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Falkirk motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
99,728 licensed vehicles in Falkirk
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 83,496 −0.3% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 493 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 2,943 3.5% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 2.9% 156th highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 260 163 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 5.4% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in Falkirk?

There were 83,496 licensed cars in Falkirk at the end of March 2026, and 99,728 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 18.9% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 493 for every 1,000 residents, 172nd highest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in Falkirk

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Falkirk at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 81,26670,242
2011 82,04470,903
2012 82,70071,624
2013 83,48972,388
2014 84,99373,784
2015 86,53175,189
2016 88,52176,828
2017 90,83678,297
2018 91,80879,205
2019 93,65080,552
2020 94,67481,665
2021 95,28681,200
2022 95,81380,813
2023 96,35081,033
2024 97,67582,126
2025 100,33583,757
2026 99,72883,496

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, Falkirk compared
Year FalkirkScotlandUnited Kingdom
2011 455429–
2012 459430–
2013 467436–
2014 473443–
2015 479446473
2016 485450480
2017 494457488
2018 502461490
2019 508465493
2020 507462489
2021 514469493
2022 511466489
2023 513465489
2024 517468490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Falkirk

58.0% of cars in Falkirk run on petrol and 26.6% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 38.6% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 9.7%, and cars that plug in 5.2%.

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 Falkirk, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 75.0%24.8%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2011 73.0%26.6%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 71.4%28.2%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2013 69.6%30.0%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2014 67.5%32.0%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2015 65.5%34.0%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2016 63.4%36.0%0.5%0.0%0.0%
2017 61.9%37.4%0.5%0.1%0.0%
2018 60.4%38.6%0.7%0.1%0.1%
2019 60.2%38.5%1.0%0.1%0.1%
2020 60.1%38.2%1.2%0.2%0.1%
2021 59.8%37.7%1.7%0.4%0.2%
2022 59.5%36.3%2.7%0.8%0.4%
2023 59.6%34.5%3.8%1.1%0.6%
2024 59.6%32.1%5.4%1.7%0.8%
2025 59.0%29.1%7.5%2.6%1.2%
2026 58.0%26.6%9.7%3.5%1.7%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Falkirk

2,943 battery electric cars were licensed in Falkirk at the end of March 2026, 3.5% of all cars, 181st lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 4,334 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 2,174.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.9% are battery electric (2,326 cars), 16th lowest of 32 councils in Scotland. Companies keep 21.0% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 5.4% of its cars overall. There are also 203 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, Falkirk compared, end of March each year
Year FalkirkScotlandUnited Kingdom
2016 0.0%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%0.3%0.3%
2021 0.4%0.6%0.7%
2022 0.8%1.1%1.3%
2023 1.1%1.7%2.1%
2024 1.7%2.3%3.0%
2025 2.6%3.2%4.1%
2026 3.5%4.2%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Falkirk

There were 260 public chargers in Falkirk on 1 July 2026, 65 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 163 for every 100,000 residents, 133rd highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count fell 6.5% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 13.9 privately kept plug-in cars in Falkirk (UK 11.9), 153rd 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 Falkirk by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 27861
Apr 2026 25361
Jul 2026 26065

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Falkirk compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Falkirk 16341
Scotland 23259
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Road traffic and collisions in Falkirk

Vehicles travelled an estimated 1,026 million miles on roads in Falkirk in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in Falkirk
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 692
1994 704
1995 720
1996 743
1997 762
1998 781
1999 807
2000 810
2001 824
2002 852
2003 858
2004 868
2005 866
2006 900
2007 920
2008 916
2009 908
2010 897
2011 903
2012 926
2013 929
2014 947
2015 972
2016 1,013
2017 1,016
2018 1,017
2019 1,015
2020 780
2021 885
2022 952
2023 993
2024 1,010
2025 1,026

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Falkirk, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 10944
2022 8235
2023 11751
2024 9341
2025 7935

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Falkirk

Unleaded petrol averages 172.0p a litre across 19 filling stations in Falkirk, 0.3p above the UK average. Diesel averages 195.6p, 1.0p above the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Esso Banknock Service Station Bonnybridge 168.9p
  2. Jet Bonnybridge Bonnybridge 169.9p
  3. BP Camelon Falkirk 169.9p

Every filling station and price in Falkirk

Roadworks in Falkirk

The Scottish Road Works Register lists 424 sets of roadworks in Falkirk, of which 103 are under way and 321 are planned. 147 of them close a road, a lane, a slip road or the hard shoulder. Falkirk Council is behind the most, 166 of them (39.2%). From the extract of 16 September 2026.

Works most likely to hold you up

  • C51 From Lathallan Roundabout To Smiddy Brae Polmont With Branch To Wholeflats Road, Falkirk

    Road closed Under way, until 22 Dec 2026 Falkirk Council

    Land slip

  • Smith Street, Falkirk

    Road closed Under way, until 28 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.…

  • B816 From Tamfourhill Road Falkirk To Bonnyhill Road High Bonnybridge

    Road closed Under way, until 24 Sept 2026 Scottish Water

    Repair Burst

  • Grangemouth Road, Falkirk

    Lane closed Under way, until 26 Feb 2027 Falkirk Council

    Widening of A904.

  • Westfield Roundabout, Falkirk

    Lane closed Under way, until 26 Feb 2027 Falkirk Council

    Signalisation of roundabout & construction of left turn lanes.

  • A9 From Falkirk Stadium Roundabout To Westfield Roundabout

    Lane closed Under way, until 26 Feb 2027 Falkirk Council

    Widening of A9 as part of the TIF Infrastructure Improvements.

  • A9 From Westfield Roundabout To Etna Road Roundabout, Falkirk

    Lane closed Under way, until 26 Feb 2027 Falkirk Council

    Widening A9 & construction of a new r/a as part of the TIF Infrastructure Improvements.

  • A904 From Falkirk Road Grangemouth To Westfield Roundabout

    Lane closed Under way, until 26 Feb 2027 Falkirk Council

    Widening of A904 & installation of new underpass @ Midthorn.

  • From A904 Falkirk Road To West Mains Industrial Estate, Grangemouth

    Lane closed Under way, until 26 Feb 2027 Falkirk Council

    In conjunction with Notice 2693569 - Construction of roundabout at junction of West Mains Road/Laurieston

  • Muirhall Road, Larbert

    Contraflow Under way, until 30 Sept 2026 SP Energy Networks

    Overlay approx. 220m x 240(4)WF cable 3 x Mains Br.Jt. 95-240. 2 x St.Jt. 240-185 Transfer all service to new mains aprox 15

Who is digging

  • Falkirk Council 166
  • Scottish Water 75
  • BT 67
  • SP Energy Networks 52
  • SGN 42

How traffic is managed

  • Road closed 129
  • Temporary traffic lights 128
  • Give and take 85
  • Footway only 39
  • Lane closed 17

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 Falkirk compares

Falkirk compared with Scotland, the UK
Falkirk 493 3.5% 2.9% 5.4% 163 13.9
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 99,728 licensed vehicles in Falkirk 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 4,577 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 Falkirk 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.