My Garage

Popular searches

Scotland · Council area

Midlothian motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
58,161 licensed vehicles in Midlothian
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 48,453 +1.7% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 461 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 2,003 4.1% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.7% 48th highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 223 223 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 5.1% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in Midlothian?

There were 48,453 licensed cars in Midlothian at the end of March 2026, and 58,161 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 34.1% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 461 for every 1,000 residents, 129th lowest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in Midlothian

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Midlothian at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 43,36636,126
2011 43,59336,367
2012 44,20136,850
2013 44,30337,466
2014 45,48338,528
2015 46,57739,512
2016 48,29440,793
2017 50,00142,130
2018 50,99843,047
2019 51,80943,841
2020 52,90344,970
2021 53,04444,727
2022 54,07045,331
2023 54,84645,929
2024 56,07146,906
2025 57,00147,663
2026 58,16148,453

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, Midlothian compared
Year MidlothianScotlandUnited Kingdom
2011 439429–
2012 439430–
2013 445436–
2014 449443–
2015 451446473
2016 459450480
2017 467457488
2018 471461490
2019 474465493
2020 470462489
2021 471469493
2022 469466489
2023 470465489
2024 473468490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Midlothian

59.0% of cars in Midlothian run on petrol and 24.7% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 37.3% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 9.8%, and cars that plug in 6.1%.

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 Midlothian, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 75.1%24.7%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2011 73.2%26.5%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 71.4%28.2%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2013 69.6%30.0%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2014 68.0%31.5%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2015 66.2%33.3%0.4%0.1%0.0%
2016 64.4%35.0%0.4%0.1%0.0%
2017 62.9%36.3%0.5%0.1%0.1%
2018 61.7%37.3%0.6%0.2%0.1%
2019 61.5%37.2%0.8%0.2%0.2%
2020 61.6%36.7%1.0%0.4%0.2%
2021 61.5%36.0%1.5%0.6%0.3%
2022 61.5%34.4%2.4%1.0%0.5%
2023 61.1%32.8%3.5%1.6%0.7%
2024 60.6%30.5%5.4%2.2%1.0%
2025 60.3%27.3%7.6%3.1%1.3%
2026 59.0%24.7%9.8%4.1%2.0%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Midlothian

2,003 battery electric cars were licensed in Midlothian at the end of March 2026, 4.1% of all cars, 102nd highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 2,949 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 1,458.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.7% are battery electric (1,714 cars), 7th highest of 32 councils in Scotland. Companies keep 14.4% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 5.1% of its cars overall. There are also 98 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, Midlothian compared, end of March each year
Year MidlothianScotlandUnited Kingdom
2016 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.2%0.1%0.1%
2019 0.2%0.2%0.2%
2020 0.4%0.3%0.3%
2021 0.6%0.6%0.7%
2022 1.0%1.1%1.3%
2023 1.6%1.7%2.1%
2024 2.2%2.3%3.0%
2025 3.1%3.2%4.1%
2026 4.1%4.2%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Midlothian

There were 223 public chargers in Midlothian on 1 July 2026, 48 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 223 for every 100,000 residents, 68th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count fell 3.9% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 11.6 privately kept plug-in cars in Midlothian (UK 11.9), 115th 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 Midlothian by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 23244
Apr 2026 22248
Jul 2026 22348

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Midlothian compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Midlothian 22348
Scotland 23259
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Road traffic and collisions in Midlothian

Vehicles travelled an estimated 448 million miles on roads in Midlothian in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in Midlothian
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 323
1994 331
1995 336
1996 344
1997 351
1998 355
1999 371
2000 371
2001 375
2002 377
2003 381
2004 375
2005 376
2006 384
2007 389
2008 389
2009 396
2010 397
2011 398
2012 395
2013 393
2014 409
2015 413
2016 428
2017 442
2018 441
2019 441
2020 344
2021 392
2022 420
2023 426
2024 439
2025 448

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Midlothian, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 9527
2022 10632
2023 7940
2024 6828
2025 5927

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Midlothian

Unleaded petrol averages 168.7p a litre across 9 filling stations in Midlothian, 3.0p below the UK average. Diesel averages 189.4p, 5.2p below the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Costco Wholesale Edinburgh Edinburgh 158.9p
  2. Asda Straiton Superstore Loanhead 167.7p
  3. Tesco Dalkeith Hardengreen Superstore Dalkeith 167.9p

Every filling station and price in Midlothian

Roadworks in Midlothian

The Scottish Road Works Register lists 351 sets of roadworks in Midlothian, of which 83 are under way and 268 are planned. 82 of them close a road, a lane, a slip road or the hard shoulder. Midlothian Council is behind the most, 177 of them (50.4%). From the extract of 16 September 2026.

