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Edinburgh motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
208,989 licensed vehicles in Edinburgh
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 182,613 +0.6% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 326 UK 444
  • Battery electric cars 8,233 4.5% of cars (UK 5.8%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.6% 93rd highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 1,020 192 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 5.2% UK 10.0%

How many cars are there in Edinburgh?

There were 182,613 licensed cars in Edinburgh at the end of June 2026, and 208,989 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 13.3% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 326 for every 1,000 residents, 34th lowest of 361 councils (UK 444).

Licensed vehicles in Edinburgh

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Edinburgh at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 182,712161,184
2011 183,531161,950
2012 184,267162,446
2013 186,445164,247
2014 189,524166,977
2015 190,912168,908
2016 194,298171,758
2017 199,137175,690
2018 200,274176,674
2019 202,216178,036
2020 199,873176,677
2021 205,109180,282
2022 205,560180,003
2023 205,576179,935
2024 206,838181,030
2025 207,460181,495
2026 208,989182,613

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.

Cars per 1,000 residents at mid-year, Edinburgh compared
Year EdinburghScotlandUnited Kingdom
2011 339429–
2012 338430–
2013 340436–
2014 344443–
2015 345446473
2016 346450480
2017 351457488
2018 351461490
2019 350465493
2020 347462489
2021 357469493
2022 350466489
2023 343465489
2024 341468490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Edinburgh

62.2% of cars in Edinburgh run on petrol and 19.7% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 33.3% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 10.8%, and cars that plug in 6.9%.

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.

Share of licensed cars by fuel type in Edinburgh, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 77.2%22.4%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2011 75.2%24.4%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2012 73.5%26.0%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2013 71.7%27.7%0.5%0.0%0.0%
2014 69.8%29.5%0.6%0.0%0.0%
2015 68.2%31.0%0.6%0.1%0.0%
2016 66.7%32.3%0.8%0.1%0.1%
2017 65.6%33.1%1.0%0.1%0.1%
2018 65.0%33.3%1.2%0.2%0.2%
2019 65.1%32.8%1.5%0.3%0.3%
2020 65.0%32.3%1.8%0.5%0.4%
2021 64.8%31.0%2.6%0.8%0.6%
2022 64.5%29.5%3.5%1.4%0.9%
2023 64.2%27.5%4.7%2.0%1.2%
2024 64.3%24.5%6.6%2.7%1.5%
2025 63.7%21.9%8.6%3.6%1.9%
2026 62.2%19.7%10.8%4.5%2.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Edinburgh

8,233 battery electric cars were licensed in Edinburgh at the end of June 2026, 4.5% of all cars, 94th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 12,585 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 6,474.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.6% are battery electric (6,187 cars), 10th highest of 32 councils in Scotland. Companies keep 24.9% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 5.2% of its cars overall. There are also 469 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, Edinburgh compared, end of March each year
Year EdinburghScotlandUnited Kingdom
2016 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.2%0.1%0.1%
2019 0.3%0.2%0.2%
2020 0.5%0.3%0.4%
2021 0.8%0.7%0.8%
2022 1.4%1.2%1.5%
2023 2.0%1.9%2.3%
2024 2.7%2.5%3.2%
2025 3.6%3.4%4.4%
2026 4.5%4.5%5.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Edinburgh

There were 1,020 public chargers in Edinburgh on 1 July 2026, 229 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 192 for every 100,000 residents, 102nd highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 1.9% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 9.7 privately kept plug-in cars in Edinburgh (UK 12.9), 76th 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 Edinburgh by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 1,001195
Apr 2026 1,076235
Jul 2026 1,020229

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Edinburgh compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Edinburgh 19243
Scotland 23259
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Road traffic and collisions in Edinburgh

Vehicles travelled an estimated 1,937 million miles on roads in Edinburgh in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in Edinburgh
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 1,538
1994 1,562
1995 1,591
1996 1,631
1997 1,663
1998 1,694
1999 1,721
2000 1,704
2001 1,740
2002 1,784
2003 1,801
2004 1,814
2005 1,814
2006 1,822
2007 1,857
2008 1,802
2009 1,814
2010 1,740
2011 1,748
2012 1,733
2013 1,740
2014 1,773
2015 1,813
2016 1,859
2017 1,851
2018 1,930
2019 1,937
2020 1,497
2021 1,685
2022 1,863
2023 1,889
2024 1,915
2025 1,937

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Edinburgh, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 482151
2022 507168
2023 450126
2024 481154
2025 469149

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Edinburgh

Unleaded petrol averages 172.1p a litre across 29 filling stations in Edinburgh, 0.6p above the UK average. Diesel averages 196.6p, 2.1p below the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Jet MFG Barclay Place Bruntsfield 167.9p
  2. Esso MFG Slateford Edinburgh 167.9p
  3. Sainsbury's Currie Edinburgh 167.9p

Every filling station and price in Edinburgh

Roadworks in Edinburgh

The Scottish Road Works Register lists 2,488 sets of roadworks in Edinburgh, of which 949 are under way and 1,539 are planned. 789 of them close a road, a lane, a slip road or the hard shoulder. City of Edinburgh Council is behind the most, 1,538 of them (61.8%). From the extract of 30 October 2026.

