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East Midlands motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
3,236,039 licensed vehicles in East Midlands
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 2,576,241 +0.1% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 479 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 99,611 3.9% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 2.9% UK 2.8%
  • Public chargers 6,153 122 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 5.9% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in the East Midlands?

There were 2,576,241 licensed cars in the East Midlands at the end of March 2026, and 3,236,039 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 19.7% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 479 for every 1,000 residents (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in the East Midlands

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in the East Midlands at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 2,639,9372,152,355
2011 2,659,9492,167,299
2012 2,671,7852,174,925
2013 2,702,3012,196,870
2014 2,758,4282,239,601
2015 2,822,4432,291,545
2016 2,878,3132,334,194
2017 2,935,2542,375,630
2018 2,967,5342,399,595
2019 3,025,3442,437,582
2020 3,054,7172,464,984
2021 3,060,2202,448,585
2022 3,111,1802,476,264
2023 3,154,1472,505,571
2024 3,199,0962,544,351
2025 3,235,7222,572,965
2026 3,236,0392,576,241

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, the East Midlands compared
Year East MidlandsEnglandUnited Kingdom
2011 482457–
2012 480455–
2013 485458–
2014 490463–
2015 493466473
2016 496471480
2017 503478488
2018 504480490
2019 509483493
2020 501477489
2021 508482493
2022 505478489
2023 505477489
2024 506478490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in the East Midlands

52.0% of cars in the East Midlands run on petrol and 34.0% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 40.9% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 7.5%, and cars that plug in 6.1%.

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 the East Midlands, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 71.1%28.6%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2011 69.3%30.3%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 67.2%32.2%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2013 65.2%34.2%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2014 63.4%36.0%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2015 61.6%37.7%0.5%0.0%0.0%
2016 60.0%39.1%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2017 58.7%40.1%0.7%0.1%0.1%
2018 57.7%40.9%1.0%0.1%0.2%
2019 57.4%40.8%1.2%0.1%0.3%
2020 57.0%40.8%1.5%0.2%0.3%
2021 56.1%40.9%1.9%0.4%0.5%
2022 55.5%40.2%2.5%0.8%0.7%
2023 55.1%39.1%3.3%1.3%1.0%
2024 54.2%37.7%4.5%1.9%1.4%
2025 53.1%35.8%6.2%2.7%1.8%
2026 52.0%34.0%7.5%3.9%2.2%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in the East Midlands

99,611 battery electric cars were licensed in the East Midlands at the end of March 2026, 3.9% of all cars. With plug-in hybrids, 156,554 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 70,094.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.9% are battery electric (71,184 cars). Companies keep 28.5% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 5.9% of its cars overall. There are also 13,462 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, the East Midlands compared, end of March each year
Year East MidlandsEnglandUnited 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%0.4%0.3%
2021 0.4%0.7%0.7%
2022 0.8%1.4%1.3%
2023 1.3%2.3%2.1%
2024 1.9%3.2%3.0%
2025 2.7%4.4%4.1%
2026 3.9%5.8%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in the East Midlands

There were 6,153 public chargers in the East Midlands on 1 July 2026, 2,367 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 122 for every 100,000 residents, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 11.8% from 1 January 2025.

For every public charger there are 18.1 privately kept plug-in cars in the East Midlands (UK 11.9). A higher number means more competition for each public charger, though many drivers charge at home.

Public chargers

Public EV chargers in the East Midlands by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2025 5,5051,769
Apr 2025 5,3891,734
Jul 2025 5,2771,771
Oct 2025 5,4051,814
Jan 2026 6,1192,192
Apr 2026 6,2632,239
Jul 2026 6,1532,367

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

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

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Petrol and diesel prices in East Midlands

Unleaded petrol averages 172.1p a litre across 566 filling stations in East Midlands, 0.4p above the UK average. Diesel averages 194.5p, 0.1p below the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Asda Long Eaton Superstore Long Eaton 161.7p
  2. EG Ilkeston Ilkeston 161.9p
  3. Tesco Nottingham Long Eaton Extra Nottingham 161.9p

Every filling station and price in East Midlands

How the East Midlands compares

East Midlands compared with England, the UK
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 the East Midlands

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

Councils in the East Midlands
Rushcliffe 507 5.6% 4.9% 3.5% 142 31.5
Harborough 555 4.8% 3.8% 18.6% 126 29.8
North Northamptonshire 516 4.8% 3.0% 7.7% 126 17.9
Chesterfield 476 4.7% 2.7% 11.6% 258 9.0
Derby 407 4.6% 2.5% 9.2% 120 13.9
Ashfield 470 4.5% 2.8% 7.9% 103 21.3
North West Leicestershire 542 4.4% 3.6% 4.3% 148 20.8
Blaby 519 4.3% 3.1% 5.6% 192 12.4
Newark and Sherwood 519 4.3% 3.6% 4.7% 120 13.5
South Derbyshire 537 4.3% 3.8% 3.5% 114 28.5
Gedling 477 4.0% 3.3% 5.0% 99 24.3
Bassetlaw 514 3.9% 3.1% 4.4% 146 19.0
Hinckley and Bosworth 548 3.9% 3.2% 3.7% 85 25.1
North Kesteven 548 3.9% 3.2% 4.6% 100 35.0
Amber Valley 529 3.8% 3.1% 5.0% 75 36.1
Bolsover 506 3.8% 2.9% 5.8% 156 13.8
Charnwood 475 3.8% 3.1% 4.6% 79 27.0
Rutland 542 3.8% 3.3% 3.9% 188 19.5
West Northamptonshire 512 3.8% 3.1% 4.5% 144 17.8
Broxtowe 467 3.7% 3.1% 3.8% 141 17.6
Melton 571 3.7% 3.1% 3.5% 63 49.9
West Lindsey 547 3.7% 3.2% 4.3% 70 38.3
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
South Kesteven 541 3.6% 3.0% 4.4% 112 18.6
High Peak 511 3.4% 2.9% 3.8% 108 20.5
Mansfield 471 3.4% 2.5% 5.6% 85 23.1
Oadby and Wigston 461 3.4% 2.7% 9.1% 131 15.9
Erewash 488 3.3% 2.7% 4.8% 66 37.9
Nottingham 296 3.1% 2.1% 7.4% 154 6.6
South Holland 561 3.0% 2.4% 4.2% 79 28.7
Lincoln 362 2.9% 2.0% 6.8% 176 6.1
East Lindsey 527 2.7% 2.1% 5.6% 143 13.4
Boston 502 2.5% 1.9% 5.5% 124 12.8
Leicester 325 2.4% 1.5% 5.9% 88 10.5

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 3,236,039 licensed vehicles in East Midlands 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 172,509 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 the East Midlands 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.