657
2023 65,01554,219
2024 66,02154,999
2025 67,25356,019
2026 68,24856,802

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 Lothian compared
Year East LothianScotlandUnited Kingdom
2011 459429–
2012 457430–
2013 461436–
2014 465443–
2015 467446473
2016 470450480
2017 476457488
2018 480461490
2019 483465493
2020 480462489
2021 483469493
2022 479466489
2023 480465489
2024 482468490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in East Lothian

58.4% of cars in East Lothian run on petrol and 25.8% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 39.8% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 9.0%, and cars that plug in 6.3%.

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 Lothian, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 71.6%28.1%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2011 69.8%29.9%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2012 68.2%31.5%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2013 66.6%33.1%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2014 65.0%34.5%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2015 63.2%36.3%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2016 61.4%38.0%0.4%0.1%0.1%
2017 60.3%39.0%0.5%0.1%0.1%
2018 59.3%39.8%0.6%0.2%0.1%
2019 59.2%39.5%0.8%0.2%0.2%
2020 59.4%38.9%1.0%0.4%0.3%
2021 59.4%37.8%1.5%0.7%0.4%
2022 59.1%36.3%2.5%1.2%0.6%
2023 59.3%34.4%3.6%1.7%0.8%
2024 59.5%31.7%5.1%2.4%1.0%
2025 59.2%28.8%6.9%3.3%1.4%
2026 58.4%25.8%9.0%4.5%1.9%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in East Lothian

2,542 battery electric cars were licensed in East Lothian at the end of March 2026, 4.5% of all cars, 62nd highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 3,604 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 1,861.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 4.0% are battery electric (2,186 cars), 4th highest of 32 councils in Scotland. Companies keep 14.0% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 4.4% of its cars overall. There are also 81 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 Lothian compared, end of March each year
Year East LothianScotlandUnited Kingdom
2016 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.2%0.1%0.1%
2019 0.2%0.2%0.2%
2020 0.4%0.3%0.3%
2021 0.7%0.6%0.7%
2022 1.2%1.1%1.3%
2023 1.7%1.7%2.1%
2024 2.4%2.3%3.0%
2025 3.3%3.2%4.1%
2026 4.5%4.2%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in East Lothian

There were 691 public chargers in East Lothian on 1 July 2026, 49 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 600 for every 100,000 residents, 11th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 17.5% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 5.0 privately kept plug-in cars in East Lothian (UK 11.9), 29th 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 Lothian by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 58849
Apr 2026 63049
Jul 2026 69149

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, East Lothian compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
East Lothian 60043
Scotland 23259
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Road traffic and collisions in East Lothian

Vehicles travelled an estimated 670 million miles on roads in East Lothian in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in East Lothian
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 406
1994 415
1995 422
1996 435
1997 445
1998 451
1999 463
2000 467
2001 476
2002 486
2003 500
2004 509
2005 522
2006 542
2007 559
2008 536
2009 524
2010 527
2011 526
2012 519
2013 519
2014 539
2015 547
2016 577
2017 620
2018 621
2019 627
2020 485
2021 573
2022 629
2023 637
2024 653
2025 670

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in East Lothian, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 9032
2022 10344
2023 8332
2024 6123
2025 6924

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in East Lothian

Unleaded petrol averages 171.7p a litre across 16 filling stations in East Lothian, the same as the UK average. Diesel averages 195.8p, 1.2p above the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Tesco Musselburgh Extra East Lothian 168.9p
  2. Spar-Pencaitland Tranent 168.9p
  3. Highland Fuels John Hastie & Son Ltd Prestonpans 169.9p

Every filling station and price in East Lothian

Roadworks in East Lothian

The Scottish Road Works Register lists 495 sets of roadworks in East Lothian, of which 125 are under way and 370 are planned. 113 of them close a road, a lane, a slip road or the hard shoulder. East Lothian Council is behind the most, 181 of them (36.6%). From the extract of 16 September 2026.

Works most likely to hold you up

  • Lamer Street, Dunbar

    Road closed Under way, until 16 Jul 2027 East Lothian Council

    Urgent repair to sinkhole

  • U194 From Eweford Farm Access To Former A1 (U191), Belhaven

    Road closed Under way, until 15 May 2027 East Lothian Council

    Occupation for temp closure

  • C121 (06 ) From Branxton Road (U215) To Cocklaw Road (U211), Oldhamstocks

    Road closed Under way, until 16 Sept 2026 SP Energy Networks

    Excavate, backfill and reinstate for verge clearance and carriageway resurfacing/relining for proposed junction of public road with Branxton haul road

  • C121 (05) From Thornton Bridge (U214) To Branxton Road (U215), Oldhamstocks

    Road closed Under way, until 16 Sept 2026 SP Energy Networks

    Excavate, backfill and reinstate for verge clearance and carriageway resurfacing/relining for proposed junction of public road with Branxton haul road

  • U215 From Black Castle Cottage (C121) To Birnieknowes Road (C120), Oldhamstocks

    Road closed Under way, until 16 Sept 2026 SP Energy Networks

    Excavate, backfill and reinstate for verge clearance and carriageway resurfacing/relining for proposed junction of public road with Branxton haul road

  • Market Street, Fisherrow

    Road closed Under way, until 27 Sept 2026 Scottish Water

    Full lift and relay required of main sewer from MHXXX1 downstream to MH5701. Large sections of the network are dipped, holding waste and causing…

  • C121 (05) From Thornton Bridge (U214) To Branxton Road (U215), Oldhamstocks

    Road closed Under way, until 11 Oct 2026 East Lothian Council

    Excavate, backfill and reinstate for verge clearance and carriageway resurfacing/relining for proposed junction of public road with Branxton haul road

  • C67 (07) From West Saltoun (C84) To Milton Mill (U121)

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

    Duncrahill Bridge Replacement @Milton Mill

  • C103 Section 01kingside To Johnscleugh Access (plus 9 more), Garvald

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

    Diversion for 4115150,4115088,4115096,4115101 Cway patching/ resurfacing

  • A199 Section 55 Knowes Road U181 To Kirklandhill Junction A198, Tyninghame

    Lane closed Under way, until 17 Sept 2026 East Lothian Council

    Carriageway Resurfacing

Who is digging

  • East Lothian Council 181
  • BT 93
  • Gofibre Holdings Limited 69
  • SP Energy Networks 69
  • Scottish Water 41

How traffic is managed

  • Temporary traffic lights 170
  • Give and take 108
  • Road closed 107
  • Footway only 47
  • Road narrowed 30

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 Lothian compares

East Lothian compared with Scotland, the UK
East Lothian 472 4.5% 4.0% 4.4% 600 5.0
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 68,248 licensed vehicles in East Lothian 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 3,746 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 Lothian 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.