East Midlands · District council
Harborough motoring statistics
How many cars and electric cars are registered in Harborough, which fuels they use, how many public chargers there are and how Harborough compares with the East Midlands. From DVLA licensing records, DfT charger statistics and ONS population estimates.
- Licensed cars 72,664 +0.9% on a year earlier
- Private cars per 1,000 people 560 UK 444
- Battery electric cars 3,799 5.2% of cars (UK 5.8%)
- Electric share of private cars 4.3% 30th highest of 361 councils
- Public chargers 132 126 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
- Company-registered cars 19.3% UK 10.0%
How many cars are there in Harborough?
There were 72,664 licensed cars in Harborough at the end of June 2026, and 89,247 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 55.1% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 560 for every 1,000 residents, 40th highest of 361 councils (UK 444).
Licensed vehicles in Harborough
Counts at the end of March each year, 2010 to 2026.
| Year | All vehicles | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 57,110 | 46,837 |
| 2011 | 57,820 | 47,554 |
| 2012 | 58,869 | 48,002 |
| 2013 | 59,781 | 48,846 |
| 2014 | 61,229 | 49,889 |
| 2015 | 62,314 | 50,561 |
| 2016 | 63,660 | 51,508 |
| 2017 | 65,460 | 52,762 |
| 2018 | 66,327 | 53,634 |
| 2019 | 67,553 | 55,117 |
| 2020 | 67,545 | 55,191 |
| 2021 | 78,496 | 65,190 |
| 2022 | 80,248 | 66,328 |
| 2023 | 83,353 | 68,926 |
| 2024 | 86,037 | 70,341 |
| 2025 | 87,872 | 71,999 |
| 2026 | 89,247 | 72,664 |
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.
| Year | Harborough | East Midlands | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 555 | 482 | – |
| 2012 | 556 | 480 | – |
| 2013 | 559 | 485 | – |
| 2014 | 567 | 490 | – |
| 2015 | 566 | 493 | 473 |
| 2016 | 569 | 496 | 480 |
| 2017 | 575 | 503 | 488 |
| 2018 | 579 | 504 | 490 |
| 2019 | 589 | 509 | 493 |
| 2020 | 579 | 501 | 489 |
| 2021 | 664 | 508 | 493 |
| 2022 | 659 | 505 | 489 |
| 2023 | 670 | 505 | 489 |
| 2024 | 672 | 506 | 490 |
Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated
Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Harborough
47.3% of cars in Harborough run on petrol and 36.0% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 43.6% in 2021. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 6.2%, and cars that plug in 10.0%.
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.
| Year | Petrol | Diesel | Hybrid | Battery electric | Plug-in hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 68.7% | 30.9% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 66.7% | 32.8% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2012 | 65.3% | 34.2% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 63.5% | 35.9% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2014 | 61.7% | 37.6% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 60.3% | 38.9% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2016 | 59.2% | 39.9% | 0.6% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 58.3% | 40.5% | 0.7% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2018 | 57.9% | 40.6% | 0.9% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2019 | 57.8% | 40.5% | 1.0% | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| 2020 | 57.8% | 40.1% | 1.2% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 51.9% | 43.6% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 1.1% |
| 2022 | 51.5% | 42.3% | 2.2% | 2.1% | 1.5% |
| 2023 | 50.7% | 40.3% | 2.8% | 2.9% | 2.9% |
| 2024 | 49.6% | 39.6% | 3.7% | 3.3% | 3.5% |
| 2025 | 47.6% | 38.5% | 4.9% | 4.0% | 4.6% |
| 2026 | 47.3% | 36.0% | 6.2% | 5.2% | 4.8% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Electric cars in Harborough
3,799 battery electric cars were licensed in Harborough at the end of June 2026, 5.2% of all cars, 40th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 7,281 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 2,873.
Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 4.3% are battery electric (2,542 cars), 3rd highest of 35 councils in the East Midlands. Companies keep 33.1% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 19.3% of its cars overall. There are also 72 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.
| Year | Harborough | East Midlands | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 1.5% | 0.5% | 0.8% |
| 2022 | 2.1% | 0.9% | 1.5% |
| 2023 | 2.9% | 1.4% | 2.3% |
| 2024 | 3.3% | 2.0% | 3.2% |
| 2025 | 4.0% | 3.0% | 4.4% |
| 2026 | 5.2% | 4.3% | 5.8% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Public EV chargers in Harborough
There were 132 public chargers in Harborough on 1 July 2026, 44 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 126 for every 100,000 residents, 150th lowest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 11.9% from 1 January 2026.
