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Kensington and Chelsea motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
41,654 licensed vehicles in Kensington and Chelsea
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 37,686 −0.2% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 239 UK 444
  • Battery electric cars 2,806 7.4% of cars (UK 5.8%)
  • Electric share of private cars 6.7% 4th highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 921 637 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 8.5% UK 10.0%

How many cars are there in Kensington and Chelsea?

There were 37,686 licensed cars in Kensington and Chelsea at the end of June 2026, and 41,654 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 17.2% fewer cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 239 for every 1,000 residents, 16th lowest of 361 councils (UK 444).

Licensed vehicles in Kensington and Chelsea

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Kensington and Chelsea at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 51,68945,516
2011 50,87944,835
2012 49,68043,884
2013 48,62143,093
2014 48,35042,866
2015 47,87542,497
2016 47,30242,097
2017 47,29642,133
2018 46,59041,705
2019 45,96341,442
2020 44,27740,039
2021 43,98139,770
2022 43,49239,172
2023 42,95338,593
2024 42,61338,246
2025 41,87637,767
2026 41,65437,686

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, Kensington and Chelsea compared
Year Kensington and ChelseaLondonUnited Kingdom
2011 283313–
2012 279307–
2013 275303–
2014 275303–
2015 272303473
2016 276304480
2017 282306488
2018 281303490
2019 282301493
2020 276296489
2021 276300493
2022 268295489
2023 263290489
2024 265287490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Kensington and Chelsea

61.0% of cars in Kensington and Chelsea run on petrol and 15.4% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 33.6% in 2016. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 9.1%, and cars that plug in 13.7%.

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 Kensington and Chelsea, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 75.0%22.1%2.2%0.2%0.0%
2011 72.6%24.3%2.4%0.2%0.0%
2012 70.4%26.6%2.4%0.1%0.0%
2013 68.0%29.0%2.4%0.1%0.0%
2014 65.8%31.1%2.4%0.2%0.1%
2015 63.7%32.9%2.4%0.3%0.2%
2016 62.5%33.6%2.6%0.4%0.4%
2017 61.7%33.6%2.8%0.6%0.9%
2018 61.9%32.9%3.0%0.9%1.0%
2019 63.4%30.3%3.1%1.2%1.6%
2020 64.9%27.4%3.5%1.8%2.0%
2021 66.1%23.6%4.0%2.9%3.0%
2022 66.8%19.8%4.8%4.5%3.7%
2023 65.9%18.1%5.4%5.5%4.6%
2024 64.6%16.7%6.4%6.5%5.1%
2025 62.8%15.9%7.7%7.3%5.7%
2026 61.0%15.4%9.1%7.4%6.3%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Kensington and Chelsea

2,806 battery electric cars were licensed in Kensington and Chelsea at the end of June 2026, 7.4% of all cars, 18th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 5,164 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 2,739.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 6.7% are battery electric (2,303 cars), 4th highest of 33 councils in London. Companies keep 17.9% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 8.5% of its cars overall. There are also 133 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, Kensington and Chelsea compared, end of March each year
Year Kensington and ChelseaLondonUnited Kingdom
2016 0.4%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.6%0.2%0.1%
2018 0.9%0.3%0.1%
2019 1.2%0.3%0.2%
2020 1.8%0.5%0.4%
2021 2.9%1.1%0.8%
2022 4.5%2.0%1.5%
2023 5.5%3.2%2.3%
2024 6.5%4.5%3.2%
2025 7.3%5.7%4.4%
2026 7.4%7.0%5.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Kensington and Chelsea

There were 921 public chargers in Kensington and Chelsea on 1 July 2026, 7 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 637 for every 100,000 residents, 9th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count fell 0.4% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 4.7 privately kept plug-in cars in Kensington and Chelsea (UK 12.9), 18th 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 Kensington and Chelsea by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 9254
Apr 2026 9107
Jul 2026 9217

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Kensington and Chelsea compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Kensington and Chelsea 6375
London 34528
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

Kensington and Chelsea has 21 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 6.2% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 9.1%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in Kensington and Chelsea with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
Kensington and Chelsea 009 2,112 192 9.1% 14.4%
Kensington and Chelsea 011 2,005 180 9.0% 15.7%
Kensington and Chelsea 007 2,229 187 8.4% 15.9%
Kensington and Chelsea 008 2,155 165 7.7% 14.1%
Kensington and Chelsea 016 1,637 126 7.7% 14.1%
Kensington and Chelsea 010 1,957 135 6.9% 13.9%
Kensington and Chelsea 006 1,710 117 6.8% 13.3%
Kensington and Chelsea 012 2,377 162 6.8% 13.3%
Kensington and Chelsea 015 1,184 76 6.4% 11.2%
Kensington and Chelsea 013 1,446 89 6.2% 11.6%
Lowest electric shares
Kensington and Chelsea 002 1,147 37 3.2% 6.7%
Kensington and Chelsea 001 1,310 43 3.3% 7.0%
Kensington and Chelsea 004 1,594 63 4.0% 8.4%
Kensington and Chelsea 014 1,620 66 4.1% 9.4%
Kensington and Chelsea 020 1,903 107 5.6% 11.4%

Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of June 2026. 1 neighbourhood is left out because DfT withholds small counts there.

