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North Lanarkshire motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
192,432 licensed vehicles in North Lanarkshire
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 161,071 +1.0% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 434 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 5,855 3.6% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.0% 136th highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 579 168 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 7.2% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in North Lanarkshire?

There were 161,071 licensed cars in North Lanarkshire at the end of March 2026, and 192,432 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 22.4% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 434 for every 1,000 residents, 99th lowest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in North Lanarkshire

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in North Lanarkshire at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 152,153131,578
2011 154,453132,545
2012 156,771133,684
2013 158,091134,705
2014 162,462138,028
2015 167,271140,757
2016 173,747143,987
2017 178,560146,661
2018 175,287148,151
2019 174,856150,470
2020 178,036153,642
2021 178,747152,853
2022 180,150152,609
2023 182,349154,062
2024 187,078157,442
2025 189,563159,510
2026 192,432161,071

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, North Lanarkshire compared
Year North LanarkshireScotlandUnited Kingdom
2011 393429–
2012 396430–
2013 402436–
2014 410443–
2015 418446473
2016 425450480
2017 433457488
2018 437461490
2019 443465493
2020 443462489
2021 451469493
2022 449466489
2023 453465489
2024 459468490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in North Lanarkshire

57.4% of cars in North Lanarkshire run on petrol and 27.3% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 42.4% in 2019. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 9.2%, and cars that plug in 5.5%.

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 North Lanarkshire, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 73.3%26.5%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2011 71.5%28.3%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2012 69.7%30.1%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2013 67.7%32.0%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2014 65.6%34.1%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2015 63.2%36.5%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2016 60.8%38.8%0.3%0.1%0.0%
2017 58.8%40.6%0.3%0.1%0.1%
2018 57.2%42.1%0.4%0.1%0.1%
2019 56.8%42.4%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2020 56.9%42.1%0.7%0.1%0.1%
2021 57.0%41.3%1.1%0.2%0.2%
2022 57.5%39.4%1.8%0.6%0.4%
2023 58.2%37.2%2.6%1.0%0.5%
2024 58.7%34.0%4.4%1.6%0.7%
2025 58.3%30.8%6.8%2.5%1.0%
2026 57.4%27.3%9.2%3.6%1.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in North Lanarkshire

5,855 battery electric cars were licensed in North Lanarkshire at the end of March 2026, 3.6% of all cars, 165th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 8,827 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 4,004.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.0% are battery electric (4,498 cars), 12th highest of 32 councils in Scotland. Companies keep 23.2% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 7.2% of its cars overall. There are also 423 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 Lanarkshire compared, end of March each year
Year North LanarkshireScotlandUnited Kingdom
2016 0.1%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 0.1%0.3%0.3%
2021 0.2%0.6%0.7%
2022 0.6%1.1%1.3%
2023 1.0%1.7%2.1%
2024 1.6%2.3%3.0%
2025 2.5%3.2%4.1%
2026 3.6%4.2%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in North Lanarkshire

There were 579 public chargers in North Lanarkshire on 1 July 2026, 250 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 168 for every 100,000 residents, 125th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 3.2% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 12.1 privately kept plug-in cars in North Lanarkshire (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 North Lanarkshire by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 561238
Apr 2026 583248
Jul 2026 579250

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, North Lanarkshire compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
North Lanarkshire 16873
Scotland 23259
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Road traffic and collisions in North Lanarkshire

Vehicles travelled an estimated 2,171 million miles on roads in North Lanarkshire in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in North Lanarkshire
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 1,548
1994 1,577
1995 1,605
1996 1,645
1997 1,676
1998 1,707
1999 1,730
2000 1,745
2001 1,761
2002 1,796
2003 1,801
2004 1,791
2005 1,789
2006 1,800
2007 1,840
2008 1,847
2009 1,825
2010 1,830
2011 1,804
2012 1,984
2013 1,975
2014 1,914
2015 1,885
2016 1,927
2017 2,013
2018 2,071
2019 2,063
2020 1,612
2021 1,855
2022 2,039
2023 2,103
2024 2,147
2025 2,171

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in North Lanarkshire, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 20056
2022 21876
2023 24389
2024 20689
2025 20888

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in North Lanarkshire

Unleaded petrol averages 173.3p a litre across 48 filling stations in North Lanarkshire, 1.6p above the UK average. Diesel averages 196.0p, 1.4p above the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. BP Old Toll Garage Wishaw 166.9p
  2. Asda Cumbernauld Superstore Cumbernauld 167.7p
  3. Tesco Cumbernauld Tryst Rd Extra Glasgow 167.9p

Every filling station and price in North Lanarkshire

Roadworks in North Lanarkshire

The Scottish Road Works Register lists 1,167 sets of roadworks in North Lanarkshire, of which 205 are under way and 962 are planned. 342 of them close a road, a lane, a slip road or the hard shoulder. North Lanarkshire Council is behind the most, 494 of them (42.3%). From the extract of 16 September 2026.

Works most likely to hold you up

  • Westwood Road, Newmains

    Road closed Under way, until 24 Sept 2026 SGN

    Essential checks to investigate a reported loss of pressure / gas escape

  • Gartcosh Road, Bargeddie

    Road closed Under way, until 27 Sept 2026 North Lanarkshire Council

    Emergency installation of rising main

  • Mulvey Crescent, Airdrie

    Road closed Under way, until 29 Sept 2026 SGN

    Abandon iron mains and replace with pe

  • Forest Road, Abronhill

    Road closed Under way, until 18 Sept 2026 North Lanarkshire Council

    WESTBOUND ROAD CLOSURE FROM BLACKTHORN ROUNDABOUT TO MID-FOREST FARM ENTRANCE - Construction of a new footway for Bellway development at Fir View

  • High Road, Motherwell

    Road closed Under way, until 3 Oct 2026 North Lanarkshire Council

    Excavate POC on existing SW main on High Road (opposite Town Hall Court junction), excavate across high road and down Town Hall Court to the new car…

  • Southfield Crescent, Greenend

    Road closed Under way, until 17 Sept 2026 North Lanarkshire Council

    Drainage maintenance and road mender

  • Kirkness Street, Airdrie

    Road closed Under way, until 17 Sept 2026 North Lanarkshire Council

    Carriageway patching

  • Walter Street, Cambusnethan

    Road closed Under way, until 17 Sept 2026 Scottish Water

    Far side lead renewal

  • Dunottar Avenue, Shawhead

    Road closed Under way, until 6 May 2027 North Lanarkshire Council

    Heras Fencing

  • Coatbridge Road, Bargeddie

    Lane closed Under way, until 17 Oct 2026 North Lanarkshire Council

    Road Safety, Junction improvement works. Signalisation of roundabout.

Who is digging

  • North Lanarkshire Council 494
  • SGN 182
  • SP Energy Networks 180
  • BT 150
  • Scottish Water 98

How traffic is managed

  • Give and take 299
  • Road closed 277
  • Temporary traffic lights 270
  • Road narrowed 141
  • Footway only 67

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 North Lanarkshire compares

North Lanarkshire compared with Scotland, the UK
North Lanarkshire 434 3.6% 3.0% 7.2% 168 12.1
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 192,432 licensed vehicles in North Lanarkshire 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 9,355 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 North Lanarkshire 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.