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Renfrewshire motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
151,126 licensed vehicles in Renfrewshire
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 127,303 −0.3% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 439 UK 444
  • Battery electric cars 16,297 12.8% of cars (UK 5.8%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.5% 114th highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 459 243 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 34.8% UK 10.0%

Company fleets. 34.8% of cars registered in Renfrewshire have a company as their keeper, against 10.0% 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 Renfrewshire?

There were 127,303 licensed cars in Renfrewshire at the end of June 2026, and 151,126 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 76.4% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 439 for every 1,000 residents, 101st lowest of 361 councils (UK 444).

Licensed vehicles in Renfrewshire

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Renfrewshire at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 82,72272,167
2011 83,15672,630
2012 83,03972,686
2013 83,98073,602
2014 85,55074,736
2015 86,86175,947
2016 133,502113,964
2017 135,422115,608
2018 138,020116,996
2019 145,815124,402
2020 140,226121,037
2021 144,887123,738
2022 146,594124,075
2023 151,896128,418
2024 150,197126,214
2025 151,736127,705
2026 151,126127,303

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, Renfrewshire compared
Year RenfrewshireScotlandUnited Kingdom
2011 416429–
2012 416430–
2013 422436–
2014 426443–
2015 432446473
2016 642450480
2017 648457488
2018 652461490
2019 687465493
2020 667462489
2021 679469493
2022 673466489
2023 686465489
2024 667468490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Renfrewshire

49.1% of cars in Renfrewshire run on petrol and 18.2% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 47.8% in 2017. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 11.8%, and cars that plug in 20.4%.

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 Renfrewshire, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 77.0%22.8%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2011 75.0%24.8%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 73.2%26.5%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2013 71.2%28.3%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2014 68.9%30.7%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2015 66.6%32.9%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2016 51.7%47.1%0.7%0.1%0.2%
2017 50.4%47.8%1.1%0.1%0.5%
2018 51.2%45.7%1.7%0.2%1.1%
2019 53.7%41.7%2.4%0.4%1.8%
2020 55.6%38.2%3.2%0.8%2.2%
2021 55.4%33.0%4.3%3.6%3.4%
2022 54.9%29.7%6.2%4.8%3.9%
2023 53.6%25.7%7.9%7.7%4.5%
2024 53.7%23.7%9.3%7.7%4.8%
2025 51.9%20.8%10.9%9.7%6.0%
2026 49.1%18.2%11.8%12.8%7.6%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Renfrewshire

16,297 battery electric cars were licensed in Renfrewshire at the end of June 2026, 12.8% of all cars, 13th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 25,942 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 12,393.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.5% are battery electric (2,903 cars), 11th highest of 32 councils in Scotland. Companies keep 82.2% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 34.8% of its cars overall. There are also 739 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, Renfrewshire compared, end of March each year
Year RenfrewshireScotlandUnited Kingdom
2016 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.2%0.1%0.1%
2019 0.4%0.2%0.2%
2020 0.8%0.3%0.4%
2021 3.6%0.7%0.8%
2022 4.8%1.2%1.5%
2023 7.7%1.9%2.3%
2024 7.7%2.5%3.2%
2025 9.7%3.4%4.4%
2026 12.8%4.5%5.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Renfrewshire

There were 459 public chargers in Renfrewshire on 1 July 2026, 141 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 243 for every 100,000 residents, 55th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 4.6% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 10.1 privately kept plug-in cars in Renfrewshire (UK 12.9), 82nd 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 Renfrewshire by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 439134
Apr 2026 460140
Jul 2026 459141

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Renfrewshire compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Renfrewshire 24375
Scotland 23259
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Road traffic and collisions in Renfrewshire

Vehicles travelled an estimated 1,034 million miles on roads in Renfrewshire in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in Renfrewshire
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 729
1994 742
1995 758
1996 784
1997 804
1998 824
1999 835
2000 800
2001 816
2002 835
2003 863
2004 875
2005 892
2006 909
2007 914
2008 923
2009 905
2010 893
2011 896
2012 890
2013 899
2014 932
2015 954
2016 978
2017 983
2018 1,011
2019 1,013
2020 787
2021 908
2022 1,000
2023 1,004
2024 1,028
2025 1,034

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Renfrewshire, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 10640
2022 12050
2023 11153
2024 13767
2025 12663

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Renfrewshire

Unleaded petrol averages 171.0p a litre across 14 filling stations in Renfrewshire, 0.5p below the UK average. Diesel averages 197.0p, 1.7p below the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Abbotsinch Service Station Jet Renfrew 167.9p
  2. Sainsbury's Braehead Glasgow 168.9p
  3. Esso Arkleston Service Station Renfrew 169.9p

Every filling station and price in Renfrewshire

Roadworks in Renfrewshire

The Scottish Road Works Register lists 433 sets of roadworks in Renfrewshire, of which 138 are under way and 295 are planned. 98 of them close a road, a lane, a slip road or the hard shoulder. Renfrewshire Council is behind the most, 123 of them (28.4%). From the extract of 30 October 2026.

