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Portsmouth motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
150,801 licensed vehicles in Portsmouth
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 121,618 +1.2% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 361 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 9,931 8.2% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 1.6% 20th lowest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 434 203 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 36.4% UK 9.9%

Company fleets. 36.4% of cars registered in Portsmouth 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 Portsmouth?

There were 121,618 licensed cars in Portsmouth at the end of March 2026, and 150,801 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 35.2% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 361 for every 1,000 residents, 48th lowest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in Portsmouth

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Portsmouth at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 108,88889,962
2011 106,32688,809
2012 112,02792,458
2013 115,88995,563
2014 117,37596,886
2015 119,15898,233
2016 122,909100,996
2017 125,075102,304
2018 126,833103,000
2019 127,896103,592
2020 130,887106,063
2021 130,037105,015
2022 134,566108,953
2023 137,937112,500
2024 144,060116,140
2025 149,288120,225
2026 150,801121,618

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, Portsmouth compared
Year PortsmouthSouth EastUnited Kingdom
2011 433534–
2012 454535–
2013 468541–
2014 474547–
2015 473551473
2016 479559480
2017 485567488
2018 486570490
2019 491572493
2020 503561489
2021 513564493
2022 523565489
2023 529567489
2024 544570490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Portsmouth

45.3% of cars in Portsmouth run on petrol and 20.3% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 39.4% in 2017. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 15.8%, and cars that plug in 18.4%.

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 Portsmouth, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 63.4%34.8%1.6%0.0%0.0%
2011 63.1%34.7%2.1%0.0%0.0%
2012 60.1%37.0%2.7%0.0%0.0%
2013 57.8%38.8%3.3%0.0%0.0%
2014 56.8%38.8%4.2%0.0%0.1%
2015 55.4%39.1%5.2%0.0%0.1%
2016 54.0%39.3%6.1%0.0%0.4%
2017 52.7%39.4%7.0%0.0%0.6%
2018 52.2%38.6%7.8%0.1%1.0%
2019 52.8%36.6%8.8%0.1%1.5%
2020 52.8%34.7%10.1%0.5%1.7%
2021 52.8%32.0%10.1%2.2%2.5%
2022 51.1%29.0%11.2%4.7%3.8%
2023 49.3%26.7%12.7%6.4%4.8%
2024 47.3%24.2%14.2%8.0%6.1%
2025 45.6%22.0%15.4%8.5%8.3%
2026 45.3%20.3%15.8%8.2%10.2%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Portsmouth

9,931 battery electric cars were licensed in Portsmouth at the end of March 2026, 8.2% of all cars, 16th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 22,362 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 10,164.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 1.6% are battery electric (1,261 cars), the lowest of 64 councils in the South East. Companies keep 87.3% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 36.4% of its cars overall. There are also 1,893 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, Portsmouth compared, end of March each year
Year PortsmouthSouth EastUnited Kingdom
2016 0.0%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.0%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.1%0.2%0.1%
2019 0.1%0.2%0.2%
2020 0.5%0.5%0.3%
2021 2.2%1.0%0.7%
2022 4.7%1.9%1.3%
2023 6.4%3.0%2.1%
2024 8.0%4.2%3.0%
2025 8.5%5.7%4.1%
2026 8.2%8.7%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Portsmouth

There were 434 public chargers in Portsmouth on 1 July 2026, 43 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 203 for every 100,000 residents, 84th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 12.7% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 4.8 privately kept plug-in cars in Portsmouth (UK 11.9), 26th 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 Portsmouth by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 38547
Apr 2026 43447
Jul 2026 43443

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Portsmouth compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Portsmouth 20320
South East 15940
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

Portsmouth has 26 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 1.3% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 3.3%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in Portsmouth with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
Portsmouth 026 4,172 139 3.3% 4.7%
Portsmouth 003 4,203 130 3.1% 4.7%
Portsmouth 004 3,417 72 2.1% 3.5%
Portsmouth 024 3,613 74 2.0% 3.3%
Portsmouth 006 4,434 83 1.9% 2.8%
Portsmouth 017 4,542 88 1.9% 3.4%
Portsmouth 025 2,894 56 1.9% 3.0%
Portsmouth 022 2,688 47 1.7% 3.2%
Portsmouth 008 4,390 71 1.6% 2.7%
Portsmouth 023 4,173 59 1.4% 2.5%
Lowest electric shares
Portsmouth 010 2,515 6 0.2% 0.8%
Portsmouth 013 2,174 6 0.3% 0.9%
Portsmouth 018 2,871 14 0.5% 1.8%
Portsmouth 012 3,928 21 0.5% 1.5%
Portsmouth 021 2,882 21 0.7% 1.6%

Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of March 2026. 3 neighbourhoods are left out because DfT withholds small counts there.

