East of England · District council

King's Lynn and West Norfolk motoring statistics

How many cars and electric cars are registered in King's Lynn and West Norfolk, which fuels they use, how many public chargers there are and how King's Lynn and West Norfolk compares with the East of England. From DVLA licensing records, DfT charger statistics and ONS population estimates.

Last updated
Records analysed
113,896 licensed vehicles in King's Lynn and West Norfolk
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 87,145 +0.8% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 535 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 2,495 2.9% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 2.3% 103rd lowest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 269 172 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 4.1% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in King's Lynn and West Norfolk?

There were 87,145 licensed cars in King's Lynn and West Norfolk at the end of March 2026, and 113,896 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 15.1% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 535 for every 1,000 residents, 85th highest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in King's Lynn and West Norfolk

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in King's Lynn and West Norfolk at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 95,91475,743
2011 96,77376,426
2012 97,31676,789
2013 98,19077,634
2014 99,61578,665
2015 100,99079,884
2016 102,95581,235
2017 105,16182,672
2018 106,11383,276
2019 107,32383,923
2020 108,19384,811
2021 108,46584,467
2022 110,17785,029
2023 110,96385,247
2024 111,64885,891
2025 112,63486,475
2026 113,89687,145

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, King's Lynn and West Norfolk compared
Year King's Lynn and West NorfolkEast of EnglandUnited Kingdom
2011 519503
2012 519502
2013 525505
2014 528524
2015 529529473
2016 535537480
2017 542544488
2018 546542490
2019 551541493
2020 547536489
2021 552539493
2022 549532489
2023 549529489
2024 554531490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in King's Lynn and West Norfolk

49.2% of cars in King's Lynn and West Norfolk run on petrol and 39.8% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 45.2% in 2021. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 6.1%, and cars that plug in 4.5%.

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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 68.2%31.5%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2011 66.1%33.6%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 64.2%35.4%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2013 62.2%37.4%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2014 60.2%39.3%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2015 58.2%41.2%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2016 56.6%42.7%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2017 55.2%44.1%0.5%0.1%0.1%
2018 54.2%44.9%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2019 53.9%45.0%0.7%0.1%0.2%
2020 53.6%45.0%0.9%0.2%0.2%
2021 52.8%45.2%1.3%0.3%0.3%
2022 51.9%44.9%1.9%0.6%0.5%
2023 51.4%44.2%2.7%0.8%0.6%
2024 50.5%43.4%3.6%1.3%0.8%
2025 49.9%41.7%4.9%2.0%1.2%
2026 49.2%39.8%6.1%2.9%1.6%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in King's Lynn and West Norfolk

2,495 battery electric cars were licensed in King's Lynn and West Norfolk at the end of March 2026, 2.9% of all cars, 89th lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 3,911 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 1,697.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.3% are battery electric (1,900 cars), 14th lowest of 45 councils in the East of England. Companies keep 23.8% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 4.1% of its cars overall. There are also 74 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, King's Lynn and West Norfolk compared, end of March each year
Year King's Lynn and West NorfolkEast of EnglandUnited Kingdom
2016 0.0%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.1%0.2%0.1%
2019 0.1%0.2%0.2%
2020 0.2%0.3%0.3%
2021 0.3%0.6%0.7%
2022 0.6%1.1%1.3%
2023 0.8%1.7%2.1%
2024 1.3%2.6%3.0%
2025 2.0%3.8%4.1%
2026 2.9%5.2%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in King's Lynn and West Norfolk

There were 269 public chargers in King's Lynn and West Norfolk on 1 July 2026, 88 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 172 for every 100,000 residents, 124th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 5.5% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 12.1 privately kept plug-in cars in King's Lynn and West Norfolk (UK 11.9), 124th 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 King's Lynn and West Norfolk by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 25583
Apr 2026 25681
Jul 2026 26988

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, King's Lynn and West Norfolk compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 17256
Norfolk 16241
East of England 15049
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

King's Lynn and West Norfolk has 19 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 1.8% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 3.4%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in King's Lynn and West Norfolk with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 005 4,762 160 3.4% 5.0%
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 014 6,559 174 2.7% 4.0%
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 012 5,709 145 2.5% 4.0%
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 002 5,131 116 2.3% 4.0%
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 004 4,925 104 2.1% 3.2%
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 017 6,424 132 2.1% 3.2%
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 001 3,264 64 2.0% 3.3%
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 015 5,606 108 1.9% 3.0%
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 008 5,414 100 1.8% 3.1%
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 016 8,365 154 1.8% 2.8%
Lowest electric shares
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 007 2,823 29 1.0% 2.1%
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 009 3,614 48 1.3% 2.3%
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 010 4,162 57 1.4% 2.8%
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 003 6,044 89 1.5% 2.6%
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 006 4,608 74 1.6% 2.9%

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

Road traffic and collisions in King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in King's Lynn and West Norfolk, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 22269
2022 24075
2023 24982
2024 292104
2025 27789

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in King's Lynn and West Norfolk

Unleaded petrol averages 172.1p a litre across 25 filling stations in King's Lynn and West Norfolk, 0.4p above the UK average. Diesel averages 196.0p, 1.4p above the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

How King's Lynn and West Norfolk compares

King's Lynn and West Norfolk compared with Norfolk, the East of England, England, the UK
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 535 2.9% 2.3% 4.1% 172 12.1
Norfolk 518 3.0% 2.4% 4.3% 162 12.0
East of England 497 5.2% 2.9% 8.6% 150 15.7
England 437 5.8% 2.9% 10.6% 173 12.4
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 Norfolk

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

Councils in Norfolk
South Norfolk 568 3.6% 3.1% 4.1% 131 18.5
Broadland 571 3.3% 2.8% 3.9% 116 22.1
Breckland 553 3.1% 2.4% 4.3% 114 18.4
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 535 2.9% 2.3% 4.1% 172 12.1
Norwich 350 2.7% 1.6% 5.7% 196 4.7
North Norfolk 569 2.6% 2.2% 3.5% 225 8.0
Great Yarmouth 470 2.3% 1.7% 4.7% 211 6.3

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 113,896 licensed vehicles in King's Lynn and West Norfolk 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 4,074 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
Neighbourhoods Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 35,672 small areas (LSOAs) in England and Wales 15 September 2026
  • Coverage: licensing and charger figures cover the whole UK. Licensing figures in King's Lynn and West Norfolk 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.