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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
208,021 licensed vehicles in Edinburgh
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 182,086 +0.6% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 325 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 7,699 4.2% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.3% 90th highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 1,020 192 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 5.3% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in Edinburgh?

There were 182,086 licensed cars in Edinburgh at the end of March 2026, and 208,021 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 13.5% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 325 for every 1,000 residents, 35th lowest of 361 councils (UK 441).

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 181,552160,408
2011 182,810161,691
2012 183,657162,352
2013 184,535163,149
2014 187,988166,026
2015 190,045168,409
2016 193,501171,506
2017 197,725174,801
2018 199,466176,324
2019 201,162177,532
2020 202,576179,117
2021 202,264178,387
2022 204,867179,732
2023 204,504179,317
2024 205,881180,521
2025 206,415180,989
2026 208,021182,086

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, 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

62.6% of cars in Edinburgh run on petrol and 20.2% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 33.3% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 10.2%, and cars that plug in 6.5%.

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 Edinburgh, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 77.6%22.0%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2011 75.6%23.9%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2012 73.9%25.6%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2013 72.1%27.3%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2014 70.3%29.1%0.5%0.0%0.0%
2015 68.4%30.8%0.6%0.0%0.0%
2016 67.1%31.9%0.7%0.1%0.1%
2017 65.7%33.0%0.9%0.1%0.1%
2018 65.1%33.3%1.2%0.2%0.2%
2019 65.0%33.0%1.4%0.3%0.3%
2020 65.0%32.4%1.8%0.4%0.4%
2021 64.9%31.3%2.3%0.7%0.5%
2022 64.6%29.8%3.3%1.3%0.8%
2023 64.2%28.2%4.4%1.9%1.1%
2024 64.2%25.3%6.1%2.6%1.4%
2025 63.9%22.4%8.1%3.3%1.8%
2026 62.6%20.2%10.2%4.2%2.3%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Edinburgh

7,699 battery electric cars were licensed in Edinburgh at the end of March 2026, 4.2% of all cars, 94th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 11,820 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 6,060.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.3% are battery electric (5,733 cars), 10th highest of 32 councils in Scotland. Companies keep 25.5% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 5.3% of its cars overall. There are also 430 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 0.4%0.3%0.3%
2021 0.7%0.6%0.7%
2022 1.3%1.1%1.3%
2023 1.9%1.7%2.1%
2024 2.6%2.3%3.0%
2025 3.3%3.2%4.1%
2026 4.2%4.2%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 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 8.6 privately kept plug-in cars in Edinburgh (UK 11.9), 71st 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 169.8p a litre across 38 filling stations in Edinburgh, 1.9p below the UK average. Diesel averages 191.6p, 3.0p below the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Asda Chesser Supercentre Edinburgh 162.7p
  2. Sainsbury's Edinburgh Longstone Edinburgh 162.9p
  3. Sainsbury's Murrayfield Edinburgh 162.9p

Every filling station and price in Edinburgh

Roadworks in Edinburgh

The Scottish Road Works Register lists 2,378 sets of roadworks in Edinburgh, of which 721 are under way and 1,657 are planned. 650 of them close a road, a lane, a slip road or the hard shoulder. City of Edinburgh Council is behind the most, 1,403 of them (59.0%). From the extract of 16 September 2026.

Works most likely to hold you up

  • Harrison Road, Polwarth

    Road closed Under way, until 31 Oct 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…

  • Whitehouse Loan, Morningside

    Road closed Under way, until 23 Sept 2026 SGN

    Emergency works to investigate potential gas escape

  • Broomhouse Street South

    Road closed Under way, until 27 Sept 2026 SGN

    Emergency works to investigate potential gas escape

  • Cramond Road South, Silverknowes

    Road closed Under way, until 27 Sept 2026 SGN

    Emergency works to investigate potential gas escape

  • Parsons Green Terrace, Willowbrae

    Lane closed Under way, until 30 Sept 2026 SP Energy Networks

    Excavate to repair LV fault. Vulnerable customers may be impacted by these works, hence why they have been raised under the Emergency Notice type.…

  • Silverknowes Road

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

    Resurfacing of northbound carriageway

  • Comiston Road, Morningside

    Road closed Under way, until 16 Sept 2026 Scottish Water

    Repair To Lateral Sewer

  • North Junction Street, North Leith

    Lane closed Under way, until 28 Sept 2026 Scottish Water

    Repair burst

  • Lanark Road West, Balerno

    Road closed Under way, until 21 Sept 2026 Scottish Water

    Repair Burst

Who is digging

  • City of Edinburgh Council 1,403
  • SP Energy Networks 293
  • Scottish Water 269
  • BT 160
  • SGN 62

How traffic is managed

  • No obstruction 608
  • Road closed 458
  • Footway only 355
  • Temporary traffic lights 354
  • Give and take 296

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 Edinburgh compares

Edinburgh compared with Scotland, the UK
Edinburgh 325 4.2% 3.3% 5.3% 192 8.6
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 208,021 licensed vehicles in Edinburgh 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 12,851 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 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.