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Highland motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
174,054 licensed vehicles in Highland
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 124,998 +0.9% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 500 UK 444
  • Battery electric cars 3,459 2.8% of cars (UK 5.8%)
  • Electric share of private cars 2.3% 71st lowest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 918 387 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 5.0% UK 10.0%

How many cars are there in Highland?

There were 124,998 licensed cars in Highland at the end of June 2026, and 174,054 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 16.2% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 500 for every 1,000 residents, 163rd highest of 361 councils (UK 444).

Licensed vehicles in Highland

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Highland at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 139,566107,542
2011 139,989107,813
2012 141,792108,573
2013 144,114110,151
2014 146,604111,914
2015 147,330112,275
2016 149,801113,522
2017 154,065116,202
2018 156,255117,259
2019 158,586118,475
2020 156,286116,836
2021 162,282119,451
2022 164,016119,831
2023 166,410120,983
2024 169,357122,517
2025 172,257123,935
2026 174,054124,998

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, Highland compared
Year HighlandScotlandUnited Kingdom
2011 463429–
2012 466430–
2013 473436–
2014 480443–
2015 480446473
2016 484450480
2017 495457488
2018 500461490
2019 505465493
2020 500462489
2021 507469493
2022 508466489
2023 512465489
2024 516468490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Highland

49.3% of cars in Highland run on petrol and 37.0% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 49.5% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 8.6%, and cars that plug in 4.5%.

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 Highland, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 62.0%37.7%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2011 60.1%39.6%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2012 58.3%41.4%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2013 56.5%43.2%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2014 54.7%45.0%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2015 53.2%46.5%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2016 51.6%48.0%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2017 50.5%49.0%0.3%0.1%0.1%
2018 49.9%49.5%0.4%0.1%0.1%
2019 49.9%49.2%0.5%0.1%0.1%
2020 49.9%48.9%0.7%0.2%0.2%
2021 50.1%47.7%1.2%0.5%0.3%
2022 49.9%46.5%2.0%0.8%0.5%
2023 50.1%44.8%2.9%1.1%0.6%
2024 50.1%42.6%4.4%1.5%0.9%
2025 49.9%39.9%6.4%2.0%1.3%
2026 49.3%37.0%8.6%2.8%1.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Highland

3,459 battery electric cars were licensed in Highland at the end of June 2026, 2.8% of all cars, 53rd lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 5,673 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 2,485.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.3% are battery electric (2,683 cars), 5th lowest of 32 councils in Scotland. Companies keep 22.4% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 5.0% of its cars overall. There are also 274 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, Highland compared, end of March each year
Year HighlandScotlandUnited Kingdom
2016 0.0%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 0.5%0.7%0.8%
2022 0.8%1.2%1.5%
2023 1.1%1.9%2.3%
2024 1.5%2.5%3.2%
2025 2.0%3.4%4.4%
2026 2.8%4.5%5.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Highland

There were 918 public chargers in Highland on 1 July 2026, 235 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 387 for every 100,000 residents, 22nd highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 17.7% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 5.0 privately kept plug-in cars in Highland (UK 12.9), 23rd 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 Highland by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 780201
Apr 2026 938229
Jul 2026 918235

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Highland compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Highland 38799
Scotland 23259
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Road traffic and collisions in Highland

Vehicles travelled an estimated 1,998 million miles on roads in Highland in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in Highland
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 1,265
1994 1,301
1995 1,332
1996 1,374
1997 1,402
1998 1,407
1999 1,431
2000 1,410
2001 1,444
2002 1,512
2003 1,529
2004 1,513
2005 1,520
2006 1,559
2007 1,582
2008 1,582
2009 1,598
2010 1,587
2011 1,585
2012 1,578
2013 1,597
2014 1,631
2015 1,681
2016 1,744
2017 1,803
2018 1,826
2019 1,843
2020 1,401
2021 1,670
2022 1,831
2023 1,916
2024 1,968
2025 1,998

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Highland, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 207101
2022 206112
2023 259160
2024 273167
2025 245125

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Highland

Unleaded petrol averages 174.1p a litre across 46 filling stations in Highland, 2.6p above the UK average. Diesel averages 204.1p, 5.4p above the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Jet Francis St KW1 165.9p
  2. Jet Ormlie KW14 165.9p
  3. Highland Fuels Pittentrail Garage Rogart 165.9p

Every filling station and price in Highland

Roadworks in Highland

The Scottish Road Works Register lists 754 sets of roadworks in Highland, of which 199 are under way and 555 are planned. 181 of them close a road, a lane, a slip road or the hard shoulder. BT is behind the most, 268 of them (35.5%). From the extract of 30 October 2026.

Works most likely to hold you up

  • U2547 From Junction With A831 To Tor Croft, Balnain

    Road closed Under way, until 30 Oct 2026 Scottish Water

    Water mains rehab

  • U2400 From A938 At Blackmount To A9t At Slochd

    Road closed Under way, until 27 May 2027 Highland Council

    Slochd Railway Bridge not suitable for vehicular traffic due to structural issues. High risk of structural failure.

  • C1119 From Carr Place Via Mullochard To A938 At Balnaan, Dulnain Bridge

    Road closed Under way, until 13 Jul 2027 Highland Council

    Structural issues with bridge - not suitable for vehicles.

  • U4892 From Junction With A87t To Corrie, Broadford

    Lane closed Under way, until 8 Nov 2026 Scottish Hydro Electric Power Dis

    Temporary Diversion Route to be installed to allow Old Corry Road Carriageway to be closed for reconstruction works. All traffic will be diverted…

  • U1608 Kinerras Road From Junction With C1108 To Cruive, Kiltarlity

    Road closed Under way, until 6 Nov 2026 Scottish Water

    Installation of new pumping station

  • Bankhead Road, Wick

    Road closed Under way, until 11 Dec 2026 SGN

    Gas governor replacement works

  • U1173 And U1169 From B9006 Junction To Junction With C1154 At Little Urchany, Cawdor

    Road closed Under way, until 30 Oct 2026 Highland Council

    Resurface whole road

  • C1154 From Newlands Of Inchnacaorach Via Clunas And Dulsie To A939 At Aitnoch, Nairn

    Road closed Under way, until 10 Nov 2026 Highland Council

    Resurface whole road

  • U1474 From A9t At Achnagarron To B817 At Rosskeen, Invergordon

    Road closed Under way, until 12 Feb 2027 Highland Council

    Rebuilding of downstream section of Achnagarron Bridge following partial collapse.

  • B970 From Double Junction At Inverdruie To Inshriach, Aviemore

    Road closed Under way, until 6 Nov 2026 Highland Council

    Resurfacing Works

Who is digging

  • BT 268
  • Highland Council 223
  • Scottish Hydro Electric Power Dis 57
  • Scottish Water 52
  • Transport Scotland - NE Unit Op Company 41

How traffic is managed

  • Road closed 177
  • Temporary traffic lights 159
  • Give and take 154
  • Stop and go boards 122
  • No obstruction 58

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 Highland compares

Highland compared with Scotland, the UK
Highland 500 2.8% 2.3% 5.0% 387 5.0
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 Highland

There are 8 DVSA car practical test centres in Highland, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 73.5% at Gairloch.

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 174,054 licensed vehicles in Highland 26 October 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 6,068 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 Highland 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.