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Reading motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
83,820 licensed vehicles in Reading
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 69,797 +1.5% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 362 UK 444
  • Battery electric cars 2,498 3.6% of cars (UK 5.8%)
  • Electric share of private cars 2.9% 156th lowest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 346 189 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 5.1% UK 10.0%

How many cars are there in Reading?

There were 69,797 licensed cars in Reading at the end of June 2026, and 83,820 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 17.2% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 362 for every 1,000 residents, 48th lowest of 361 councils (UK 444).

Licensed vehicles in Reading

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Reading at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 69,82759,530
2011 70,79760,478
2012 71,14260,891
2013 72,47862,001
2014 72,56562,960
2015 73,67664,087
2016 75,34865,466
2017 75,95965,939
2018 76,30966,165
2019 76,86566,645
2020 75,39065,548
2021 76,34465,976
2022 77,02066,267
2023 79,71266,870
2024 81,70467,835
2025 82,69468,743
2026 83,82069,797

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, Reading compared
Year ReadingSouth EastUnited Kingdom
2011 389534–
2012 383535–
2013 380541–
2014 379547–
2015 379551473
2016 381559480
2017 381567488
2018 379570490
2019 382572493
2020 377561489
2021 381564493
2022 376565489
2023 372567489
2024 371570490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Reading

58.6% of cars in Reading run on petrol and 26.6% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 33.3% in 2019. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 8.9%, and cars that plug in 5.6%.

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 Reading, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 79.0%20.6%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2011 76.7%22.8%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2012 74.8%24.6%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2013 72.8%26.5%0.6%0.0%0.0%
2014 71.1%28.0%0.7%0.0%0.0%
2015 69.0%29.9%0.8%0.0%0.0%
2016 67.1%31.6%1.0%0.1%0.0%
2017 65.9%32.6%1.2%0.1%0.1%
2018 65.3%32.9%1.4%0.1%0.2%
2019 64.5%33.3%1.7%0.2%0.2%
2020 64.1%33.2%2.0%0.3%0.3%
2021 63.4%32.8%2.7%0.5%0.5%
2022 62.1%32.8%3.4%0.9%0.7%
2023 61.1%32.2%4.3%1.4%0.8%
2024 60.4%30.7%5.6%1.8%1.1%
2025 59.6%28.8%7.1%2.6%1.5%
2026 58.6%26.6%8.9%3.6%2.0%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Reading

2,498 battery electric cars were licensed in Reading at the end of June 2026, 3.6% of all cars, 153rd lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 3,888 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 1,821.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.9% are battery electric (1,897 cars), 22nd lowest of 64 councils in the South East. Companies keep 24.1% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 5.1% of its cars overall. There are also 105 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, Reading compared, end of March each year
Year ReadingSouth EastUnited Kingdom
2016 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.1%0.2%0.1%
2019 0.2%0.3%0.2%
2020 0.3%0.5%0.4%
2021 0.5%1.1%0.8%
2022 0.9%2.2%1.5%
2023 1.4%3.3%2.3%
2024 1.8%4.5%3.2%
2025 2.6%6.4%4.4%
2026 3.6%9.3%5.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Reading

There were 346 public chargers in Reading on 1 July 2026, 54 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 189 for every 100,000 residents, 106th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count fell 10.4% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 9.1 privately kept plug-in cars in Reading (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 Reading by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 38640
Apr 2026 34350
Jul 2026 34654

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Reading compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Reading 18930
South East 15940
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

Reading has 19 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 2.4% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 5.6%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in Reading with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
Reading 002 4,797 267 5.6% 8.5%
Reading 003 4,392 162 3.7% 5.8%
Reading 001 4,868 173 3.6% 6.1%
Reading 016 2,626 85 3.2% 4.7%
Reading 005 4,688 147 3.1% 4.8%
Reading 013 3,805 103 2.7% 4.5%
Reading 015 4,488 121 2.7% 4.2%
Reading 017 5,721 146 2.6% 4.4%
Reading 012 2,634 66 2.5% 4.4%
Reading 004 3,681 83 2.3% 3.7%
Lowest electric shares
Reading 010 3,402 24 0.7% 2.4%
Reading 007 4,082 52 1.3% 2.9%
Reading 019 2,227 36 1.6% 3.9%
Reading 009 4,190 71 1.7% 3.0%
Reading 008 4,165 70 1.7% 3.3%

Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of June 2026. 1 neighbourhood is left out because DfT withholds small counts there.

Road traffic and collisions in Reading

Vehicles travelled an estimated 357 million miles on roads in Reading in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in Reading
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 376
1994 382
1995 388
1996 394
1997 399
1998 403
1999 408
2000 403
2001 403
2002 409
2003 404
2004 394
2005 388
2006 373
2007 372
2008 366
2009 360
2010 354
2011 360
2012 358
2013 360
2014 364
2015 372
2016 374
2017 373
2018 371
2019 372
2020 292
2021 313
2022 348
2023 353
2024 359
2025 357

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Reading, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 23435
2022 31054
2023 26041
2024 25139
2025 25049

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Reading

Unleaded petrol averages 173.9p a litre across 17 filling stations in Reading, 2.4p above the UK average. Diesel averages 199.9p, 1.2p above the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.

