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Peterborough motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
279,094 licensed vehicles in Peterborough
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 237,547 +12.7% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 427 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 68,196 28.7% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 2.3% 103rd lowest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 288 129 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 59.8% UK 9.9%

Company fleets. 59.8% of cars registered in Peterborough have a company as their keeper, against 9.9% across the UK. DVLA counts company cars at the company’s registered address, so leasing and rental fleets land where those firms are based and move when they move. The figures for privately kept cars are the better guide to local drivers.

How many cars are there in Peterborough?

There were 237,547 licensed cars in Peterborough at the end of March 2026, and 279,094 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 202.4% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 427 for every 1,000 residents, 95th lowest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in Peterborough

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Peterborough at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 95,30578,563
2011 96,23279,669
2012 97,09880,243
2013 97,91181,249
2014 195,612168,936
2015 207,607179,970
2016 223,494193,543
2017 235,653202,965
2018 226,817193,003
2019 218,654181,919
2020 224,279183,840
2021 219,462177,980
2022 224,664181,310
2023 221,446180,432
2024 227,794187,682
2025 251,054210,789
2026 279,094237,547

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, Peterborough compared
Year PeterboroughEast of EnglandUnited Kingdom
2011 433503–
2012 427502–
2013 426505–
2014 865524–
2015 921529473
2016 956537480
2017 962544488
2018 892542490
2019 853541493
2020 859536489
2021 834539493
2022 828532489
2023 818529489
2024 866531490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Peterborough

29.1% of cars in Peterborough run on petrol and 18.3% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 64.2% in 2016. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 8.8%, and cars that plug in 42.9%.

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 Peterborough, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 71.0%28.6%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2011 68.7%30.9%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 66.3%33.1%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2013 64.0%35.4%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2014 36.0%62.8%0.9%0.0%0.0%
2015 34.1%64.0%0.8%0.2%0.6%
2016 33.2%64.2%0.7%0.3%1.3%
2017 33.8%61.8%0.7%0.4%3.1%
2018 35.6%58.5%0.8%0.4%4.5%
2019 39.7%53.1%1.1%0.5%5.6%
2020 44.0%47.0%1.7%0.9%6.1%
2021 46.4%40.8%2.6%2.0%7.3%
2022 46.2%35.3%3.4%4.0%9.2%
2023 44.0%31.5%4.5%7.6%10.1%
2024 39.6%26.7%5.6%14.2%11.8%
2025 33.7%21.9%6.8%23.0%13.1%
2026 29.1%18.3%8.8%28.7%14.2%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Peterborough

68,196 battery electric cars were licensed in Peterborough at the end of March 2026, 28.7% of all cars, 4th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 101,839 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 48,459.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.3% are battery electric (2,205 cars), 14th lowest of 45 councils in the East of England. Companies keep 96.8% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 59.8% of its cars overall. There are also 1,666 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, Peterborough compared, end of March each year
Year PeterboroughEast of EnglandUnited Kingdom
2016 0.3%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.4%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.4%0.2%0.1%
2019 0.5%0.2%0.2%
2020 0.9%0.3%0.3%
2021 2.0%0.6%0.7%
2022 4.0%1.1%1.3%
2023 7.6%1.7%2.1%
2024 14.2%2.6%3.0%
2025 23.0%3.8%4.1%
2026 28.7%5.2%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Peterborough

There were 288 public chargers in Peterborough on 1 July 2026, 95 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 129 for every 100,000 residents, 154th lowest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 23.1% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 12.8 privately kept plug-in cars in Peterborough (UK 11.9), 135th 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 Peterborough by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 23472
Apr 2026 29892
Jul 2026 28895

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Peterborough compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Peterborough 12943
East of England 15049
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

Peterborough has 22 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 2.1% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 4.3%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in Peterborough with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
Peterborough 023 7,776 331 4.3% 6.4%
Peterborough 018 6,036 227 3.8% 5.7%
Peterborough 004 4,714 169 3.6% 5.9%
Peterborough 015 4,427 145 3.3% 5.8%
Peterborough 022 6,281 205 3.3% 5.1%
Peterborough 001 4,210 125 3.0% 4.8%
Peterborough 005 4,659 114 2.4% 4.0%
Peterborough 019 7,738 174 2.2% 3.5%
Peterborough 003 5,441 116 2.1% 3.6%
Peterborough 016 5,314 88 1.7% 3.4%
Lowest electric shares
Peterborough 014 3,880 15 0.4% 1.9%
Peterborough 008 4,315 32 0.7% 1.8%
Peterborough 017 4,507 39 0.9% 2.6%
Peterborough 021 3,739 37 1.0% 1.9%
Peterborough 011 3,651 36 1.0% 2.4%

Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of March 2026. 5 neighbourhoods are left out because DfT withholds small counts there.

