My Garage

Popular searches

South West · District council

North Devon motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
76,249 licensed vehicles in North Devon
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 54,747 +1.0% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 518 UK 444
  • Battery electric cars 1,492 2.7% of cars (UK 5.8%)
  • Electric share of private cars 2.2% 59th lowest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 210 208 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 4.2% UK 10.0%

How many cars are there in North Devon?

There were 54,747 licensed cars in North Devon at the end of June 2026, and 76,249 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 18.4% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 518 for every 1,000 residents, 120th highest of 361 councils (UK 444).

Licensed vehicles in North Devon

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in North Devon at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 61,24846,227
2011 61,64946,458
2012 62,01646,562
2013 62,54746,880
2014 63,68047,707
2015 64,04047,878
2016 65,26248,516
2017 67,11449,523
2018 68,02550,059
2019 69,35750,955
2020 68,72850,616
2021 71,76352,206
2022 72,92552,623
2023 73,83253,052
2024 74,79253,710
2025 75,38854,192
2026 76,24954,747

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, North Devon compared
Year North DevonSouth WestUnited Kingdom
2011 494524–
2012 497527–
2013 501533–
2014 509541–
2015 510546473
2016 514550480
2017 519565488
2018 521569490
2019 524580493
2020 519573489
2021 525575493
2022 524571489
2023 527570489
2024 531571490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in North Devon

52.9% of cars in North Devon run on petrol and 36.2% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 41.2% in 2020. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 6.3%, and cars that plug in 4.3%.

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 North Devon, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 68.9%30.8%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2011 67.0%32.8%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2012 65.3%34.4%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2013 63.8%35.9%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2014 62.6%36.9%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2015 61.1%38.4%0.3%0.0%0.1%
2016 59.9%39.4%0.4%0.0%0.1%
2017 58.8%40.3%0.5%0.1%0.2%
2018 58.2%40.7%0.7%0.1%0.2%
2019 57.8%40.9%0.8%0.1%0.3%
2020 57.1%41.2%1.0%0.2%0.3%
2021 56.7%40.8%1.5%0.4%0.5%
2022 55.6%40.6%2.1%0.8%0.7%
2023 55.0%40.0%2.8%1.1%0.8%
2024 54.3%39.1%3.9%1.5%1.0%
2025 53.7%37.6%5.1%2.0%1.3%
2026 52.9%36.2%6.3%2.7%1.6%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Electric cars in North Devon

1,492 battery electric cars were licensed in North Devon at the end of June 2026, 2.7% of all cars, 39th lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 2,356 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 1,082.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.2% are battery electric (1,155 cars), 5th lowest of 27 councils in the South West. Companies keep 22.6% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 4.2% of its cars overall. There are also 86 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, North Devon compared, end of March each year
Year North DevonSouth WestUnited 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%0.4%0.4%
2021 0.4%1.2%0.8%
2022 0.8%2.3%1.5%
2023 1.1%3.5%2.3%
2024 1.5%4.4%3.2%
2025 2.0%5.4%4.4%
2026 2.7%5.2%5.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in North Devon

There were 210 public chargers in North Devon on 1 July 2026, 71 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 208 for every 100,000 residents, 75th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count fell 1.9% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 9.1 privately kept plug-in cars in North Devon (UK 12.9), 68th 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 North Devon by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 21470
Apr 2026 22371
Jul 2026 21071

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, North Devon compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
North Devon 20870
Devon 17661
South West 15750
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

North Devon has 14 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 1.7% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 2.7%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in North Devon with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
North Devon 011 5,065 136 2.7% 4.0%
North Devon 004 4,267 110 2.6% 4.1%
North Devon 006 5,479 122 2.2% 3.8%
North Devon 003 3,498 74 2.1% 3.1%
North Devon 012 7,589 149 2.0% 3.2%
North Devon 009 3,647 65 1.8% 3.0%
North Devon 014 6,100 104 1.7% 2.8%
North Devon 005 5,874 93 1.6% 2.7%
North Devon 013 8,222 125 1.5% 2.6%
North Devon 002 4,320 62 1.4% 2.5%
Lowest electric shares
North Devon 008 2,976 7 0.2% 1.1%
North Devon 007 3,260 38 1.2% 2.1%
North Devon 001 2,807 34 1.2% 2.2%
North Devon 010 4,658 65 1.4% 2.2%
North Devon 002 4,320 62 1.4% 2.5%

Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of June 2026.

Road traffic and collisions in North Devon

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in North Devon, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 20342
2022 19438
2023 15334
2024 16531
2025 15940

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in North Devon

Unleaded petrol averages 169.8p a litre across 20 filling stations in North Devon, 1.7p below the UK average. Diesel averages 197.5p, 1.2p below the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Murco Golden Coast Service Station Woolacombe 165.9p
  2. Gulf Barbrook Lynton 166.9p
  3. Total Energies Hele Bay Service Station Ilfracombe 166.9p

Every filling station and price in North Devon

How North Devon compares

North Devon compared with Devon, the South West, England, the UK
North Devon 518 2.7% 2.2% 4.2% 208 9.1
Devon 520 3.5% 2.8% 8.5% 176 12.4
South West 509 5.2% 2.9% 9.6% 157 14.4
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 North Devon

There is 1 DVSA car practical test centre in North Devon, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 51.4% at Barnstaple.

Other centres in Devon:

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 Devon

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

Councils in Devon
Exeter 357 5.2% 2.8% 33.8% 259 5.6
South Hams 572 3.9% 3.3% 3.7% 145 19.0
East Devon 546 3.4% 3.0% 3.5% 200 12.7
Teignbridge 551 3.3% 2.8% 3.8% 147 15.6
Mid Devon 562 3.1% 2.7% 3.9% 91 24.9
West Devon 564 3.1% 2.7% 3.5% 178 13.0
North Devon 518 2.7% 2.2% 4.2% 208 9.1
Torridge 555 2.6% 2.2% 4.5% 107 17.7

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 76,249 licensed vehicles in North Devon 26 October 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 2,500 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 North Devon 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.