Road traffic and collisions in Kensington and Chelsea

Vehicles travelled an estimated 306 million miles on roads in Kensington and Chelsea in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in Kensington and Chelsea
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 354
1994 359
1995 364
1996 365
1997 368
1998 367
1999 372
2000 366
2001 363
2002 361
2003 355
2004 351
2005 349
2006 355
2007 342
2008 332
2009 329
2010 327
2011 324
2012 307
2013 303
2014 313
2015 312
2016 318
2017 312
2018 323
2019 327
2020 264
2021 290
2022 304
2023 307
2024 310
2025 306

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Kensington and Chelsea, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 61386
2022 610111
2023 640125
2024 564125
2025 565127

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Kensington and Chelsea

Unleaded petrol averages 173.6p a litre across 3 filling stations in Kensington and Chelsea, 2.1p above the UK average. Diesel averages 199.6p, 0.9p above the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Chelsea Esso Express London 171.9p
  2. Shell Chelsea London 173.9p
  3. Shell Old Brompton London 174.9p

Every filling station and price in Kensington and Chelsea

How Kensington and Chelsea compares

Kensington and Chelsea compared with London, England, the UK
Kensington and Chelsea 239 7.4% 6.7% 8.5% 637 4.7
London 264 7.0% 3.9% 9.8% 345 5.8
England 440 6.2% 3.2% 10.7% 173 13.4
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 Kensington and Chelsea

There is no DVSA car practical test centre in Kensington and Chelsea. The nearest centres are elsewhere in London.

Centres in London:

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 London

Sorted by battery electric share of cars. Select a column heading to sort by it.

Councils in London
Westminster 179 57.9% 7.7% 60.4% 1,378 1.8
City of London 79 24.6% 7.8% 50.4% 443 2.4
Hammersmith and Fulham 199 18.7% 5.2% 22.4% 1,380 1.5
Camden 159 9.7% 7.6% 12.6% 378 5.4
Kensington and Chelsea 239 7.4% 6.7% 8.5% 637 4.7
Brent 232 7.3% 4.0% 12.8% 367 5.1
Barnet 322 6.6% 5.4% 7.2% 288 10.1
Islington 132 6.0% 4.7% 11.6% 386 3.1
Richmond upon Thames 359 5.6% 4.7% 5.6% 642 5.0
Harrow 337 5.5% 4.3% 6.2% 120 22.8
Hillingdon 364 5.4% 3.4% 16.7% 121 20.1
Kingston upon Thames 354 5.2% 4.5% 3.9% 242 11.8
Merton 294 5.2% 4.4% 5.7% 436 5.6
Southwark 162 5.2% 4.3% 8.1% 618 2.1
Wandsworth 214 5.2% 4.4% 5.1% 532 3.6
Tower Hamlets 128 5.0% 3.8% 11.0% 776 1.7
Ealing 274 4.7% 3.6% 7.5% 264 7.6
Redbridge 302 4.7% 3.8% 7.2% 198 11.9
Hackney 138 4.6% 3.4% 10.4% 638 1.6
Haringey 214 4.6% 3.7% 8.9% 135 11.1
Bromley 409 4.5% 3.8% 4.4% 67 42.1
Lambeth 176 4.5% 3.8% 6.6% 244 5.4
Barking and Dagenham 264 4.4% 3.1% 8.6% 100 18.5
Croydon 318 4.3% 3.6% 5.5% 153 13.9
Hounslow 301 4.2% 3.2% 6.8% 233 8.9
Sutton 378 4.2% 3.6% 4.2% 118 20.5
Greenwich 239 4.1% 3.5% 6.3% 101 15.5
Havering 388 3.8% 2.9% 6.1% 95 24.0
Newham 168 3.8% 3.0% 9.3% 159 8.5
Enfield 334 3.6% 2.8% 6.9% 137 14.0
Lewisham 233 3.6% 3.1% 5.6% 133 10.5
Waltham Forest 251 3.6% 2.8% 7.6% 663 2.2
Bexley 382 3.5% 3.0% 6.3% 269 7.9

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 41,654 licensed vehicles in Kensington and Chelsea 26 October 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 5,419 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 Kensington and Chelsea 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.
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.