East of England · District council
Epping Forest motoring statistics
How many cars and electric cars are registered in Epping Forest, which fuels they use, how many public chargers there are and how Epping Forest compares with the East of England. From DVLA licensing records, DfT charger statistics and ONS population estimates.
- Licensed cars 72,464 +0.4% on a year earlier
- Private cars per 1,000 people 499 UK 444
- Battery electric cars 3,156 4.4% of cars (UK 5.8%)
- Electric share of private cars 3.6% 93rd highest of 361 councils
- Public chargers 173 126 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
- Company-registered cars 5.3% UK 10.0%
How many cars are there in Epping Forest?
There were 72,464 licensed cars in Epping Forest at the end of June 2026, and 88,416 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 7.5% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 499 for every 1,000 residents, 165th highest of 361 councils (UK 444).
Licensed vehicles in Epping Forest
Counts at the end of March each year, 2010 to 2026.
| Year | All vehicles | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 81,297 | 67,424 |
| 2011 | 82,226 | 68,297 |
| 2012 | 82,570 | 68,753 |
| 2013 | 83,469 | 69,591 |
| 2014 | 84,627 | 70,580 |
| 2015 | 85,275 | 71,026 |
| 2016 | 86,427 | 71,845 |
| 2017 | 87,176 | 72,284 |
| 2018 | 87,198 | 72,297 |
| 2019 | 87,377 | 72,456 |
| 2020 | 85,877 | 71,314 |
| 2021 | 86,727 | 71,709 |
| 2022 | 87,371 | 71,773 |
| 2023 | 87,127 | 71,716 |
| 2024 | 87,713 | 72,125 |
| 2025 | 87,913 | 72,145 |
| 2026 | 88,416 | 72,464 |
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.
| Year | Epping Forest | East of England | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 547 | 503 | – |
| 2012 | 543 | 502 | – |
| 2013 | 543 | 505 | – |
| 2014 | 543 | 524 | – |
| 2015 | 543 | 529 | 473 |
| 2016 | 546 | 537 | 480 |
| 2017 | 546 | 544 | 488 |
| 2018 | 542 | 542 | 490 |
| 2019 | 540 | 541 | 493 |
| 2020 | 530 | 536 | 489 |
| 2021 | 531 | 539 | 493 |
| 2022 | 532 | 532 | 489 |
| 2023 | 527 | 529 | 489 |
| 2024 | 525 | 531 | 490 |
Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated
Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Epping Forest
63.5% of cars in Epping Forest run on petrol and 18.8% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 33.4% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 9.7%, and cars that plug in 7.4%.
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.
| Year | Petrol | Diesel | Hybrid | Battery electric | Plug-in hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 77.0% | 22.4% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 75.0% | 24.3% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2012 | 73.1% | 26.2% | 0.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 71.4% | 27.8% | 0.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2014 | 69.4% | 29.6% | 0.8% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 67.5% | 31.3% | 0.9% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| 2016 | 66.1% | 32.5% | 1.0% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 65.0% | 33.3% | 1.2% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2018 | 64.6% | 33.4% | 1.4% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| 2019 | 65.2% | 32.3% | 1.7% | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| 2020 | 65.7% | 31.3% | 2.0% | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| 2021 | 66.0% | 29.5% | 2.7% | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| 2022 | 66.2% | 27.0% | 4.0% | 1.3% | 1.2% |
| 2023 | 66.7% | 24.4% | 5.1% | 2.0% | 1.5% |
| 2024 | 66.3% | 22.0% | 6.7% | 2.6% | 1.9% |
| 2025 | 65.6% | 20.3% | 7.8% | 3.5% | 2.4% |
| 2026 | 63.5% | 18.8% | 9.7% | 4.4% | 3.1% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Electric cars in Epping Forest
3,156 battery electric cars were licensed in Epping Forest at the end of June 2026, 4.4% of all cars, 108th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 5,393 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 2,512.
Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.6% are battery electric (2,441 cars), 12th highest of 45 councils in the East of England. Companies keep 22.7% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 5.3% of its cars overall. There are also 148 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.
| Year | Epping Forest | East of England | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 0.7% | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| 2022 | 1.3% | 1.2% | 1.5% |
| 2023 | 2.0% | 1.9% | 2.3% |
| 2024 | 2.6% | 2.9% | 3.2% |
| 2025 | 3.5% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| 2026 | 4.4% | 5.6% | 5.8% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Public EV chargers in Epping Forest
There were 173 public chargers in Epping Forest on 1 July 2026, 118 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 126 for every 100,000 residents, 149th lowest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 15.3% from 1 January 2026.
