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Glasgow motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
256,274 licensed vehicles in Glasgow
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 221,801 +1.4% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 309 UK 444
  • Battery electric cars 7,870 3.5% of cars (UK 5.8%)
  • Electric share of private cars 2.4% 81st lowest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 1,172 180 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 9.6% UK 10.0%

How many cars are there in Glasgow?

There were 221,801 licensed cars in Glasgow at the end of June 2026, and 256,274 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 7.5% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 309 for every 1,000 residents, 29th lowest of 361 councils (UK 444).

Licensed vehicles in Glasgow

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Glasgow at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 242,714206,241
2011 243,417207,488
2012 240,742207,594
2013 247,655212,835
2014 255,916219,518
2015 264,121225,517
2016 222,881190,200
2017 229,576195,476
2018 235,734199,117
2019 236,986202,408
2020 234,894202,127
2021 239,309206,929
2022 241,744208,004
2023 243,997210,260
2024 247,802214,709
2025 252,552218,634
2026 256,274221,801

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, Glasgow compared
Year GlasgowScotlandUnited Kingdom
2011 350429–
2012 350430–
2013 360436–
2014 371443–
2015 379446473
2016 317450480
2017 324457488
2018 327461490
2019 331465493
2020 330462489
2021 339469493
2022 334466489
2023 329465489
2024 330468490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Glasgow

60.9% of cars in Glasgow run on petrol and 23.8% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 39.6% in 2015. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 9.5%, and cars that plug in 5.3%.

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 Glasgow, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 69.9%29.7%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2011 67.9%31.7%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2012 66.6%33.0%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2013 64.6%34.9%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2014 62.3%37.1%0.4%0.1%0.0%
2015 59.5%39.6%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2016 63.5%35.9%0.5%0.1%0.1%
2017 61.9%37.4%0.5%0.1%0.1%
2018 60.5%38.6%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2019 60.4%38.5%0.8%0.1%0.2%
2020 60.5%38.1%0.9%0.2%0.2%
2021 60.5%36.9%1.4%0.7%0.3%
2022 60.6%35.2%2.3%1.1%0.5%
2023 61.3%32.8%3.3%1.6%0.6%
2024 62.0%29.6%4.9%2.2%0.9%
2025 61.7%26.6%7.1%2.9%1.2%
2026 60.9%23.8%9.5%3.5%1.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Glasgow

7,870 battery electric cars were licensed in Glasgow at the end of June 2026, 3.5% of all cars, 142nd lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 11,810 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 6,292.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.4% are battery electric (4,796 cars), 8th lowest of 32 councils in Scotland. Companies keep 39.1% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 9.6% of its cars overall. There are also 467 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, Glasgow compared, end of March each year
Year GlasgowScotlandUnited 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 0.7%0.7%0.8%
2022 1.1%1.2%1.5%
2023 1.6%1.9%2.3%
2024 2.2%2.5%3.2%
2025 2.9%3.4%4.4%
2026 3.5%4.5%5.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Glasgow

There were 1,172 public chargers in Glasgow on 1 July 2026, 332 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 180 for every 100,000 residents, 112th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 4.6% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 6.8 privately kept plug-in cars in Glasgow (UK 12.9), 42nd 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 Glasgow by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 1,120276
Apr 2026 1,177306
Jul 2026 1,172332

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Glasgow compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Glasgow 18051
Scotland 23259
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Road traffic and collisions in Glasgow

Vehicles travelled an estimated 2,257 million miles on roads in Glasgow in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in Glasgow
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 1,663
1994 1,689
1995 1,727
1996 1,781
1997 1,824
1998 1,876
1999 1,911
2000 1,904
2001 1,929
2002 1,986
2003 1,989
2004 2,026
2005 2,036
2006 2,062
2007 2,092
2008 2,107
2009 2,083
2010 2,034
2011 2,040
2012 2,132
2013 2,161
2014 2,179
2015 2,162
2016 2,215
2017 2,223
2018 2,217
2019 2,251
2020 1,740
2021 1,998
2022 2,175
2023 2,219
2024 2,264
2025 2,257

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Glasgow, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 552192
2022 606212
2023 567223
2024 622219
2025 600237

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Glasgow

Unleaded petrol averages 171.5p a litre across 35 filling stations in Glasgow, the same as the UK average. Diesel averages 198.4p, 0.3p below the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Costco Wholesale Glasgow Glasgow 165.9p
  2. Asda Robroyston Superstore Glasgow 168.9p
  3. Clyde Tunnel Service Station Ltd Glasgow 168.9p

Every filling station and price in Glasgow

Roadworks in Glasgow

The Scottish Road Works Register lists 1,948 sets of roadworks in Glasgow, of which 453 are under way and 1,495 are planned. 629 of them close a road, a lane, a slip road or the hard shoulder. Glasgow City Council is behind the most, 762 of them (39.1%). From the extract of 30 October 2026.

Works most likely to hold you up

  • Maryhill Road, Glasgow

    Lane closed Under way, until 6 Nov 2026 SP Energy Networks

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

  • West Street, Glasgow

    Lane closed Under way, until 23 Nov 2026 SGN

    Essential checks to investigate a reported loss of pressure / gas escape

  • Dumbarton Road, Glasgow

    Road closed Under way, until 2 Nov 2026 Scottish Water

    Repair burst 24" main causing flooding

  • Cumbernauld Road, Glasgow

    Lane closed Under way, until 6 Nov 2026 BT

    Noisy manhole cover with loose and broken plates

  • Old Shettleston Road, Glasgow

    Lane closed Under way, until 30 Oct 2026 Scottish Water

    Stand by - internal flooding

  • Crow Road, Glasgow

    Lane closed Under way, until 3 Nov 2026 Scottish Water

    Repair burst main and make valve accessible for burst repair

  • Crookston Road, Glasgow

    Lane closed Under way, until 12 Nov 2026 BT

    Dropped carriageway cover northbound carriageway.

  • Sunnylaw Street, Glasgow

    Road closed Under way, until 4 Nov 2026 Scottish Water

    Replace meter & collapsing chamber causing a hazard

  • Phoenix Road, Glasgow

    Road closed Under way, until 31 Dec 2027 Transport Scotland - SW Unit Op Company

    The closure of A804 Phoenix Rd M8 Woodside viaducts has been approved ADF SW/2023/35519

  • Phoenix Road To St Georges Road, Glasgow

    Road closed Under way, until 31 Dec 2027 Transport Scotland - SW Unit Op Company

    The closure of A804 Phoenix Rd propping of the western end of the M8 Woodside viaducts has been approved ADF SW/2023/35519

Who is digging

  • Glasgow City Council 762
  • Virgin Media Limited 321
  • SP Energy Networks 254
  • SGN 191
  • BT 124

How traffic is managed

  • Give and take 505
  • Road closed 449
  • Temporary traffic lights 235
  • Footway only 198
  • Lane closed 170

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 Glasgow compares

Glasgow compared with Scotland, the UK
Glasgow 309 3.5% 2.4% 9.6% 180 6.8
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 Glasgow

There are 3 DVSA car practical test centres in Glasgow, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 47.4% at Glasgow (Baillieston).

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 256,274 licensed vehicles in Glasgow 26 October 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 12,803 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 Glasgow 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.