Road traffic and collisions in Portsmouth

Vehicles travelled an estimated 749 million miles on roads in Portsmouth in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in Portsmouth
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 705
1994 717
1995 731
1996 719
1997 727
1998 742
1999 751
2000 743
2001 746
2002 761
2003 761
2004 769
2005 752
2006 753
2007 742
2008 714
2009 715
2010 717
2011 722
2012 734
2013 729
2014 734
2015 750
2016 761
2017 763
2018 749
2019 758
2020 590
2021 671
2022 757
2023 756
2024 742
2025 749

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Portsmouth, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 42897
2022 449114
2023 46390
2024 44982
2025 45788

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Portsmouth

Unleaded petrol averages 172.4p a litre across 15 filling stations in Portsmouth, 0.7p above the UK average. Diesel averages 195.8p, 1.2p above the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Sainsbury's Farlington Portsmouth 167.9p
  2. Asda Portsmouth Portsmouth 169.7p
  3. All Saints Service Station Portsmouth 169.9p

Every filling station and price in Portsmouth

How Portsmouth compares

Portsmouth compared with the South East, England, the UK
Portsmouth 361 8.2% 1.6% 36.4% 203 4.8
South East 496 8.7% 3.2% 18.1% 159 16.9
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 South East

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

Councils in the South East
Windsor and Maidenhead 518 38.0% 3.8% 83.1% 150 23.3
Milton Keynes 455 26.5% 4.4% 61.6% 323 9.0
Slough 382 25.1% 2.6% 51.0% 100 20.4
Portsmouth 361 8.2% 1.6% 36.4% 203 4.8
Elmbridge 528 5.7% 4.5% 4.2% 181 30.9
Cherwell 512 5.2% 3.5% 14.2% 204 13.8
Wokingham 540 5.2% 4.6% 3.1% 159 19.0
Winchester 523 5.0% 4.3% 4.8% 213 17.3
Hart 595 4.9% 3.9% 4.2% 210 23.2
Vale of White Horse 539 4.9% 4.4% 3.1% 194 17.8
Guildford 499 4.8% 4.1% 4.7% 182 19.6
Waverley 565 4.7% 4.2% 2.9% 155 31.6
Epsom and Ewell 461 4.6% 3.7% 4.0% 131 27.0
South Oxfordshire 559 4.6% 3.9% 3.3% 121 28.5
Buckinghamshire 543 4.5% 3.8% 4.1% 141 24.7
Mole Valley 591 4.5% 3.6% 15.6% 286 12.5
Reigate and Banstead 498 4.4% 3.4% 9.3% 123 35.9
Runnymede 496 4.4% 3.4% 6.0% 246 13.8
Surrey Heath 572 4.4% 3.8% 3.4% 207 20.9
Sevenoaks 551 4.3% 3.6% 5.0% 95 37.2
Dartford 441 4.2% 3.4% 5.6% 194 14.5
Eastleigh 539 4.2% 3.3% 4.5% 117 23.6
West Berkshire 557 4.2% 3.6% 4.2% 283 12.0
Basingstoke and Deane 524 4.1% 3.6% 3.2% 141 20.9
East Hampshire 594 4.1% 3.6% 3.3% 84 42.9
Mid Sussex 531 4.1% 3.5% 5.0% 176 17.8
Rushmoor 480 4.1% 2.3% 63.7% 156 11.4
Test Valley 561 4.1% 3.5% 3.9% 118 26.7
Tonbridge and Malling 530 4.1% 3.3% 5.9% 128 18.3
Horsham 580 4.0% 3.4% 3.4% 195 16.4
Tandridge 552 4.0% 3.3% 3.8% 138 30.0
Bracknell Forest 528 3.9% 3.3% 18.1% 159 20.5
Fareham 564 3.9% 3.4% 3.0% 62 47.8
Oxford 280 3.9% 3.0% 5.6% 167 8.2
West Oxfordshire 549 3.9% 3.4% 4.3% 195 15.6
Woking 514 3.9% 3.4% 3.2% 274 12.1
Tunbridge Wells 515 3.8% 3.2% 3.8% 113 25.5
Brighton and Hove 308 3.7% 2.9% 5.3% 283 5.9
Wealden 594 3.6% 3.0% 3.4% 115 26.5
Ashford 511 3.5% 2.8% 4.7% 145 15.9
Canterbury 454 3.5% 2.8% 4.7% 162 14.5
Chichester 557 3.5% 2.9% 4.0% 173 14.7
Lewes 489 3.5% 2.9% 3.8% 140 15.1
Maidstone 515 3.4% 2.8% 4.4% 83 29.6
New Forest 603 3.3% 2.8% 3.3% 177 17.2
Reading 360 3.3% 2.6% 5.1% 189 8.3
Havant 507 3.2% 2.4% 4.8% 72 29.7
Spelthorne 493 3.2% 2.6% 3.6% 160 18.5
Worthing 465 3.1% 2.5% 3.5% 255 7.1
Arun 529 3.0% 2.5% 3.3% 166 12.8
Crawley 433 3.0% 2.3% 4.9% 223 6.9
Gravesham 461 3.0% 2.4% 5.5% 78 24.7
Medway 458 3.0% 2.3% 4.7% 79 25.7
Adur 473 2.9% 2.4% 4.0% 168 10.0
Rother 546 2.9% 2.5% 3.9% 67 36.7
Dover 497 2.8% 2.3% 4.2% 137 13.6
Swale 493 2.8% 2.4% 5.4% 107 18.1
Folkestone and Hythe 494 2.7% 2.3% 4.3% 211 9.2
Eastbourne 427 2.6% 1.9% 6.7% 116 12.4
Isle of Wight 498 2.6% 2.1% 4.2% 135 11.2
Thanet 457 2.6% 2.0% 5.1% 98 18.8
Southampton 370 2.5% 1.8% 4.6% 70 16.3
Gosport 473 2.4% 2.0% 3.3% 100 14.9
Hastings 415 2.4% 1.8% 4.8% 52 19.1

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 150,801 licensed vehicles in Portsmouth 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 24,492 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 Portsmouth 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.