Works most likely to hold you up

  • U80 From Junction Gladhouse To Junction Mauldslie Road, Temple

    Road closed Under way, until 29 Apr 2027 Scottish Water

    Bridge Removal - excavations in areas where the road bridge is replacing existing road levels, inc road crossing for ducting

  • Pomathorn Road, Penicuik

    Road closed Under way, until 22 Oct 2026 Scottish Water

    Embankment stabilisation repair and associated works

  • Eskdaill Street, Dalkeith

    Road closed Under way, until 1 Oct 2026 EE Limited

    No Excavation works - road closure for safety reason during essential upgrade works on the telecoms infrastructure on the building, as part of the…

  • Polton Terrace, Lasswade

    Road closed Under way, until 19 Sept 2026 Midlothian Council

    Installation of zebra crossing, footway resurfacing and all necessary civils works

  • Eskhill, Penicuik

    Road closed Under way, until 8 Nov 2026 Midlothian Council

    Carriageway resurfacing and associated civil works

  • Hawkins Terrace, Glencorse

    Road closed Under way, until 3 Oct 2026 Midlothian Council

    Carriageway resurfacing, footway resurfacing/patching, and associated civils works.

  • Larkfield Road, Eskbank

    Road closed Under way, until 27 Oct 2026 Midlothian Council

    Carriageway resurfacing and associated civils works - rolling phased road closures

  • Dundas Road, Eskbank

    Road closed Under way, until 27 Oct 2026 Midlothian Council

    Carriageway resurfacing and associated civils works - rolling phased road closures

  • Dundas Grove, Eskbank

    Road closed Under way, until 27 Oct 2026 Midlothian Council

    Carriageway resurfacing and associated civils works - rolling phased road closures

  • Dundas Crescent, Eskbank

    Road closed Under way, until 27 Oct 2026 Midlothian Council

    Carriageway resurfacing and associated civils works - rolling phased road closures

Who is digging

  • Midlothian Council 177
  • BT 55
  • SP Energy Networks 48
  • Scottish Water 35
  • SGN 9

How traffic is managed

  • Temporary traffic lights 122
  • Road closed 73
  • Give and take 72
  • Road narrowed 23
  • Footway only 21

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 2026-09-16 Updated

How Midlothian compares

Midlothian compared with Scotland, the UK
Midlothian 461 4.1% 3.7% 5.1% 223 11.6
Scotland 436 4.2% 3.0% 7.8% 232 8.9
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 Scotland

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

Councils in Scotland
Stirling 468 13.9% 4.1% 32.1% 511 5.6
Renfrewshire 436 11.9% 3.2% 34.9% 243 9.1
East Renfrewshire 473 5.1% 4.5% 4.2% 82 40.4
East Dunbartonshire 481 4.7% 4.1% 4.0% 103 32.8
East Lothian 472 4.5% 4.0% 4.4% 600 5.0
Orkney Islands 490 4.4% 3.8% 5.0% 386 6.9
West Lothian 479 4.4% 3.8% 5.7% 137 22.2
Edinburgh 325 4.2% 3.3% 5.3% 192 8.6
South Lanarkshire 463 4.2% 3.5% 6.2% 182 14.0
Midlothian 461 4.1% 3.7% 5.1% 223 11.6
Perth and Kinross 506 4.0% 3.5% 5.1% 363 7.6
Dundee 371 3.9% 3.0% 6.7% 472 3.3
North Lanarkshire 434 3.6% 3.0% 7.2% 168 12.1
South Ayrshire 482 3.6% 3.0% 5.3% 205 10.5
Aberdeenshire 528 3.5% 3.0% 4.3% 162 17.8
Falkirk 493 3.5% 2.9% 5.4% 163 13.9
Fife 478 3.5% 3.0% 4.9% 132 17.2
Glasgow 307 3.4% 2.2% 9.7% 180 6.2
East Ayrshire 467 3.3% 2.8% 6.0% 229 9.1
North Ayrshire 457 3.2% 2.7% 5.9% 199 9.2
Aberdeen 396 3.1% 2.5% 4.5% 192 9.6
Clackmannanshire 492 3.1% 2.7% 4.9% 205 9.5
Angus 504 3.0% 2.6% 4.7% 221 9.7
Scottish Borders 506 3.0% 2.6% 4.8% 224 9.6
West Dunbartonshire 420 2.8% 2.3% 6.5% 204 7.7
Inverclyde 425 2.7% 2.3% 5.6% 237 6.8
Moray 501 2.6% 2.1% 4.5% 153 11.7
Argyll and Bute 471 2.5% 2.2% 4.7% 396 4.9
Highland 496 2.5% 2.0% 5.0% 387 4.4
Dumfries and Galloway 510 2.2% 1.8% 5.8% 549 2.9
Shetland Islands 471 1.9% 1.4% 9.1% 323 3.9
Na h-Eileanan Siar 500 1.5% 1.2% 4.1% 515 2.4

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 58,161 licensed vehicles in Midlothian 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 3,143 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
  • Coverage: licensing and charger figures cover the whole UK. Licensing figures in Midlothian 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.