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Medway motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
167,039 licensed vehicles in Medway
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 140,735 +0.7% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 458 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 4,157 3.0% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 2.3% 103rd lowest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 232 79 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 4.7% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in Medway?

There were 140,735 licensed cars in Medway at the end of March 2026, and 167,039 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 19.7% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 458 for every 1,000 residents, 127th lowest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in Medway

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Medway at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 137,896117,611
2011 139,023118,731
2012 140,365119,762
2013 141,734121,217
2014 145,095124,049
2015 147,445126,085
2016 150,857129,084
2017 154,369131,755
2018 154,767132,052
2019 156,650133,624
2020 157,795134,927
2021 158,345134,506
2022 159,694134,784
2023 161,084136,042
2024 163,511137,961
2025 165,823139,727
2026 167,039140,735

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, Medway compared
Year MedwaySouth EastUnited Kingdom
2011 451534–
2012 449535–
2013 452541–
2014 458547–
2015 461551473
2016 468559480
2017 475567488
2018 477570490
2019 480572493
2020 477561489
2021 484564493
2022 479565489
2023 475567489
2024 475570490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Medway

59.1% of cars in Medway run on petrol and 27.7% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 35.7% in 2021. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 8.1%, and cars that plug in 4.8%.

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 Medway, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 76.9%22.8%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2011 75.1%24.5%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 73.3%26.3%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2013 71.6%27.8%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2014 69.8%29.5%0.5%0.0%0.0%
2015 68.0%31.2%0.6%0.0%0.0%
2016 66.2%32.8%0.7%0.1%0.0%
2017 64.7%34.1%0.9%0.1%0.1%
2018 63.5%35.0%1.1%0.1%0.1%
2019 62.7%35.5%1.4%0.2%0.2%
2020 62.1%35.7%1.6%0.3%0.2%
2021 61.3%35.7%2.0%0.5%0.3%
2022 60.5%35.3%2.7%0.7%0.5%
2023 60.4%33.9%3.6%1.1%0.7%
2024 60.1%32.1%4.9%1.6%1.0%
2025 59.8%29.8%6.5%2.3%1.3%
2026 59.1%27.7%8.1%3.0%1.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Medway

4,157 battery electric cars were licensed in Medway at the end of March 2026, 3.0% of all cars, 110th lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 6,749 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 3,163.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.3% are battery electric (3,047 cars), 12th lowest of 64 councils in the South East. Companies keep 26.7% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 4.7% of its cars overall. There are also 260 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, Medway compared, end of March each year
Year MedwaySouth EastUnited Kingdom
2016 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.1%0.2%0.1%
2019 0.2%0.2%0.2%
2020 0.3%0.5%0.3%
2021 0.5%1.0%0.7%
2022 0.7%1.9%1.3%
2023 1.1%3.0%2.1%
2024 1.6%4.2%3.0%
2025 2.3%5.7%4.1%
2026 3.0%8.7%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Medway

There were 232 public chargers in Medway on 1 July 2026, 87 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 79 for every 100,000 residents, 58th lowest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 17.8% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 25.7 privately kept plug-in cars in Medway (UK 11.9), 61st most 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 Medway by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 19778
Apr 2026 20786
Jul 2026 23287

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Medway compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Medway 7930
South East 15940
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

Medway has 38 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 1.9% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 3.6%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in Medway with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
Medway 007 4,970 180 3.6% 5.9%
Medway 003 8,246 268 3.3% 5.0%
Medway 030 4,072 122 3.0% 5.1%
Medway 005 3,663 102 2.8% 4.6%
Medway 035 5,429 150 2.8% 4.9%
Medway 002 4,270 115 2.7% 4.8%
Medway 026 3,413 92 2.7% 4.1%
Medway 028 4,411 118 2.7% 4.3%
Medway 004 4,049 100 2.5% 4.4%
Medway 033 4,059 96 2.4% 3.9%
Lowest electric shares
Medway 012 2,656 11 0.4% 2.3%
Medway 020 2,780 25 0.9% 2.1%
Medway 036 4,379 52 1.2% 2.5%
Medway 016 2,833 37 1.3% 2.2%
Medway 018 4,738 68 1.4% 2.7%

Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of March 2026. 2 neighbourhoods are left out because DfT withholds small counts there.

Road traffic and collisions in Medway

Vehicles travelled an estimated 907 million miles on roads in Medway in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in Medway
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 651
1994 664
1995 677
1996 690
1997 700
1998 702
1999 715
2000 775
2001 779
2002 795
2003 790
2004 804
2005 798
2006 818
2007 813
2008 809
2009 796
2010 804
2011 808
2012 800
2013 821
2014 845
2015 856
2016 867
2017 874
2018 868
2019 879
2020 728
2021 782
2022 839
2023 851
2024 889
2025 907

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Medway, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 51086
2022 52698
2023 524110
2024 446116
2025 460121

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Medway

Unleaded petrol averages 174.3p a litre across 31 filling stations in Medway, 2.6p above the UK average. Diesel averages 197.4p, 2.8p above the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Gulf F R Bradford & Co Ltd Rochester 168.9p
  2. Jet 4 Elms North Rochester 169.9p
  3. Jet 4 Elms South Rochester 169.9p

