Yorkshire and the Humber · Metropolitan borough
Sheffield motoring statistics
How many cars and electric cars are registered in Sheffield, which fuels they use, how many public chargers there are and how Sheffield compares with the Yorkshire and the Humber. From DVLA licensing records, DfT charger statistics and ONS population estimates.
- Licensed cars 240,345 +1.6% on a year earlier
- Private cars per 1,000 people 382 UK 444
- Battery electric cars 9,451 3.9% of cars (UK 5.8%)
- Electric share of private cars 3.0% 174th lowest of 361 councils
- Public chargers 531 91 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
- Company-registered cars 7.3% UK 10.0%
How many cars are there in Sheffield?
There were 240,345 licensed cars in Sheffield at the end of June 2026, and 278,435 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 19.0% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 382 for every 1,000 residents, 56th lowest of 361 councils (UK 444).
Licensed vehicles in Sheffield
Counts at the end of March each year, 2010 to 2026.
| Year | All vehicles | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 235,823 | 201,936 |
| 2011 | 236,040 | 202,087 |
| 2012 | 235,076 | 201,225 |
| 2013 | 236,151 | 202,543 |
| 2014 | 239,698 | 205,527 |
| 2015 | 241,996 | 207,687 |
| 2016 | 245,840 | 210,722 |
| 2017 | 250,180 | 214,050 |
| 2018 | 252,689 | 215,788 |
| 2019 | 256,680 | 219,562 |
| 2020 | 256,966 | 220,911 |
| 2021 | 263,459 | 225,632 |
| 2022 | 265,145 | 226,750 |
| 2023 | 267,715 | 229,666 |
| 2024 | 271,592 | 233,847 |
| 2025 | 274,443 | 236,465 |
| 2026 | 278,435 | 240,345 |
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.
| Year | Sheffield | Yorkshire and the Humber | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 366 | 427 | – |
| 2012 | 363 | 427 | – |
| 2013 | 365 | 429 | – |
| 2014 | 370 | 429 | – |
| 2015 | 374 | 433 | 473 |
| 2016 | 379 | 442 | 480 |
| 2017 | 385 | 450 | 488 |
| 2018 | 388 | 456 | 490 |
| 2019 | 395 | 464 | 493 |
| 2020 | 398 | 463 | 489 |
| 2021 | 407 | 470 | 493 |
| 2022 | 401 | 469 | 489 |
| 2023 | 399 | 469 | 489 |
| 2024 | 402 | 472 | 490 |
Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated
Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Sheffield
52.8% of cars in Sheffield run on petrol and 31.3% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 39.1% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 9.0%, and cars that plug in 6.6%.
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.
| Year | Petrol | Diesel | Hybrid | Battery electric | Plug-in hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 72.2% | 27.5% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 70.2% | 29.4% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2012 | 68.3% | 31.2% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 66.6% | 32.8% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2014 | 64.5% | 34.8% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 62.6% | 36.5% | 0.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2016 | 61.1% | 37.8% | 0.7% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 60.1% | 38.6% | 0.9% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2018 | 59.3% | 39.1% | 1.1% | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| 2019 | 59.0% | 39.1% | 1.3% | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| 2020 | 58.4% | 39.0% | 1.7% | 0.3% | 0.5% |
| 2021 | 57.5% | 38.8% | 2.3% | 0.6% | 0.7% |
| 2022 | 56.5% | 38.1% | 3.1% | 1.0% | 1.0% |
| 2023 | 56.0% | 36.9% | 4.1% | 1.5% | 1.3% |
| 2024 | 55.3% | 35.1% | 5.6% | 2.0% | 1.7% |
| 2025 | 54.2% | 33.3% | 7.2% | 2.9% | 2.0% |
| 2026 | 52.8% | 31.3% | 9.0% | 3.9% | 2.6% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Electric cars in Sheffield
9,451 battery electric cars were licensed in Sheffield at the end of June 2026, 3.9% of all cars, 170th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 15,796 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 6,808.
Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.0% are battery electric (6,587 cars), 7th highest of 15 councils in the Yorkshire and the Humber. Companies keep 30.3% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 7.3% of its cars overall. There are also 427 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 | Sheffield | Yorkshire and the Humber | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 0.3% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 0.6% | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| 2022 | 1.0% | 1.4% | 1.5% |
| 2023 | 1.5% | 2.2% | 2.3% |
| 2024 | 2.0% | 3.0% | 3.2% |
| 2025 | 2.9% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| 2026 | 3.9% | 5.5% | 5.8% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Public EV chargers in Sheffield
There were 531 public chargers in Sheffield on 1 July 2026, 195 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 91 for every 100,000 residents, 78th lowest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 3.1% from 1 January 2026.
For every public charger there are 19.4 privately kept plug-in cars in Sheffield (UK 12.9), 143rd most 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 | 515 | 171 |
| Apr 2026 | 531 | 181 |
| Jul 2026 | 531 | 195 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Chargers per 100,000 residents
| Area | All chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Sheffield | 91 | 34 |
| South Yorkshire | 99 | 37 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 111 | 37 |
| England | 173 | 41 |
| UK | 175 | 42 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Electric cars by neighbourhood
Sheffield has 70 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 2.1% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 6.6%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.
| Neighbourhood (MSOA) | Private vehicles | Battery electric | Electric share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sheffield 041 | 5,036 | 331 | 6.6% | |
| Sheffield 055 | 5,739 | 379 | 6.6% | |
| Sheffield 068 | 6,594 | 437 | 6.6% | |
| Sheffield 008 | 6,176 | 294 | 4.8% | |
| Sheffield 033 | 3,389 | 163 | 4.8% | |
| Sheffield 038 | 3,259 | 157 | 4.8% | |
| Sheffield 071 | 4,511 | 207 | 4.6% | |
| Sheffield 036 | 1,924 | 86 | 4.5% | |
| Sheffield 047 | 4,330 | 194 | 4.5% | |
| Sheffield 030 | 1,988 | 83 | 4.2% | |
| Lowest electric shares | ||||
| Sheffield 070 | 2,254 | 0 | 0.0% | |
| Sheffield 048 | 1,897 | 0 | 0.0% | |
| Sheffield 007 | 2,378 | 5 | 0.2% | |
| Sheffield 013 | 2,699 | 17 | 0.6% | |
| Sheffield 042 | 2,862 | 19 | 0.7% | |
Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of June 2026. 6 neighbourhoods are left out because DfT withholds small counts there.
Petrol and diesel prices in Sheffield
Unleaded petrol averages 171.8p a litre across 34 filling stations in Sheffield, 0.3p above the UK average. Diesel averages 197.4p, 1.3p below the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.
Cheapest petrol
- Jet Ascona Deepcar Service Station Deepcar 168.9p
- Esso Asda Crest Express Petrol Sheffield 169.9p
- Jet Intake 11 Sheffield 169.9p
How Sheffield compares
| Sheffield | 382 | 3.9% | 91 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Yorkshire | 435 | 4.1% | 99 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 440 | 5.5% | 111 |
| England | 440 | 6.2% | 173 |
| United Kingdom | 444 | 5.8% | 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 June 2026.
Driving test centres in Sheffield
There are 2 DVSA car practical test centres in Sheffield, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 48.7% at Sheffield (Middlewood Road).
- Sheffield (Middlewood Road) 48.7% pass rate, 2025/26
- Sheffield (Handsworth) 44.1% pass rate, 2025/26
Other centres in South Yorkshire:
- Barnsley 58.6% pass rate, 2025/26
- Doncaster 53.2% pass rate, 2025/26
- Rotherham 53.1% pass rate, 2025/26
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 South Yorkshire
Sorted by battery electric share of cars. Select a column heading to sort by it.
Data stories to read next
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 278,435 licensed vehicles in Sheffield | 26 October 2026 |
| Plug-in and electric vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 16,367 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 Sheffield 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.