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Fife motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
226,879 licensed vehicles in Fife
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 189,562 +0.7% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 481 UK 444
  • Battery electric cars 7,315 3.9% of cars (UK 5.8%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.4% 130th highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 493 132 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 4.8% UK 10.0%

How many cars are there in Fife?

There were 189,562 licensed cars in Fife at the end of June 2026, and 226,879 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 14.8% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 481 for every 1,000 residents, 169th lowest of 361 councils (UK 444).

Licensed vehicles in Fife

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Fife at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 192,924165,058
2011 193,308165,601
2012 194,316166,762
2013 196,314168,493
2014 199,690171,379
2015 201,199172,805
2016 203,960174,618
2017 209,079178,342
2018 210,978179,871
2019 213,735181,815
2020 212,157180,786
2021 217,029183,380
2022 217,695183,017
2023 219,068183,664
2024 222,176186,337
2025 225,095188,330
2026 226,879189,562

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, Fife compared
Year FifeScotlandUnited Kingdom
2011 453429–
2012 456430–
2013 460436–
2014 468443–
2015 471446473
2016 473450480
2017 483457488
2018 487461490
2019 491465493
2020 488462489
2021 494469493
2022 493466489
2023 492465489
2024 497468490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Fife

56.8% of cars in Fife run on petrol and 28.7% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 39.2% in 2020. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 8.6%, and cars that plug in 5.6%.

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 Fife, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 73.7%26.0%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2011 71.8%27.9%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 69.9%29.7%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2013 68.1%31.5%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2014 66.2%33.4%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2015 64.3%35.2%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2016 62.4%36.9%0.4%0.1%0.1%
2017 61.0%38.2%0.5%0.1%0.1%
2018 59.9%39.1%0.7%0.2%0.1%
2019 59.6%39.1%0.8%0.2%0.1%
2020 59.3%39.2%1.0%0.3%0.2%
2021 59.1%38.4%1.5%0.5%0.3%
2022 58.9%37.3%2.2%0.9%0.5%
2023 58.8%36.0%3.1%1.3%0.6%
2024 58.5%33.9%4.5%1.9%0.8%
2025 57.8%31.5%6.5%2.7%1.2%
2026 56.8%28.7%8.6%3.9%1.7%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Fife

7,315 battery electric cars were licensed in Fife at the end of June 2026, 3.9% of all cars, 170th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 10,521 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 5,078.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.4% are battery electric (6,052 cars), 12th highest of 32 councils in Scotland. Companies keep 17.3% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 4.8% of its cars overall. There are also 266 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, Fife compared, end of March each year
Year FifeScotlandUnited Kingdom
2016 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.2%0.1%0.1%
2019 0.2%0.2%0.2%
2020 0.3%0.3%0.4%
2021 0.5%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 2.7%3.4%4.4%
2026 3.9%4.5%5.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Fife

There were 493 public chargers in Fife on 1 July 2026, 120 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 132 for every 100,000 residents, 159th lowest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 9.1% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 18.2 privately kept plug-in cars in Fife (UK 12.9), 166th most 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 Fife by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 452118
Apr 2026 469123
Jul 2026 493120

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Fife compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Fife 13232
Scotland 23259
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Road traffic and collisions in Fife

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

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in Fife
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 1,409
1994 1,447
1995 1,470
1996 1,509
1997 1,540
1998 1,562
1999 1,568
2000 1,554
2001 1,587
2002 1,674
2003 1,693
2004 1,704
2005 1,681
2006 1,734
2007 1,769
2008 1,755
2009 1,758
2010 1,753
2011 1,749
2012 1,737
2013 1,750
2014 1,799
2015 1,814
2016 1,876
2017 1,928
2018 1,903
2019 1,922
2020 1,469
2021 1,693
2022 1,845
2023 1,886
2024 1,918
2025 1,937

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Fife, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 21778
2022 23386
2023 261103
2024 268103
2025 276127

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Fife

Unleaded petrol averages 172.3p a litre across 28 filling stations in Fife, 0.8p above the UK average. Diesel averages 199.8p, 1.1p above the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Asda Glenrothes Superstore Glenrothes 169.7p
  2. BP Karan Bridgend Service Station KY15 169.7p
  3. MFG Morrisons Glenrothes Glenrothes 169.7p

Every filling station and price in Fife

Roadworks in Fife

The Scottish Road Works Register lists 1,079 sets of roadworks in Fife, of which 278 are under way and 801 are planned. 369 of them close a road, a lane, a slip road or the hard shoulder. Fife Council is behind the most, 483 of them (44.8%). From the extract of 30 October 2026.

Works most likely to hold you up

  • Lochhead Crescent, Coaltown Of Wemyss

    Road closed Under way, until 2 Nov 2026 Scottish Water

    Lead renewal - vunreable customer has water issues need works to happen urgent

  • West End, St Monans

    Road closed Under way, until 31 Oct 2026 Scottish Water

    Repair burst water main

  • Regents Way Footpath From Regents Way To St Bridges Brae Via Playground With Branches, Dalgety Bay

    Road closed Under way, until 5 Jan 2028 Scottish Water

    Footpath closure in association with new access road creation * Co ordination purpose

  • Sealstrand Footpath From 29 Sealstrand To Moray Way South With Branch, Dalgety Bay

    Road closed Under way, until 20 Nov 2026 Scottish Water

    Traffic Management / Pedestrian Provision - (Co ordination purpose) / Footpath closure

  • Moray Way South, Dalgety Bay

    Road closed Under way, until 9 Nov 2026 Scottish Water

    Exc & lay sewer

  • Dysart Road, Kirkcaldy

    Road closed Under way, until 30 Nov 2026 Scottish Water

    Exc & lay sewer

  • Harriet Street, Kirkcaldy

    Road closed Under way, until 30 Nov 2026 Scottish Water

    Exc & lay sewer

  • Ravenscraig Street, Kirkcaldy

    Road closed Under way, until 30 Nov 2026 Scottish Water

    Exc & lay sewer

  • Balsusney Road, Kirkcaldy

    Road closed Under way, until 1 Jul 2027 Network Rail

    Area at end of road required in relation to rail bridge renewal works on Bennochy Road.

  • Victoria Road, Kirkcaldy

    Lane closed Under way, until 1 Jul 2027 Network Rail

    Traffic management in relation to full closure of Bennochy Road during rail bridge replacement works.

Who is digging

  • Fife Council 483
  • Scottish Water 161
  • BT 154
  • SP Energy Networks 133
  • SGN 116

How traffic is managed

  • Road closed 351
  • Give and take 267
  • Temporary traffic lights 258
  • Footway only 108
  • Road narrowed 29

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 Fife compares

Fife compared with Scotland, the UK
Fife 481 3.9% 3.4% 4.8% 132 18.2
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 Fife

There are 2 DVSA car practical test centres in Fife, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 50.9% at Kirkcaldy.

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 226,879 licensed vehicles in Fife 26 October 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 10,989 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 Fife 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.