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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
100,448 licensed vehicles in Falkirk
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 83,710 −0.2% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 495 UK 444
  • Battery electric cars 3,241 3.9% of cars (UK 5.8%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.3% 145th highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 260 163 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 5.4% UK 10.0%

How many cars are there in Falkirk?

There were 83,710 licensed cars in Falkirk at the end of June 2026, and 100,448 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 18.6% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 495 for every 1,000 residents, 177th highest of 361 councils (UK 444).

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 81,87570,575
2011 82,53871,084
2012 83,40771,904
2013 84,72973,298
2014 86,17374,429
2015 87,31275,559
2016 89,28476,964
2017 91,43178,630
2018 92,94479,828
2019 94,54580,980
2020 93,98480,645
2021 96,41781,594
2022 96,41380,951
2023 97,38281,551
2024 98,83382,793
2025 100,91183,903
2026 100,44883,710

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, 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

57.8% of cars in Falkirk run on petrol and 25.9% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 38.6% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 10.1%, and cars that plug in 5.7%.

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 Falkirk, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 74.5%25.2%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2011 72.6%27.1%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 71.2%28.5%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2013 69.2%30.3%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2014 67.2%32.4%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2015 65.0%34.4%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2016 63.1%36.2%0.5%0.1%0.0%
2017 61.5%37.7%0.6%0.1%0.0%
2018 60.4%38.6%0.8%0.1%0.1%
2019 60.2%38.4%1.0%0.1%0.1%
2020 60.1%38.2%1.2%0.2%0.2%
2021 59.8%37.4%1.9%0.4%0.3%
2022 59.7%35.7%3.0%0.9%0.5%
2023 59.7%33.9%4.1%1.3%0.6%
2024 59.7%31.3%5.9%1.9%0.8%
2025 58.9%28.5%8.0%2.8%1.4%
2026 57.8%25.9%10.1%3.9%1.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Falkirk

3,241 battery electric cars were licensed in Falkirk at the end of June 2026, 3.9% of all cars, 170th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 4,787 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 2,359.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.3% are battery electric (2,599 cars), 15th highest of 32 councils in Scotland. Companies keep 19.8% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 5.4% of its cars overall. There are also 216 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 0.1%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%0.3%0.4%
2021 0.4%0.7%0.8%
2022 0.9%1.2%1.5%
2023 1.3%1.9%2.3%
2024 1.9%2.5%3.2%
2025 2.8%3.4%4.4%
2026 3.9%4.5%5.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 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 15.2 privately kept plug-in cars in Falkirk (UK 12.9), 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 18 filling stations in Falkirk, 0.5p above the UK average. Diesel averages 199.5p, 0.8p above the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Esso Banknock Service Station Bonnybridge 169.9p
  2. Gulf Denny Service Station Denny 169.9p
  3. BP Ascona Refinery Service Station Grangemouth 171.7p

Every filling station and price in Falkirk

Roadworks in Falkirk

The Scottish Road Works Register lists 378 sets of roadworks in Falkirk, of which 86 are under way and 292 are planned. 127 of them close a road, a lane, a slip road or the hard shoulder. Falkirk Council is behind the most, 132 of them (34.9%). From the extract of 30 October 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

  • Etna Road, Falkirk

    Road closed Under way, until 4 Nov 2026 SGN

    Emergency works to investigate potential gas escape

  • 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

  • Snab Brae, Bo'ness

    Road closed Under way, until 1 Apr 2027 Scottish Water

    EXC & LAY SEWER - Planned Interruption for Xmas Break – No Works / Site Clear - 18/12/26 (13:00hrs) – Resume Works (05/01/27) (08:00hrs)

  • Earls Gate Roundabout, Grangemouth

    Lane closed Under way, until 26 Feb 2027 Falkirk Council

    Part of TIF A9/A904 Improvements.

Who is digging

  • Falkirk Council 132
  • BT 90
  • Scottish Water 61
  • SP Energy Networks 42
  • SGN 32

How traffic is managed

  • Temporary traffic lights 116
  • Road closed 115
  • Give and take 81
  • Footway only 26
  • Lane closed 12

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 Falkirk compares

Falkirk compared with Scotland, the UK
Falkirk 495 3.9% 3.3% 5.4% 163 15.2
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 Falkirk

There is 1 DVSA car practical test centre in Falkirk, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 50.7% at Grangemouth.

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 100,448 licensed vehicles in Falkirk 26 October 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 5,045 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 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.