Road traffic and collisions in Peterborough

Vehicles travelled an estimated 1,286 million miles on roads in Peterborough in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in Peterborough
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 901
1994 917
1995 932
1996 948
1997 975
1998 986
1999 1,032
2000 1,013
2001 1,022
2002 1,047
2003 1,060
2004 1,085
2005 1,072
2006 1,086
2007 1,090
2008 1,075
2009 1,067
2010 1,065
2011 1,055
2012 1,038
2013 1,062
2014 1,100
2015 1,131
2016 1,154
2017 1,211
2018 1,214
2019 1,234
2020 968
2021 1,079
2022 1,210
2023 1,190
2024 1,215
2025 1,286

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Peterborough, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 32683
2022 39184
2023 36777
2024 33764
2025 386106

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Peterborough

Unleaded petrol averages 171.1p a litre across 25 filling stations in Peterborough, 0.6p below the UK average. Diesel averages 193.3p, 1.3p below the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. EG Peterborough Peterborough 167.7p
  2. Eastfield Service Station Peterborough 167.9p
  3. MFG Morrisons Peterborough Peterborough 167.9p

Every filling station and price in Peterborough

How Peterborough compares

Peterborough compared with the East of England, England, the UK
Peterborough 427 28.7% 2.3% 59.8% 129 12.8
East of England 497 5.2% 2.9% 8.6% 150 15.7
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 East of England

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

Councils in the East of England
Peterborough 427 28.7% 2.3% 59.8% 129 12.8
South Cambridgeshire 543 5.5% 4.9% 3.5% 205 17.9
Hertsmere 467 5.4% 4.1% 6.5% 229 15.8
St Albans 500 5.4% 4.6% 3.7% 111 41.3
Three Rivers 511 4.8% 3.9% 4.2% 161 16.7
Cambridge 270 4.7% 4.0% 3.8% 313 5.8
Huntingdonshire 545 4.6% 3.5% 8.4% 175 18.8
North Hertfordshire 512 4.4% 3.6% 4.3% 117 27.6
Uttlesford 588 4.4% 3.8% 12.4% 164 22.5
Central Bedfordshire 539 4.3% 3.6% 4.4% 168 15.3
Bedford 481 4.1% 3.2% 6.8% 149 16.3
East Hertfordshire 526 4.1% 3.4% 4.0% 135 22.2
Epping Forest 497 4.1% 3.3% 5.2% 126 24.6
Welwyn Hatfield 455 4.1% 3.3% 5.4% 350 6.5
East Cambridgeshire 562 4.0% 3.5% 3.7% 90 29.8
Dacorum 505 3.9% 3.2% 4.0% 159 17.1
Watford 397 3.9% 2.9% 5.2% 563 3.2
Brentwood 499 3.8% 2.9% 4.6% 97 33.7
Basildon 459 3.7% 2.3% 12.1% 62 35.9
Chelmsford 502 3.7% 3.1% 4.7% 105 25.7
South Norfolk 568 3.6% 3.1% 4.1% 131 18.5
Mid Suffolk 605 3.5% 2.9% 4.6% 135 19.8
Broadland 571 3.3% 2.8% 3.9% 116 22.1
Colchester 471 3.3% 2.6% 4.6% 90 22.2
Maldon 598 3.2% 2.6% 3.6% 61 50.6
Breckland 553 3.1% 2.4% 4.3% 114 18.4
Broxbourne 484 3.1% 2.5% 4.6% 153 14.8
Thurrock 455 3.1% 2.4% 5.2% 115 19.3
Babergh 584 3.0% 2.6% 3.2% 164 14.1
Braintree 533 3.0% 2.4% 4.0% 89 23.4
East Suffolk 547 3.0% 2.4% 4.3% 143 16.0
Harlow 442 3.0% 2.3% 4.7% 74 22.8
Rochford 549 3.0% 2.6% 4.1% 76 32.5
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 535 2.9% 2.3% 4.1% 172 12.1
West Suffolk 544 2.9% 2.4% 4.5% 236 10.6
Stevenage 449 2.8% 2.2% 4.3% 194 8.6
Fenland 535 2.7% 2.1% 4.3% 53 34.3
Norwich 350 2.7% 1.6% 5.7% 196 4.7
Luton 375 2.6% 2.1% 5.1% 65 25.1
North Norfolk 569 2.6% 2.2% 3.5% 225 8.0
Tendring 509 2.6% 2.0% 4.9% 84 20.0
Castle Point 531 2.5% 2.0% 3.8% 42 49.8
Ipswich 444 2.5% 1.7% 4.9% 294 4.9
Southend-on-Sea 428 2.5% 2.0% 3.9% 51 29.2
Great Yarmouth 470 2.3% 1.7% 4.7% 211 6.3

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 279,094 licensed vehicles in Peterborough 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 104,262 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 Peterborough 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.