Works most likely to hold you up

  • Hart Street, Linwood

    Road closed Under way, until 8 Nov 2026 Scottish Water

    Urgent mains renewal

  • Station Road, Renfrew

    Road closed Under way, until 29 Nov 2026 Scottish Water

    Traffic management for Road closure / safe working area to do repairs on damaged sewer network.

  • Renfrew Road, Paisley

    Lane closed Under way, until 1 Jun 2028 Renfrewshire Council

    Amids south

  • Abercorn Street, Paisley

    Lane closed Under way, until 1 Jun 2028 Renfrewshire Council

    Amids south

  • Harbour Road, Paisley

    Road closed Under way, until 1 Jun 2028 Renfrewshire Council

    Amids south

  • Highcraig Avenue, Johnstone

    Road closed Under way, until 8 Mar 2027 Renfrewshire Council

    Drainage Improvement

  • Craigview Avenue, Johnstone

    Road closed Under way, until 8 Mar 2027 Renfrewshire Council

    Drainage Improvement

  • Dundonald Avenue, Johnstone

    Road closed Under way, until 8 Mar 2027 Renfrewshire Council

    Drainage Improvement

  • Bardrain Avenue, Elderslie

    Road closed Under way, until 14 Dec 2026 SP Energy Networks

    Excavate, backfill & reinstate for work to replace RMU

  • Hurlet Road, Paisley

    Road closed Under way, until 31 Oct 2026 EE Limited

    Excavation works - exposing pole root and ducts and final reinstatement, machine will only be used if safe to do so. HIAB also on site for pole swap…

Who is digging

  • Renfrewshire Council 123
  • SGN 85
  • BT 81
  • SP Energy Networks 59
  • Scottish Water 49

How traffic is managed

  • Give and take 148
  • Temporary traffic lights 123
  • Road closed 78
  • Footway only 36
  • Road narrowed 18

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 2026-10-30 Updated

How Renfrewshire compares

Renfrewshire compared with Scotland, the UK
Renfrewshire 439 12.8% 3.5% 34.8% 243 10.1
Scotland 439 4.5% 3.3% 7.8% 232 9.7
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 Renfrewshire

There is 1 DVSA car practical test centre in Renfrewshire, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 48.6% at Paisley.

Other centres in Scotland:

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 Scotland

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

Councils in Scotland
Stirling 471 14.8% 4.5% 32.2% 511 6.0
Renfrewshire 439 12.8% 3.5% 34.8% 243 10.1
East Renfrewshire 475 5.5% 4.9% 4.3% 82 43.0
East Dunbartonshire 482 5.1% 4.5% 4.0% 103 32.4
West Lothian 481 4.9% 4.3% 5.6% 137 21.7
East Lothian 476 4.8% 4.4% 4.4% 600 5.1
Edinburgh 326 4.5% 3.6% 5.2% 192 9.7
Midlothian 465 4.5% 4.1% 5.1% 223 12.7
Orkney Islands 496 4.5% 4.0% 5.2% 386 7.3
South Lanarkshire 465 4.5% 3.9% 6.2% 182 15.3
Perth and Kinross 510 4.4% 3.9% 5.1% 363 8.3
Dundee 373 4.1% 3.2% 6.6% 472 3.7
North Lanarkshire 436 4.0% 3.4% 7.2% 168 13.7
Falkirk 495 3.9% 3.3% 5.4% 163 15.2
Fife 481 3.9% 3.4% 4.8% 132 18.2
South Ayrshire 483 3.9% 3.4% 5.1% 205 12.2
Aberdeenshire 533 3.8% 3.3% 4.3% 162 17.8
East Ayrshire 469 3.6% 3.1% 6.0% 229 9.6
Glasgow 309 3.5% 2.4% 9.6% 180 6.8
North Ayrshire 458 3.5% 3.0% 5.9% 199 10.6
Angus 507 3.4% 3.0% 4.7% 221 10.7
Clackmannanshire 496 3.4% 3.0% 4.9% 205 10.9
Aberdeen 399 3.3% 2.8% 4.4% 192 10.2
Scottish Borders 510 3.2% 2.9% 4.8% 224 10.4
Inverclyde 426 2.9% 2.5% 5.6% 237 7.5
West Dunbartonshire 421 2.9% 2.4% 6.7% 204 8.3
Argyll and Bute 474 2.8% 2.4% 4.7% 396 5.1
Highland 500 2.8% 2.3% 5.0% 387 5.0
Moray 507 2.8% 2.3% 4.5% 153 13.3
Dumfries and Galloway 514 2.4% 2.0% 5.7% 549 3.2
Shetland Islands 476 2.2% 1.7% 9.1% 323 4.3
Na h-Eileanan Siar 507 1.6% 1.3% 4.2% 515 2.4

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 151,126 licensed vehicles in Renfrewshire 26 October 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 26,804 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
  • Coverage: licensing and charger figures cover the whole UK. Licensing figures in Renfrewshire 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.