Every filling station and price in Medway

How Medway compares

Medway compared with the South East, England, the UK
Medway 458 3.0% 2.3% 4.7% 79 25.7
South East 496 8.7% 3.2% 18.1% 159 16.9
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 the South East

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

Councils in the South East
Windsor and Maidenhead 518 38.0% 3.8% 83.1% 150 23.3
Milton Keynes 455 26.5% 4.4% 61.6% 323 9.0
Slough 382 25.1% 2.6% 51.0% 100 20.4
Portsmouth 361 8.2% 1.6% 36.4% 203 4.8
Elmbridge 528 5.7% 4.5% 4.2% 181 30.9
Cherwell 512 5.2% 3.5% 14.2% 204 13.8
Wokingham 540 5.2% 4.6% 3.1% 159 19.0
Winchester 523 5.0% 4.3% 4.8% 213 17.3
Hart 595 4.9% 3.9% 4.2% 210 23.2
Vale of White Horse 539 4.9% 4.4% 3.1% 194 17.8
Guildford 499 4.8% 4.1% 4.7% 182 19.6
Waverley 565 4.7% 4.2% 2.9% 155 31.6
Epsom and Ewell 461 4.6% 3.7% 4.0% 131 27.0
South Oxfordshire 559 4.6% 3.9% 3.3% 121 28.5
Buckinghamshire 543 4.5% 3.8% 4.1% 141 24.7
Mole Valley 591 4.5% 3.6% 15.6% 286 12.5
Reigate and Banstead 498 4.4% 3.4% 9.3% 123 35.9
Runnymede 496 4.4% 3.4% 6.0% 246 13.8
Surrey Heath 572 4.4% 3.8% 3.4% 207 20.9
Sevenoaks 551 4.3% 3.6% 5.0% 95 37.2
Dartford 441 4.2% 3.4% 5.6% 194 14.5
Eastleigh 539 4.2% 3.3% 4.5% 117 23.6
West Berkshire 557 4.2% 3.6% 4.2% 283 12.0
Basingstoke and Deane 524 4.1% 3.6% 3.2% 141 20.9
East Hampshire 594 4.1% 3.6% 3.3% 84 42.9
Mid Sussex 531 4.1% 3.5% 5.0% 176 17.8
Rushmoor 480 4.1% 2.3% 63.7% 156 11.4
Test Valley 561 4.1% 3.5% 3.9% 118 26.7
Tonbridge and Malling 530 4.1% 3.3% 5.9% 128 18.3
Horsham 580 4.0% 3.4% 3.4% 195 16.4
Tandridge 552 4.0% 3.3% 3.8% 138 30.0
Bracknell Forest 528 3.9% 3.3% 18.1% 159 20.5
Fareham 564 3.9% 3.4% 3.0% 62 47.8
Oxford 280 3.9% 3.0% 5.6% 167 8.2
West Oxfordshire 549 3.9% 3.4% 4.3% 195 15.6
Woking 514 3.9% 3.4% 3.2% 274 12.1
Tunbridge Wells 515 3.8% 3.2% 3.8% 113 25.5
Brighton and Hove 308 3.7% 2.9% 5.3% 283 5.9
Wealden 594 3.6% 3.0% 3.4% 115 26.5
Ashford 511 3.5% 2.8% 4.7% 145 15.9
Canterbury 454 3.5% 2.8% 4.7% 162 14.5
Chichester 557 3.5% 2.9% 4.0% 173 14.7
Lewes 489 3.5% 2.9% 3.8% 140 15.1
Maidstone 515 3.4% 2.8% 4.4% 83 29.6
New Forest 603 3.3% 2.8% 3.3% 177 17.2
Reading 360 3.3% 2.6% 5.1% 189 8.3
Havant 507 3.2% 2.4% 4.8% 72 29.7
Spelthorne 493 3.2% 2.6% 3.6% 160 18.5
Worthing 465 3.1% 2.5% 3.5% 255 7.1
Arun 529 3.0% 2.5% 3.3% 166 12.8
Crawley 433 3.0% 2.3% 4.9% 223 6.9
Gravesham 461 3.0% 2.4% 5.5% 78 24.7
Medway 458 3.0% 2.3% 4.7% 79 25.7
Adur 473 2.9% 2.4% 4.0% 168 10.0
Rother 546 2.9% 2.5% 3.9% 67 36.7
Dover 497 2.8% 2.3% 4.2% 137 13.6
Swale 493 2.8% 2.4% 5.4% 107 18.1
Folkestone and Hythe 494 2.7% 2.3% 4.3% 211 9.2
Eastbourne 427 2.6% 1.9% 6.7% 116 12.4
Isle of Wight 498 2.6% 2.1% 4.2% 135 11.2
Thanet 457 2.6% 2.0% 5.1% 98 18.8
Southampton 370 2.5% 1.8% 4.6% 70 16.3
Gosport 473 2.4% 2.0% 3.3% 100 14.9
Hastings 415 2.4% 1.8% 4.8% 52 19.1

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 167,039 licensed vehicles in Medway 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 7,190 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 Medway 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.