Works most likely to hold you up

  • Harrison Road, Polwarth

    Road closed Under way, until 31 Dec 2026 City of Edinburgh Council

    Harrison Road Bridge deck will be replaced with a reinforced concrete slab to take loading off the cast iron girders. This involves full excavation…

  • Princes Street, New Town

    Lane closed Under way, until 31 Jan 2028 City of Edinburgh Council

    Update - Princes Street Lane Closure Eastbound Lane between Frederick Street and Castle Street. Lane 1 pedestrian walkway. Traffic open to vehicles…

  • Holyrood Road, Old Town

    Road closed Under way, until 9 Nov 2026 SGN

    Essential checks to investigate a reported loss of pressure / gas escape

  • Maybury Road, Cammo

    Lane closed Under way, until 3 Nov 2026 City of Edinburgh Council

    Collapsed cover

  • Beach Lane, Portobello West

    Road closed Under way, until 13 Nov 2026 City of Edinburgh Council

    Road closure due to subsidence

  • Glasgow Road, Gogar

    Lane closed Under way, until 21 Nov 2026 City of Edinburgh Council

    Emergency works to deal with flooding

  • Westfield Road, Slateford

    Road closed Under way, until 23 Nov 2026 SGN

    Emergency works to investigate potential gas escape

  • Dudley Gardens, Newhaven

    Road closed Under way, until 27 Nov 2026 SGN

    Emergency works to investigate potential gas escape

  • Silverknowes Road

    Road closed Under way, until 15 May 2027 City of Edinburgh Council

    Resurfacing of northbound carriageway

  • Forrest Road, Old Town

    Road closed Under way, until 17 Nov 2026 Scottish Water

    Sewer drawdowns to manage levels/avoid internal flooding - Nightworks from 10pm - 12pm Mon, Wed, Fri

Who is digging

  • City of Edinburgh Council 1,538
  • SP Energy Networks 336
  • Scottish Water 242
  • BT 154
  • SGN 63

How traffic is managed

  • Road closed 673
  • No obstruction 451
  • Footway only 381
  • Temporary traffic lights 319
  • Give and take 301

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 2026-10-30 Updated

How Edinburgh compares

Edinburgh compared with Scotland, the UK
Edinburgh 326 4.5% 3.6% 5.2% 192 9.7
Scotland 439 4.5% 3.3% 7.8% 232 9.7
United Kingdom4445.8%3.1%10.0%17512.9

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 June 2026.

Driving test centres in Edinburgh

There are 2 DVSA car practical test centres in Edinburgh, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 49.5% at Edinburgh (Musselburgh).

Other centres in Scotland:

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 Scotland

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

Councils in Scotland
Stirling 471 14.8% 4.5% 32.2% 511 6.0
Renfrewshire 439 12.8% 3.5% 34.8% 243 10.1
East Renfrewshire 475 5.5% 4.9% 4.3% 82 43.0
East Dunbartonshire 482 5.1% 4.5% 4.0% 103 32.4
West Lothian 481 4.9% 4.3% 5.6% 137 21.7
East Lothian 476 4.8% 4.4% 4.4% 600 5.1
Edinburgh 326 4.5% 3.6% 5.2% 192 9.7
Midlothian 465 4.5% 4.1% 5.1% 223 12.7
Orkney Islands 496 4.5% 4.0% 5.2% 386 7.3
South Lanarkshire 465 4.5% 3.9% 6.2% 182 15.3
Perth and Kinross 510 4.4% 3.9% 5.1% 363 8.3
Dundee 373 4.1% 3.2% 6.6% 472 3.7
North Lanarkshire 436 4.0% 3.4% 7.2% 168 13.7
Falkirk 495 3.9% 3.3% 5.4% 163 15.2
Fife 481 3.9% 3.4% 4.8% 132 18.2
South Ayrshire 483 3.9% 3.4% 5.1% 205 12.2
Aberdeenshire 533 3.8% 3.3% 4.3% 162 17.8
East Ayrshire 469 3.6% 3.1% 6.0% 229 9.6
Glasgow 309 3.5% 2.4% 9.6% 180 6.8
North Ayrshire 458 3.5% 3.0% 5.9% 199 10.6
Angus 507 3.4% 3.0% 4.7% 221 10.7
Clackmannanshire 496 3.4% 3.0% 4.9% 205 10.9
Aberdeen 399 3.3% 2.8% 4.4% 192 10.2
Scottish Borders 510 3.2% 2.9% 4.8% 224 10.4
Inverclyde 426 2.9% 2.5% 5.6% 237 7.5
West Dunbartonshire 421 2.9% 2.4% 6.7% 204 8.3
Argyll and Bute 474 2.8% 2.4% 4.7% 396 5.1
Highland 500 2.8% 2.3% 5.0% 387 5.0
Moray 507 2.8% 2.3% 4.5% 153 13.3
Dumfries and Galloway 514 2.4% 2.0% 5.7% 549 3.2
Shetland Islands 476 2.2% 1.7% 9.1% 323 4.3
Na h-Eileanan Siar 507 1.6% 1.3% 4.2% 515 2.4

Data stories to read next

All insights

Data sources and methodology

Datasets used on this page
Figures Source Period Records Updated
Licensed vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 208,989 licensed vehicles in Edinburgh 26 October 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 13,696 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
  • Coverage: licensing and charger figures cover the whole UK. Licensing figures in Edinburgh 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.