South East · District council

Sevenoaks motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
88,054 licensed vehicles in Sevenoaks
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 71,172 +0.7% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 551 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 3,043 4.3% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.6% 51st highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 117 95 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 5.0% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in Sevenoaks?

There were 71,172 licensed cars in Sevenoaks at the end of March 2026, and 88,054 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 10.7% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 551 for every 1,000 residents, 49th highest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in Sevenoaks

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Sevenoaks at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 76,32164,319
2011 77,22465,378
2012 78,03965,943
2013 78,20866,117
2014 79,33366,999
2015 79,90667,471
2016 81,13268,327
2017 82,81069,039
2018 83,21569,126
2019 84,32069,411
2020 84,94269,932
2021 84,54669,243
2022 86,32670,325
2023 87,03170,412
2024 87,31470,837
2025 87,38570,672
2026 88,05471,172

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, Sevenoaks compared
Year SevenoaksSouth EastUnited Kingdom
2011 570534
2012 569535
2013 572541
2014 575547
2015 575551473
2016 579559480
2017 584567488
2018 583570490
2019 585572493
2020 575561489
2021 584564493
2022 583565489
2023 582567489
2024 579570490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Sevenoaks

63.8% of cars in Sevenoaks run on petrol and 20.3% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 34.5% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 8.1%, and cars that plug in 7.3%.

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 Sevenoaks, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 74.9%24.6%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2011 72.9%26.6%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2012 71.3%28.1%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2013 69.6%29.8%0.5%0.0%0.0%
2014 67.8%31.4%0.6%0.0%0.0%
2015 65.9%33.1%0.7%0.0%0.1%
2016 64.9%33.9%0.8%0.1%0.1%
2017 64.1%34.5%1.0%0.1%0.2%
2018 63.7%34.5%1.1%0.2%0.3%
2019 64.0%33.9%1.3%0.2%0.4%
2020 64.4%32.9%1.6%0.4%0.5%
2021 64.4%32.1%2.0%0.7%0.7%
2022 64.1%30.4%2.9%1.2%1.2%
2023 64.8%27.7%3.7%1.9%1.6%
2024 65.5%24.6%4.9%2.6%2.0%
2025 65.0%22.4%6.5%3.3%2.5%
2026 63.8%20.3%8.1%4.3%3.0%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Sevenoaks

3,043 battery electric cars were licensed in Sevenoaks at the end of March 2026, 4.3% of all cars, 80th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 5,196 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 2,350.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.6% are battery electric (2,457 cars), 14th highest of 64 councils in the South East. Companies keep 19.3% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 5.0% of its cars overall. There are also 77 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, Sevenoaks compared, end of March each year
Year SevenoaksSouth EastUnited Kingdom
2016 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.2%0.2%0.1%
2019 0.2%0.2%0.2%
2020 0.4%0.5%0.3%
2021 0.7%1.0%0.7%
2022 1.2%1.9%1.3%
2023 1.9%3.0%2.1%
2024 2.6%4.2%3.0%
2025 3.3%5.7%4.1%
2026 4.3%8.7%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Sevenoaks

There were 117 public chargers in Sevenoaks on 1 July 2026, 29 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 95 for every 100,000 residents, 80th lowest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count fell 1.7% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 37.2 privately kept plug-in cars in Sevenoaks (UK 11.9), 13th 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 Sevenoaks by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 11929
Apr 2026 11528
Jul 2026 11729

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Sevenoaks compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Sevenoaks 9524
Kent 12844
South East 15940
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

Sevenoaks has 15 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 2.8% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 5.7%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in Sevenoaks with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
Sevenoaks 011 5,680 324 5.7% 9.6%
Sevenoaks 012 5,954 313 5.3% 9.6%
Sevenoaks 009 4,968 204 4.1% 6.5%
Sevenoaks 004 4,110 142 3.5% 5.9%
Sevenoaks 008 6,436 223 3.5% 5.9%
Sevenoaks 013 5,864 201 3.4% 6.0%
Sevenoaks 015 5,564 185 3.3% 5.9%
Sevenoaks 005 4,469 125 2.8% 5.0%
Sevenoaks 010 5,143 146 2.8% 5.0%
Sevenoaks 001 4,512 113 2.5% 4.5%
Lowest electric shares
Sevenoaks 016 3,845 64 1.7% 2.9%
Sevenoaks 002 4,651 80 1.7% 3.7%
Sevenoaks 014 6,173 149 2.4% 3.9%
Sevenoaks 007 4,964 122 2.5% 4.5%
Sevenoaks 003 4,119 103 2.5% 4.4%

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

Road traffic and collisions in Sevenoaks

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Sevenoaks, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 28562
2022 27756
2023 27053
2024 23760
2025 26585

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Sevenoaks

Unleaded petrol averages 175.1p a litre across 15 filling stations in Sevenoaks, 3.4p above the UK average. Diesel averages 197.6p, 3.0p above the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Asda Swanley Express Petrol Swanley 172.9p
  2. Pace Forge Garage Tonbridge 173.9p
  3. Esso MFG Champion Edenbridge 173.9p

Every filling station and price in Sevenoaks

How Sevenoaks compares

Sevenoaks compared with Kent, the South East, England, the UK
Sevenoaks 551 4.3% 3.6% 5.0% 95 37.2
Kent 495 3.4% 2.8% 4.9% 128 18.6
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 Kent

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

Councils in Kent
Sevenoaks 551 4.3% 3.6% 5.0% 95 37.2
Dartford 441 4.2% 3.4% 5.6% 194 14.5
Tonbridge and Malling 530 4.1% 3.3% 5.9% 128 18.3
Tunbridge Wells 515 3.8% 3.2% 3.8% 113 25.5
Ashford 511 3.5% 2.8% 4.7% 145 15.9
Canterbury 454 3.5% 2.8% 4.7% 162 14.5
Maidstone 515 3.4% 2.8% 4.4% 83 29.6
Gravesham 461 3.0% 2.4% 5.5% 78 24.7
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
Thanet 457 2.6% 2.0% 5.1% 98 18.8

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 88,054 licensed vehicles in Sevenoaks 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 5,394 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 Sevenoaks 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.