Cheapest petrol

  1. MFG Morrisons Reading Reading 171.9p
  2. Esso MFG Norcot Reading 171.9p
  3. Esso MFG Shinfield Reading 171.9p

Every filling station and price in Reading

How Reading compares

Reading compared with the South East, England, the UK
Reading 362 3.6% 2.9% 5.1% 189 9.1
South East 499 9.3% 3.5% 18.5% 159 17.7
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 Reading

There is 1 DVSA car practical test centre in Reading, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 55.4% at Reading.

Other centres in the South East:

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 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 521 40.1% 4.1% 83.4% 150 24.9
Milton Keynes 459 28.0% 4.8% 62.3% 323 10.1
Slough 386 26.3% 2.8% 50.4% 100 22.2
Portsmouth 362 8.2% 1.8% 36.0% 203 5.4
Elmbridge 530 6.2% 4.8% 4.3% 181 25.0
Cherwell 515 5.9% 3.8% 14.4% 204 15.4
Wokingham 544 5.7% 5.1% 3.1% 159 27.2
Winchester 527 5.4% 4.7% 4.9% 213 17.7
Hart 599 5.2% 4.2% 4.2% 210 18.7
Vale of White Horse 542 5.2% 4.8% 3.1% 194 20.0
Guildford 501 5.1% 4.4% 4.8% 182 19.1
Waverley 569 5.0% 4.5% 2.9% 155 26.6
Epsom and Ewell 463 4.9% 4.0% 3.8% 131 24.3
South Oxfordshire 563 4.9% 4.2% 3.3% 121 31.5
Buckinghamshire 546 4.8% 4.2% 4.1% 141 26.6
Mole Valley 595 4.8% 3.9% 15.9% 286 13.6
Eastleigh 544 4.7% 3.8% 4.6% 117 25.4
Surrey Heath 576 4.7% 4.1% 3.4% 207 18.5
East Hampshire 600 4.6% 4.0% 3.3% 84 45.1
Reigate and Banstead 500 4.6% 3.6% 9.9% 123 25.6
Runnymede 498 4.6% 3.6% 5.9% 246 12.3
Rushmoor 482 4.6% 2.6% 66.2% 156 13.1
Dartford 443 4.5% 3.7% 5.6% 194 14.2
Mid Sussex 535 4.5% 3.8% 5.0% 176 18.8
Sevenoaks 554 4.5% 3.9% 4.9% 95 39.0
Test Valley 565 4.5% 3.9% 3.9% 118 28.3
West Berkshire 562 4.5% 3.9% 4.1% 283 12.1
Basingstoke and Deane 529 4.4% 3.9% 3.2% 141 22.4
Tonbridge and Malling 534 4.4% 3.6% 5.9% 128 24.8
Fareham 568 4.3% 3.7% 3.0% 62 52.0
Horsham 583 4.3% 3.7% 3.4% 195 17.4
Tandridge 554 4.3% 3.6% 3.8% 138 25.3
Oxford 279 4.2% 3.3% 5.6% 167 8.7
West Oxfordshire 553 4.2% 3.7% 4.3% 195 17.1
Bracknell Forest 532 4.1% 3.6% 19.6% 159 19.7
Woking 516 4.1% 3.7% 3.2% 274 12.0
Brighton and Hove 309 4.0% 3.1% 5.3% 283 5.3
Tunbridge Wells 518 4.0% 3.4% 3.8% 113 27.2
Canterbury 458 3.9% 3.1% 4.8% 162 14.1
Wealden 600 3.9% 3.4% 3.4% 115 28.1
Ashford 516 3.8% 3.1% 4.7% 145 18.1
Chichester 562 3.8% 3.2% 4.1% 173 17.0
Lewes 493 3.7% 3.2% 3.8% 140 17.4
Maidstone 520 3.7% 3.1% 4.4% 83 32.5
New Forest 606 3.6% 3.1% 3.3% 177 17.2
Reading 362 3.6% 2.9% 5.1% 189 9.1
Havant 510 3.5% 2.7% 4.8% 72 29.4
Worthing 467 3.4% 2.8% 3.6% 255 7.4
Arun 532 3.3% 2.9% 3.3% 166 14.1
Spelthorne 496 3.3% 2.8% 3.8% 160 16.3
Adur 476 3.2% 2.6% 4.1% 168 11.2
Crawley 435 3.2% 2.5% 4.9% 223 8.2
Gravesham 465 3.2% 2.6% 5.6% 78 28.8
Medway 461 3.2% 2.5% 4.7% 79 25.3
Rother 551 3.2% 2.8% 3.9% 67 38.3
Swale 497 3.2% 2.7% 5.4% 107 20.3
Dover 499 3.0% 2.6% 4.2% 137 15.2
Folkestone and Hythe 498 3.0% 2.5% 4.3% 211 9.9
Eastbourne 428 2.9% 2.2% 6.9% 116 13.0
Isle of Wight 500 2.8% 2.3% 4.2% 135 12.5
Thanet 461 2.8% 2.2% 5.0% 98 17.1
Gosport 475 2.7% 2.2% 3.3% 100 16.3
Southampton 372 2.7% 2.0% 4.5% 70 17.4
Hastings 417 2.5% 2.0% 4.8% 52 26.5

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 83,820 licensed vehicles in Reading 26 October 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 4,140 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 Reading 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.