For every public charger there are 30.7 privately kept plug-in cars in Harborough (UK 12.9), 40th most of 361 councils. A higher number means more competition for each public charger, though many drivers charge at home.
Public chargers
| Date | All public chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2026 | 118 | 37 |
| Apr 2026 | 122 | 39 |
| Jul 2026 | 132 | 44 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Chargers per 100,000 residents
| Area | All chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Harborough | 126 | 42 |
| Leicestershire | 116 | 45 |
| East Midlands | 122 | 47 |
| England | 173 | 41 |
| UK | 175 | 42 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Electric cars by neighbourhood
Harborough has 10 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 3.8% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 4.5%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.
| Neighbourhood (MSOA) | Private vehicles | Battery electric | Electric share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harborough 007 | 8,778 | 396 | 4.5% |
| Harborough 011 | 5,942 | 251 | 4.2% |
| Harborough 006 | 8,612 | 352 | 4.1% |
| Harborough 003 | 8,266 | 332 | 4.0% |
| Harborough 005 | 8,460 | 326 | 3.9% |
| Harborough 004 | 6,655 | 238 | 3.6% |
| Harborough 002 | 5,395 | 190 | 3.5% |
| Harborough 009 | 5,721 | 197 | 3.4% |
| Harborough 010 | 7,124 | 237 | 3.3% |
| Harborough 008 | 3,248 | 64 | 2.0% |
Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of June 2026.
Road traffic and collisions in Harborough
Reported injury collisions
| Year | Collisions | Killed or seriously injured |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 82 | 36 |
| 2022 | 113 | 45 |
| 2023 | 95 | 37 |
| 2024 | 64 | 27 |
| 2025 | 111 | 56 |
Source:DfT STATS19,UK Motoring analysis 2021 to 2025 Updated
Petrol and diesel prices in Harborough
Unleaded petrol averages 172.8p a litre across 10 filling stations in Harborough, 1.3p above the UK average. Diesel averages 198.0p, 0.7p below the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.
Cheapest petrol
- Gulf Broughton Astley Fuel Express Automat Leicester 168.7p
- Esso Ascona Howkins Service Station North Kilworth 169.9p
- Valero EG Walcote Nr. Mkt Harborough 171.9p
How Harborough compares
| Harborough | 560 | 5.2% | 126 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leicestershire | 525 | 4.6% | 116 |
| East Midlands | 483 | 4.3% | 122 |
| England | 440 | 6.2% | 173 |
| United Kingdom | 444 | 5.8% | 175 |
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 Harborough
There is no DVSA car practical test centre in Harborough. The nearest centres are elsewhere in Leicestershire.
Centres in Leicestershire:
- Melton Mowbray 69.7% pass rate, 2025/26
- Hinckley 46.4% pass rate, 2025/26
- Loughborough 42.4% pass rate, 2025/26
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 Leicestershire
Sorted by battery electric share of cars. Select a column heading to sort by it.
| Harborough | 560 | 5.2% | 126 |
|---|---|---|---|
| North West Leicestershire | 547 | 4.9% | 148 |
| Blaby | 523 | 4.7% | 192 |
| Hinckley and Bosworth | 553 | 4.3% | 85 |
| Charnwood | 478 | 4.2% | 79 |
| Melton | 578 | 4.2% | 63 |
| Oadby and Wigston | 464 | 3.8% | 131 |
Data stories to read next
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 89,247 licensed vehicles in Harborough | 26 October 2026 |
| Plug-in and electric vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 7,426 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 |
| Neighbourhoods | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 35,672 small areas (LSOAs) in England and Wales | 26 October 2026 |
- Coverage: licensing and charger figures cover the whole UK. Licensing figures in Harborough 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.
- Neighbourhood figures cover England and Wales only; Scottish data zones and Northern Irish super data zones cannot be placed in councils without lookups we do not hold.
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.