East of England · District council

Rochford motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
62,790 licensed vehicles in Rochford
Methodology
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  • Licensed cars 51,806 +0.9% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 554 UK 444
  • Battery electric cars 1,731 3.3% of cars (UK 5.8%)
  • Electric share of private cars 2.9% 156th lowest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 68 76 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 4.0% UK 10.0%

How many cars are there in Rochford?

There were 51,806 licensed cars in Rochford at the end of June 2026, and 62,790 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 18.0% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 554 for every 1,000 residents, 52nd highest of 361 councils (UK 444).

Licensed vehicles in Rochford

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Rochford at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 52,60743,913
2011 52,72344,014
2012 53,00444,321
2013 53,58744,950
2014 54,67445,849
2015 55,24346,250
2016 56,16846,836
2017 57,05647,586
2018 57,57847,967
2019 58,36748,595
2020 57,85048,205
2021 59,23249,184
2022 59,80049,394
2023 60,82350,113
2024 61,81250,925
2025 62,45551,369
2026 62,79051,806

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, Rochford compared
Year RochfordEast of EnglandUnited Kingdom
2011 528503–
2012 530502–
2013 539505–
2014 545524–
2015 549529473
2016 554537480
2017 562544488
2018 564542490
2019 570541493
2020 566536489
2021 571539493
2022 566532489
2023 566529489
2024 567531490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Rochford

62.8% of cars in Rochford run on petrol and 22.7% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 30.3% in 2020. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 8.5%, 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 Rochford, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 78.5%21.1%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2011 77.2%22.4%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 75.8%23.8%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2013 74.2%25.3%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2014 72.7%26.7%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2015 71.5%27.8%0.4%0.1%0.0%
2016 70.6%28.7%0.5%0.1%0.0%
2017 69.6%29.5%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2018 68.9%30.1%0.7%0.1%0.1%
2019 68.5%30.2%0.9%0.1%0.2%
2020 68.1%30.3%1.1%0.2%0.2%
2021 67.4%30.1%1.5%0.4%0.4%
2022 66.5%29.5%2.3%0.8%0.6%
2023 66.2%28.2%3.2%1.2%0.9%
2024 65.5%26.5%4.9%1.7%1.1%
2025 64.2%24.7%6.8%2.4%1.5%
2026 62.8%22.7%8.5%3.3%2.2%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Rochford

1,731 battery electric cars were licensed in Rochford at the end of June 2026, 3.3% of all cars, 112th lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 2,886 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 1,244.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.9% are battery electric (1,421 cars), 22nd highest of 45 councils in the East of England. Companies keep 17.9% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 4.0% of its cars overall. There are also 53 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, Rochford compared, end of March each year
Year RochfordEast of EnglandUnited Kingdom
2016 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.1%0.2%0.1%
2018 0.1%0.2%0.1%
2019 0.1%0.2%0.2%
2020 0.2%0.4%0.4%
2021 0.4%0.8%0.8%
2022 0.8%1.2%1.5%
2023 1.2%1.9%2.3%
2024 1.7%2.9%3.2%
2025 2.4%4.1%4.4%
2026 3.3%5.6%5.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Rochford

There were 68 public chargers in Rochford on 1 July 2026, 33 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 76 for every 100,000 residents, 51st lowest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 4.6% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 36.3 privately kept plug-in cars in Rochford (UK 12.9), 21st most 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 Rochford by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 6532
Apr 2026 6833
Jul 2026 6833

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Rochford compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Rochford 7637
Essex 9045
East of England 15049
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

Rochford has 11 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 2.5% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 3.1%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in Rochford with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
Rochford 006 6,001 186 3.1% 5.6%
Rochford 005 5,176 144 2.8% 5.0%
Rochford 012 5,171 144 2.8% 4.8%
Rochford 008 4,926 127 2.6% 4.5%
Rochford 011 5,009 128 2.6% 4.7%
Rochford 001 5,076 126 2.5% 4.6%
Rochford 007 5,593 141 2.5% 4.1%
Rochford 009 5,043 120 2.4% 4.4%
Rochford 002 5,993 135 2.3% 3.8%
Rochford 004 3,414 75 2.2% 3.3%
Lowest electric shares
Rochford 010 5,715 124 2.2% 3.4%
Rochford 004 3,414 75 2.2% 3.3%
Rochford 002 5,993 135 2.3% 3.8%
Rochford 009 5,043 120 2.4% 4.4%
Rochford 007 5,593 141 2.5% 4.1%

Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of June 2026.

Road traffic and collisions in Rochford

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Rochford, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 9428
2022 7916
2023 10833
2024 8830
2025 8021

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Rochford

Unleaded petrol averages 170.3p a litre across 5 filling stations in Rochford, 1.2p below the UK average. Diesel averages 198.8p, 0.1p above the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.

How Rochford compares

Rochford compared with Essex, the East of England, England, the UK
Rochford 554 3.3% 2.9% 4.0% 76 36.3
Essex 511 3.7% 2.9% 6.0% 90 28.6
East of England 501 5.6% 3.2% 8.7% 150 17.3
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 Rochford

There is no DVSA car practical test centre in Rochford. The nearest centres are elsewhere in Essex.

Centres in Essex:

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 Essex

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

Councils in Essex
Uttlesford 593 4.8% 4.2% 12.0% 164 24.4
Epping Forest 499 4.4% 3.6% 5.3% 126 25.2
Brentwood 501 4.2% 3.2% 4.9% 97 33.0
Chelmsford 504 4.0% 3.3% 4.8% 105 27.0
Basildon 461 3.9% 2.5% 11.9% 62 34.8
Colchester 474 3.6% 2.9% 4.6% 90 24.5
Maldon 605 3.5% 2.9% 3.6% 61 49.5
Rochford 554 3.3% 2.9% 4.0% 76 36.3
Braintree 537 3.2% 2.7% 4.1% 89 27.3
Harlow 444 3.2% 2.5% 4.6% 74 25.7
Tendring 513 2.8% 2.2% 4.8% 84 21.7
Castle Point 534 2.7% 2.2% 3.8% 42 51.7

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 62,790 licensed vehicles in Rochford 26 October 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 3,008 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 Rochford 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.