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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
254,898 licensed vehicles in Glasgow
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 220,925 +1.4% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 307 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 7,454 3.4% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 2.2% 84th lowest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 1,172 180 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 9.7% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in Glasgow?

There were 220,925 licensed cars in Glasgow at the end of March 2026, and 254,898 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 7.5% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 307 for every 1,000 residents, 29th lowest of 361 councils (UK 441).

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 241,506205,465
2011 243,111207,385
2012 239,009206,397
2013 243,822210,037
2014 252,688217,474
2015 262,391225,289
2016 244,757209,113
2017 228,179194,776
2018 233,092197,919
2019 238,730201,645
2020 239,164205,414
2021 238,617205,569
2022 240,272207,149
2023 242,119209,073
2024 246,566213,547
2025 251,356217,938
2026 254,898220,925

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, 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

61.2% of cars in Glasgow run on petrol and 24.5% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 38.6% in 2019. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 8.9%, and cars that plug in 5.0%.

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 Glasgow, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 70.5%29.1%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2011 68.5%31.1%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2012 67.0%32.5%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2013 65.1%34.4%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2014 63.1%36.3%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2015 60.7%38.6%0.5%0.1%0.0%
2016 60.5%38.6%0.5%0.1%0.1%
2017 62.3%37.0%0.5%0.1%0.1%
2018 60.7%38.4%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2019 60.3%38.6%0.7%0.1%0.2%
2020 60.3%38.3%0.9%0.2%0.2%
2021 60.5%37.3%1.2%0.6%0.3%
2022 60.6%35.7%2.0%1.0%0.4%
2023 61.0%33.6%3.0%1.5%0.6%
2024 61.9%30.4%4.5%2.0%0.8%
2025 61.8%27.3%6.6%2.7%1.1%
2026 61.2%24.5%8.9%3.4%1.6%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Glasgow

7,454 battery electric cars were licensed in Glasgow at the end of March 2026, 3.4% of all cars, 163rd lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 11,088 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 5,869.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.2% are battery electric (4,409 cars), 7th lowest of 32 councils in Scotland. Companies keep 40.9% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 9.7% of its cars overall. There are also 447 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%0.3%
2021 0.6%0.6%0.7%
2022 1.0%1.1%1.3%
2023 1.5%1.7%2.1%
2024 2.0%2.3%3.0%
2025 2.7%3.2%4.1%
2026 3.4%4.2%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 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 6.2 privately kept plug-in cars in Glasgow (UK 11.9), 40th 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 173.5p a litre across 56 filling stations in Glasgow, 1.8p above the UK average. Diesel averages 196.6p, 2.0p above the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Costco Wholesale Glasgow Glasgow 165.9p
  2. Asda Govan Superstore Glasgow 168.7p
  3. Asda Glasgow Parkhead Forge Superstore Glasgow 169.7p

Every filling station and price in Glasgow

Roadworks in Glasgow

The Scottish Road Works Register lists 2,056 sets of roadworks in Glasgow, of which 472 are under way and 1,584 are planned. 751 of them close a road, a lane, a slip road or the hard shoulder. Glasgow City Council is behind the most, 936 of them (45.5%). From the extract of 16 September 2026.

Works most likely to hold you up

  • Westerhouse Road, Glasgow

    Road closed Under way, until 24 Sept 2026 SGN

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

  • Gallowgate, Glasgow

    Lane closed Under way, until 27 Sept 2026 SGN

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

  • Argyle Street, Glasgow

    Lane closed Under way, until 29 Sept 2026 Glasgow City Council

    Emergency Works to investigate void & repair. Lane Closure on Argyle Street as well as Ped Safety Measures on the footway.

  • Aikenhead Road, Glasgow

    Lane closed Under way, until 1 Oct 2026 SP Energy Networks

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

  • Dumbarton Road, Glasgow

    Road closed Under way, until 15 Sept 2026 Scottish Water

    Repair burst 24" main causing flooding

  • Duke Street, Glasgow

    Lane closed Under way, until 9 Sept 2026 Scottish Water

    Repair burst comm pipe causing no water

  • Argyle Street, Glasgow

    Lane closed Under way, until 20 Sept 2026 Scottish Water

    Repair burst 9" main causing water ingress into tunnel

  • 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

  • Admiral Street, Glasgow

    Road closed Under way, until 24 Dec 2026 SP Energy Networks

    Excavations required to accomodate offloading of the primary substation

Who is digging

  • Glasgow City Council 936
  • SP Energy Networks 217
  • Virgin Media Limited 204
  • SGN 198
  • Scottish Water 152

How traffic is managed

  • Road closed 530
  • Give and take 520
  • Temporary traffic lights 226
  • Lane closed 209
  • Not decided yet 193

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 Glasgow compares

Glasgow compared with Scotland, the UK
Glasgow 307 3.4% 2.2% 9.7% 180 6.2
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 254,898 licensed vehicles in Glasgow 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 12,049 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 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.