North West · District council
Rossendale motoring statistics
How many cars and electric cars are registered in Rossendale, which fuels they use, how many public chargers there are and how Rossendale compares with the North West. From DVLA licensing records, DfT charger statistics and ONS population estimates.
- Licensed cars 36,511 +0.9% on a year earlier
- Private cars per 1,000 people 474 UK 441
- Battery electric cars 1,145 3.1% of cars (UK 5.4%)
- Electric share of private cars 2.5% 140th lowest of 361 councils
- Public chargers 131 179 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
- Company-registered cars 5.3% UK 9.9%
How many cars are there in Rossendale?
There were 36,511 licensed cars in Rossendale at the end of March 2026, and 44,568 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 13.6% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 474 for every 1,000 residents, 161st lowest of 361 councils (UK 441).
Licensed vehicles in Rossendale
Counts at the end of March each year, 2010 to 2026.
| Year | All vehicles | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 38,391 | 32,138 |
| 2011 | 38,597 | 32,241 |
| 2012 | 38,538 | 32,131 |
| 2013 | 38,762 | 32,174 |
| 2014 | 39,456 | 32,722 |
| 2015 | 39,809 | 33,101 |
| 2016 | 40,648 | 33,723 |
| 2017 | 41,356 | 34,129 |
| 2018 | 41,821 | 34,482 |
| 2019 | 42,426 | 34,960 |
| 2020 | 42,802 | 35,594 |
| 2021 | 42,874 | 35,364 |
| 2022 | 43,102 | 35,353 |
| 2023 | 43,304 | 35,368 |
| 2024 | 43,596 | 35,644 |
| 2025 | 43,937 | 36,174 |
| 2026 | 44,568 | 36,511 |
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.
| Year | Rossendale | North West | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 473 | 429 | – |
| 2012 | 472 | 425 | – |
| 2013 | 474 | 428 | – |
| 2014 | 479 | 433 | – |
| 2015 | 482 | 435 | 473 |
| 2016 | 486 | 438 | 480 |
| 2017 | 491 | 440 | 488 |
| 2018 | 491 | 443 | 490 |
| 2019 | 497 | 448 | 493 |
| 2020 | 497 | 446 | 489 |
| 2021 | 502 | 477 | 493 |
| 2022 | 497 | 472 | 489 |
| 2023 | 494 | 472 | 489 |
| 2024 | 492 | 474 | 490 |
Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated
Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Rossendale
53.6% of cars in Rossendale run on petrol and 33.2% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 43.4% in 2019. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 7.6%, and cars that plug in 5.1%.
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.
| Year | Petrol | Diesel | Hybrid | Battery electric | Plug-in hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 69.4% | 30.2% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 67.6% | 32.0% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2012 | 66.0% | 33.6% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 63.9% | 35.6% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2014 | 62.0% | 37.4% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 60.4% | 38.9% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2016 | 58.6% | 40.7% | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| 2017 | 56.9% | 42.2% | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 55.8% | 43.1% | 0.7% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 55.2% | 43.4% | 0.9% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 55.3% | 42.9% | 1.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| 2021 | 55.2% | 42.4% | 1.5% | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| 2022 | 55.2% | 41.0% | 2.2% | 0.7% | 0.6% |
| 2023 | 55.4% | 39.3% | 3.2% | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| 2024 | 55.1% | 37.6% | 4.4% | 1.5% | 1.0% |
| 2025 | 54.5% | 35.4% | 6.1% | 2.1% | 1.4% |
| 2026 | 53.6% | 33.2% | 7.6% | 3.1% | 2.0% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated
Electric cars in Rossendale
1,145 battery electric cars were licensed in Rossendale at the end of March 2026, 3.1% of all cars, 128th lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 1,880 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 765.
Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.5% are battery electric (877 cars), 16th lowest of 35 councils in the North West. Companies keep 23.4% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 5.3% of its cars overall. There are also 24 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.
| Year | Rossendale | North West | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.3% |
| 2021 | 0.4% | 0.7% | 0.7% |
| 2022 | 0.7% | 1.5% | 1.3% |
| 2023 | 1.0% | 2.6% | 2.1% |
| 2024 | 1.5% | 3.8% | 3.0% |
| 2025 | 2.1% | 5.4% | 4.1% |
| 2026 | 3.1% | 6.2% | 5.4% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated
Public EV chargers in Rossendale
There were 131 public chargers in Rossendale on 1 July 2026, 47 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 179 for every 100,000 residents, 114th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count fell 5.8% from 1 January 2026.
For every public charger there are 11.3 privately kept plug-in cars in Rossendale (UK 11.9), 109th fewest of 361 councils. A higher number means more competition for each public charger, though many drivers charge at home.
Public chargers
| Date | All public chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2026 | 139 | 49 |
| Apr 2026 | 135 | 49 |
| Jul 2026 | 131 | 47 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Chargers per 100,000 residents
| Area | All chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Rossendale | 179 | 64 |
| Lancashire | 113 | 46 |
| North West | 112 | 40 |
| England | 173 | 41 |
| UK | 175 | 42 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Electric cars by neighbourhood
Rossendale has 8 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 2.3% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 2.7%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.
| Neighbourhood (MSOA) | Private vehicles | Battery electric | Electric share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rossendale 007 | 3,732 | 100 | 2.7% |
| Rossendale 001 | 5,237 | 134 | 2.6% |
| Rossendale 008 | 4,084 | 102 | 2.5% |
| Rossendale 003 | 6,033 | 146 | 2.4% |
| Rossendale 004 | 4,695 | 109 | 2.3% |
| Rossendale 002 | 5,211 | 110 | 2.1% |
| Rossendale 009 | 4,574 | 94 | 2.1% |
| Rossendale 010 | 6,753 | 86 | 1.3% |
Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of March 2026.
Road traffic and collisions in Rossendale
Reported injury collisions
| Year | Collisions | Killed or seriously injured |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 107 | 38 |
| 2022 | 96 | 30 |
| 2023 | 94 | 30 |
| 2024 | 107 | 27 |
| 2025 | 96 | 40 |
Source:DfT STATS19,UK Motoring analysis 2021 to 2025 Updated
Petrol and diesel prices in Rossendale
Unleaded petrol averages 165.7p a litre across 12 filling stations in Rossendale, 6.0p below the UK average. Diesel averages 191.5p, 3.1p below the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.
Cheapest petrol
- Tesco Rossendale Haslingden Superstore Rossendale 161.9p
- Tesco Rawtenstall Lancashire 161.9p
- Texaco Highshot Haslengden Service Station, Manchester Road, Haslingden, Rossendale, Lancashire, BB4 5PD Rossendale 162.9p
How Rossendale compares
| Rossendale | 474 | 3.1% | 179 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lancashire | 465 | 3.6% | 113 |
| North West | 427 | 6.2% | 112 |
| England | 437 | 5.8% | 173 |
| United Kingdom | 441 | 5.4% | 175 |
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 Lancashire
Sorted by battery electric share of cars. Select a column heading to sort by it.
| Chorley | 503 | 4.3% | 124 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ribble Valley | 543 | 4.3% | 123 |
| West Lancashire | 488 | 4.3% | 76 |
| South Ribble | 524 | 4.0% | 167 |
| Fylde | 530 | 3.9% | 133 |
| Preston | 393 | 3.6% | 79 |
| Wyre | 504 | 3.6% | 136 |
| Rossendale | 474 | 3.1% | 179 |
| Lancaster | 436 | 3.0% | 135 |
| Hyndburn | 418 | 2.7% | 58 |
| Burnley | 389 | 2.6% | 108 |
| Pendle | 420 | 2.4% | 63 |
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of March 2026 | 44,568 licensed vehicles in Rossendale | 15 September 2026 |
| Plug-in and electric vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of March 2026 | 1,924 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 Rossendale 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.