For every public charger there are 25.2 privately kept plug-in cars in Epping Forest (UK 12.9), 83rd most of 361 councils. A higher number means more competition for each public charger, though many drivers charge at home.
Public chargers
| Date | All public chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2026 | 150 | 106 |
| Apr 2026 | 164 | 114 |
| Jul 2026 | 173 | 118 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Chargers per 100,000 residents
| Area | All chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Epping Forest | 126 | 86 |
| Essex | 90 | 45 |
| East of England | 150 | 49 |
| England | 173 | 41 |
| UK | 175 | 42 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Electric cars by neighbourhood
Epping Forest has 17 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 3.2% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 5.4%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.
| Neighbourhood (MSOA) | Private vehicles | Battery electric | Electric share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Epping Forest 016 | 3,735 | 200 | 5.4% | |
| Epping Forest 012 | 5,057 | 243 | 4.8% | |
| Epping Forest 017 | 3,409 | 135 | 4.0% | |
| Epping Forest 014 | 3,099 | 120 | 3.9% | |
| Epping Forest 005 | 3,788 | 138 | 3.6% | |
| Epping Forest 015 | 5,531 | 197 | 3.6% | |
| Epping Forest 006 | 3,495 | 121 | 3.5% | |
| Epping Forest 003 | 6,330 | 203 | 3.2% | |
| Epping Forest 009 | 3,945 | 126 | 3.2% | |
| Epping Forest 010 | 3,844 | 118 | 3.1% | |
| Lowest electric shares | ||||
| Epping Forest 007 | 4,207 | 72 | 1.7% | |
| Epping Forest 008 | 5,005 | 107 | 2.1% | |
| Epping Forest 013 | 3,730 | 88 | 2.4% | |
| Epping Forest 004 | 4,377 | 107 | 2.4% | |
| Epping Forest 011 | 4,040 | 105 | 2.6% | |
Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of June 2026.
Road traffic and collisions in Epping Forest
Reported injury collisions
| Year | Collisions | Killed or seriously injured |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 339 | 99 |
| 2022 | 337 | 93 |
| 2023 | 314 | 80 |
| 2024 | 302 | 76 |
| 2025 | 330 | 105 |
Source:DfT STATS19,UK Motoring analysis 2021 to 2025 Updated
Petrol and diesel prices in Epping Forest
Unleaded petrol averages 174.3p a litre across 14 filling stations in Epping Forest, 2.8p above the UK average. Diesel averages 199.4p, 0.7p above the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.
Cheapest petrol
- Shell Abridge Romford 168.6p
- Shell Chigwell Chigwell 168.9p
- BP MFG Four Wantz Chipping Ongar 171.9p
How Epping Forest compares
| Epping Forest | 499 | 4.4% | 126 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Essex | 511 | 3.7% | 90 |
| East of England | 501 | 5.6% | 150 |
| England | 440 | 6.2% | 173 |
| United Kingdom | 444 | 5.8% | 175 |
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 Epping Forest
There is 1 DVSA car practical test centre in Epping Forest, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 47.0% at Loughton (London).
Other centres in Essex:
- Chelmsford 55.4% pass rate, 2025/26
- Colchester 50.6% pass rate, 2025/26
- Basildon 49.1% pass rate, 2025/26
- Brentwood (London) 48.5% pass rate, 2025/26
- Clacton-on-Sea 48.2% pass rate, 2025/26
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 Essex
Sorted by battery electric share of cars. Select a column heading to sort by it.
| Uttlesford | 593 | 4.8% | 164 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Epping Forest | 499 | 4.4% | 126 |
| Brentwood | 501 | 4.2% | 97 |
| Chelmsford | 504 | 4.0% | 105 |
| Basildon | 461 | 3.9% | 62 |
| Colchester | 474 | 3.6% | 90 |
| Maldon | 605 | 3.5% | 61 |
| Rochford | 554 | 3.3% | 76 |
| Braintree | 537 | 3.2% | 89 |
| Harlow | 444 | 3.2% | 74 |
| Tendring | 513 | 2.8% | 84 |
| Castle Point | 534 | 2.7% | 42 |
Data stories to read next
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 88,416 licensed vehicles in Epping Forest | 26 October 2026 |
| Plug-in and electric vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 6,042 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 |
| Neighbourhoods | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 35,672 small areas (LSOAs) in England and Wales | 26 October 2026 |
- Coverage: licensing and charger figures cover the whole UK. Licensing figures in Epping Forest 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.
- Neighbourhood figures cover England and Wales only; Scottish data zones and Northern Irish super data zones cannot be placed in councils without lookups we do not hold.
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.