Yorkshire and the Humber · Unitary authority
North Yorkshire motoring statistics
How many cars and electric cars are registered in North Yorkshire, which fuels they use, how many public chargers there are and how North Yorkshire compares with the Yorkshire and the Humber. From DVLA licensing records, DfT charger statistics and ONS population estimates.
- Licensed cars 355,920 +1.0% on a year earlier
- Private cars per 1,000 people 531 UK 444
- Battery electric cars 14,871 4.2% of cars (UK 5.8%)
- Electric share of private cars 3.3% 145th highest of 361 councils
- Public chargers 1,113 175 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
- Company-registered cars 5.3% UK 10.0%
How many cars are there in North Yorkshire?
There were 355,920 licensed cars in North Yorkshire at the end of June 2026, and 476,606 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 17.2% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 531 for every 1,000 residents, 102nd highest of 361 councils (UK 444).
Licensed vehicles in North Yorkshire
Counts at the end of March each year, 2010 to 2026.
| Year | All vehicles | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 386,375 | 303,669 |
| 2011 | 389,778 | 305,419 |
| 2012 | 393,520 | 307,378 |
| 2013 | 399,451 | 311,505 |
| 2014 | 406,465 | 316,259 |
| 2015 | 410,262 | 318,718 |
| 2016 | 417,314 | 323,369 |
| 2017 | 425,247 | 327,632 |
| 2018 | 429,393 | 329,799 |
| 2019 | 436,641 | 334,021 |
| 2020 | 433,769 | 331,973 |
| 2021 | 447,553 | 339,059 |
| 2022 | 451,775 | 340,044 |
| 2023 | 458,011 | 343,521 |
| 2024 | 464,843 | 348,185 |
| 2025 | 471,351 | 352,402 |
| 2026 | 476,606 | 355,920 |
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.
| Year | North Yorkshire | Yorkshire and the Humber | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 508 | 427 | – |
| 2012 | 509 | 427 | – |
| 2013 | 516 | 429 | – |
| 2014 | 524 | 429 | – |
| 2015 | 528 | 433 | 473 |
| 2016 | 534 | 442 | 480 |
| 2017 | 540 | 450 | 488 |
| 2018 | 543 | 456 | 490 |
| 2019 | 547 | 464 | 493 |
| 2020 | 543 | 463 | 489 |
| 2021 | 548 | 470 | 493 |
| 2022 | 545 | 469 | 489 |
| 2023 | 546 | 469 | 489 |
| 2024 | 548 | 472 | 490 |
Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated
Petrol, diesel and electric cars in North Yorkshire
51.8% of cars in North Yorkshire run on petrol and 32.6% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 44.0% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 8.2%, and cars that plug in 6.9%.
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.
| Year | Petrol | Diesel | Hybrid | Battery electric | Plug-in hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 65.7% | 33.9% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 63.9% | 35.7% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2012 | 62.0% | 37.5% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 60.3% | 39.2% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2014 | 58.5% | 40.9% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 57.0% | 42.3% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2016 | 55.7% | 43.4% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 55.1% | 43.9% | 0.6% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 54.8% | 44.0% | 0.8% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2019 | 55.0% | 43.4% | 1.0% | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| 2020 | 55.0% | 43.0% | 1.3% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| 2021 | 55.0% | 41.9% | 1.9% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| 2022 | 54.6% | 40.8% | 2.6% | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| 2023 | 54.3% | 39.2% | 3.5% | 1.6% | 1.0% |
| 2024 | 53.7% | 37.3% | 4.9% | 2.2% | 1.5% |
| 2025 | 52.9% | 35.0% | 6.5% | 3.1% | 2.1% |
| 2026 | 51.8% | 32.6% | 8.2% | 4.2% | 2.7% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Electric cars in North Yorkshire
14,871 battery electric cars were licensed in North Yorkshire at the end of June 2026, 4.2% of all cars, 129th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 24,622 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 10,802.
Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.3% are battery electric (11,198 cars), 2nd highest of 15 councils in the Yorkshire and the Humber. Companies keep 24.7% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 5.3% of its cars overall. There are also 496 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.
| Year | North Yorkshire | Yorkshire and the Humber | United 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% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 0.5% | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| 2022 | 1.0% | 1.4% | 1.5% |
| 2023 | 1.6% | 2.2% | 2.3% |
| 2024 | 2.2% | 3.0% | 3.2% |
| 2025 | 3.1% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| 2026 | 4.2% | 5.5% | 5.8% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Public EV chargers in North Yorkshire
There were 1,113 public chargers in North Yorkshire on 1 July 2026, 275 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 175 for every 100,000 residents, 120th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count fell 6.1% from 1 January 2026.
For every public charger there are 16.4 privately kept plug-in cars in North Yorkshire (UK 12.9), 170th fewest of 361 councils. A higher number means more competition for each public charger, though many drivers charge at home.
Public chargers
| Date | All public chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2026 | 1,185 | 286 |
| Apr 2026 | 1,160 | 286 |
| Jul 2026 | 1,113 | 275 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Chargers per 100,000 residents
| Area | All chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| North Yorkshire | 175 | 43 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 111 | 37 |
| England | 173 | 41 |
| UK | 175 | 42 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Electric cars by neighbourhood
North Yorkshire has 77 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 2.7% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 5.2%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.
| Neighbourhood (MSOA) | Private vehicles | Battery electric | Electric share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrogate 020 | 6,453 | 338 | 5.2% | |
| Harrogate 007 | 5,505 | 270 | 4.9% | |
| Harrogate 016 | 6,830 | 334 | 4.9% | |
| Harrogate 021 | 4,354 | 214 | 4.9% | |
| Harrogate 012 | 4,634 | 214 | 4.6% | |
| Harrogate 008 | 5,143 | 230 | 4.5% | |
| Selby 002 | 7,193 | 314 | 4.4% | |
| Harrogate 005 | 6,201 | 260 | 4.2% | |
| Harrogate 019 | 3,939 | 165 | 4.2% | |
| Hambleton 011 | 5,008 | 198 | 4.0% | |
| Lowest electric shares | ||||
| Scarborough 008 | 3,116 | 5 | 0.2% | |
| Scarborough 007 | 2,389 | 17 | 0.7% | |
| Scarborough 010 | 3,259 | 35 | 1.1% | |
| Scarborough 006 | 2,669 | 30 | 1.1% | |
| Richmondshire 004 | 6,396 | 79 | 1.2% | |
Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of June 2026. 2 neighbourhoods are left out because DfT withholds small counts there.
Road traffic and collisions in North Yorkshire
Vehicles travelled an estimated 5,532 million miles on roads in North Yorkshire in 2025.
Traffic on all roads
| Year | Million vehicle miles |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 3,884 |
| 1994 | 4,005 |
| 1995 | 4,099 |
| 1996 | 4,221 |
| 1997 | 4,301 |
| 1998 | 4,391 |
| 1999 | 4,427 |
| 2000 | 4,375 |
| 2001 | 4,486 |
| 2002 | 4,653 |
| 2003 | 4,676 |
| 2004 | 4,792 |
| 2005 | 4,936 |
| 2006 | 5,163 |
| 2007 | 5,215 |
| 2008 | 5,035 |
| 2009 | 4,974 |
| 2010 | 4,929 |
| 2011 | 4,928 |
| 2012 | 4,849 |
| 2013 | 4,940 |
| 2014 | 5,067 |
| 2015 | 5,160 |
| 2016 | 5,407 |
| 2017 | 5,439 |
| 2018 | 5,584 |
| 2019 | 5,612 |
| 2020 | 4,425 |
| 2021 | 4,950 |
| 2022 | 5,301 |
| 2023 | 5,385 |
| 2024 | 5,461 |
| 2025 | 5,532 |
Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated
Reported injury collisions
| Year | Collisions | Killed or seriously injured |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 1,012 | 308 |
| 2022 | 877 | 283 |
| 2023 | 1,129 | 389 |
| 2024 | 1,043 | 336 |
| 2025 | 1,159 | 403 |
Source:DfT STATS19,UK Motoring analysis 2021 to 2025 Updated
Petrol and diesel prices in North Yorkshire
Unleaded petrol averages 171.3p a litre across 69 filling stations in North Yorkshire, 0.2p below the UK average. Diesel averages 199.3p, 0.6p above the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.
Cheapest petrol
- Catterick Service Station Ltd Richmond 164.9p
- Sainsbury's Whitby Whitby 165.9p
- Esso Whitby Service Station Whitby 165.9p
How North Yorkshire compares
| North Yorkshire | 531 | 4.2% | 175 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 440 | 5.5% | 111 |
| England | 440 | 6.2% | 173 |
| United Kingdom | 444 | 5.8% | 175 |
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 Yorkshire
There are 6 DVSA car practical test centres in North Yorkshire, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 64.3% at Malton.
- Malton 64.3% pass rate, 2025/26
- Northallerton 60.4% pass rate, 2025/26
- Knaresborough 58.6% pass rate, 2025/26
- Skipton 57.3% pass rate, 2025/26
- Whitby 56.7% pass rate, 2025/26
- Scarborough 45.1% pass rate, 2025/26
Other centres in the Yorkshire and the Humber:
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 the Yorkshire and the Humber
Sorted by battery electric share of cars. Select a column heading to sort by it.
| Leeds | 384 | 14.5% | 138 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doncaster | 474 | 4.5% | 97 |
| North Yorkshire | 531 | 4.2% | 175 |
| York | 397 | 4.1% | 116 |
| Rotherham | 469 | 4.0% | 132 |
| East Riding of Yorkshire | 532 | 3.9% | 113 |
| Sheffield | 382 | 3.9% | 91 |
| Barnsley | 468 | 3.8% | 83 |
| Kirklees | 443 | 3.6% | 61 |
| Wakefield | 461 | 3.6% | 98 |
| Calderdale | 441 | 3.4% | 101 |
| North Lincolnshire | 519 | 3.3% | 105 |
| Bradford | 390 | 3.1% | 99 |
| North East Lincolnshire | 448 | 2.9% | 70 |
| Kingston upon Hull | 359 | 2.7% | 89 |
Data stories to read next
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 476,606 licensed vehicles in North Yorkshire | 26 October 2026 |
| Plug-in and electric vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 25,485 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 Yorkshire 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.