West Midlands · Metropolitan borough
Solihull motoring statistics
How many cars and electric cars are registered in Solihull, which fuels they use, how many public chargers there are and how Solihull compares with the West Midlands. From DVLA licensing records, DfT charger statistics and ONS population estimates.
- Licensed cars 127,260 +1.6% on a year earlier
- Private cars per 1,000 people 497 UK 444
- Battery electric cars 9,889 7.8% of cars (UK 5.8%)
- Electric share of private cars 3.5% 114th highest of 361 councils
- Public chargers 614 278 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
- Company-registered cars 13.6% UK 10.0%
How many cars are there in Solihull?
There were 127,260 licensed cars in Solihull at the end of June 2026, and 170,600 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 14.3% fewer cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 497 for every 1,000 residents, 173rd highest of 361 councils (UK 444).
Licensed vehicles in Solihull
Counts at the end of March each year, 2010 to 2026.
| Year | All vehicles | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 176,168 | 148,448 |
| 2011 | 218,925 | 184,229 |
| 2012 | 261,185 | 192,691 |
| 2013 | 236,005 | 203,841 |
| 2014 | 183,689 | 155,067 |
| 2015 | 193,043 | 162,680 |
| 2016 | 245,050 | 173,717 |
| 2017 | 238,447 | 166,311 |
| 2018 | 227,029 | 157,760 |
| 2019 | 188,510 | 132,564 |
| 2020 | 214,936 | 149,083 |
| 2021 | 229,810 | 153,894 |
| 2022 | 190,122 | 125,580 |
| 2023 | 186,889 | 127,152 |
| 2024 | 175,150 | 124,618 |
| 2025 | 170,936 | 125,311 |
| 2026 | 170,600 | 127,260 |
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 | Solihull | West Midlands | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 891 | 506 | – |
| 2012 | 928 | 502 | – |
| 2013 | 975 | 503 | – |
| 2014 | 734 | 500 | – |
| 2015 | 769 | 506 | 473 |
| 2016 | 815 | 513 | 480 |
| 2017 | 776 | 523 | 488 |
| 2018 | 734 | 524 | 490 |
| 2019 | 613 | 519 | 493 |
| 2020 | 689 | 515 | 489 |
| 2021 | 710 | 485 | 493 |
| 2022 | 576 | 480 | 489 |
| 2023 | 579 | 479 | 489 |
| 2024 | 563 | 476 | 490 |
Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated
Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Solihull
54.6% of cars in Solihull run on petrol and 23.2% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 50.6% in 2013. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 9.8%, and cars that plug in 11.9%.
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 | 61.6% | 37.8% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 53.4% | 45.9% | 0.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2012 | 50.8% | 48.3% | 0.7% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 48.3% | 50.6% | 0.6% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| 2014 | 60.1% | 38.9% | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 58.2% | 40.9% | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| 2016 | 56.6% | 42.3% | 0.7% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2017 | 57.9% | 40.5% | 0.8% | 0.1% | 0.5% |
| 2018 | 57.9% | 40.1% | 1.1% | 0.2% | 0.7% |
| 2019 | 57.1% | 39.8% | 1.5% | 0.2% | 1.2% |
| 2020 | 59.0% | 36.5% | 1.6% | 1.1% | 1.8% |
| 2021 | 59.9% | 32.2% | 2.1% | 3.1% | 2.6% |
| 2022 | 58.7% | 32.9% | 3.2% | 2.4% | 2.5% |
| 2023 | 57.8% | 30.3% | 4.2% | 4.1% | 3.2% |
| 2024 | 58.4% | 28.0% | 5.8% | 4.9% | 2.4% |
| 2025 | 56.8% | 25.7% | 7.8% | 6.0% | 3.2% |
| 2026 | 54.6% | 23.2% | 9.8% | 7.8% | 4.1% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Electric cars in Solihull
9,889 battery electric cars were licensed in Solihull at the end of June 2026, 7.8% of all cars, 17th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 15,131 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 7,545.
Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.5% are battery electric (3,826 cars), 8th highest of 30 councils in the West Midlands. Companies keep 61.3% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 13.6% of its cars overall. There are also 7,475 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 | Solihull | West Midlands | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 0.2% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.2% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 1.1% | 0.5% | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 3.1% | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| 2022 | 2.4% | 1.0% | 1.5% |
| 2023 | 4.1% | 1.4% | 2.3% |
| 2024 | 4.9% | 1.8% | 3.2% |
| 2025 | 6.0% | 2.7% | 4.4% |
| 2026 | 7.8% | 3.7% | 5.8% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Public EV chargers in Solihull
There were 614 public chargers in Solihull on 1 July 2026, 148 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 278 for every 100,000 residents, 42nd highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 1.5% from 1 January 2026.
For every public charger there are 10.2 privately kept plug-in cars in Solihull (UK 12.9), 85th 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 | 605 | 137 |
| Apr 2026 | 605 | 137 |
| Jul 2026 | 614 | 148 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Chargers per 100,000 residents
| Area | All chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Solihull | 278 | 67 |
| West Midlands (county) | 194 | 37 |
| West Midlands | 164 | 46 |
| England | 173 | 41 |
| UK | 175 | 42 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Electric cars by neighbourhood
Solihull has 29 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 2.9% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 4.9%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.
| Neighbourhood (MSOA) | Private vehicles | Battery electric | Electric share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solihull 029 | 8,265 | 401 | 4.9% | |
| Solihull 027 | 3,391 | 159 | 4.7% | |
| Solihull 024 | 3,625 | 167 | 4.6% | |
| Solihull 019 | 4,049 | 179 | 4.4% | |
| Solihull 026 | 6,189 | 268 | 4.3% | |
| Solihull 028 | 5,973 | 254 | 4.3% | |
| Solihull 025 | 5,492 | 233 | 4.2% | |
| Solihull 022 | 5,459 | 224 | 4.1% | |
| Solihull 014 | 3,585 | 140 | 3.9% | |
| Solihull 017 | 5,187 | 194 | 3.7% | |
| Lowest electric shares | ||||
| Solihull 002 | 2,260 | 0 | 0.0% | |
| Solihull 007 | 2,278 | 9 | 0.4% | |
| Solihull 006 | 2,111 | 10 | 0.5% | |
| Solihull 008 | 3,551 | 32 | 0.9% | |
| Solihull 005 | 2,845 | 38 | 1.3% | |
Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of June 2026.
Road traffic and collisions in Solihull
Vehicles travelled an estimated 1,433 million miles on roads in Solihull in 2025.
Traffic on all roads
| Year | Million vehicle miles |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 1,160 |
| 1994 | 1,181 |
| 1995 | 1,205 |
| 1996 | 1,240 |
| 1997 | 1,270 |
| 1998 | 1,306 |
| 1999 | 1,325 |
| 2000 | 1,309 |
| 2001 | 1,309 |
| 2002 | 1,394 |
| 2003 | 1,364 |
| 2004 | 1,402 |
| 2005 | 1,382 |
| 2006 | 1,363 |
| 2007 | 1,411 |
| 2008 | 1,401 |
| 2009 | 1,376 |
| 2010 | 1,367 |
| 2011 | 1,410 |
| 2012 | 1,410 |
| 2013 | 1,395 |
| 2014 | 1,449 |
| 2015 | 1,494 |
| 2016 | 1,533 |
| 2017 | 1,536 |
| 2018 | 1,556 |
| 2019 | 1,546 |
| 2020 | 1,154 |
| 2021 | 1,286 |
| 2022 | 1,426 |
| 2023 | 1,439 |
| 2024 | 1,434 |
| 2025 | 1,433 |
Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated
Reported injury collisions
| Year | Collisions | Killed or seriously injured |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 235 | 47 |
| 2022 | 281 | 66 |
| 2023 | 261 | 62 |
| 2024 | 247 | 62 |
| 2025 | 251 | 64 |
Source:DfT STATS19,UK Motoring analysis 2021 to 2025 Updated
Petrol and diesel prices in Solihull
Unleaded petrol averages 172.4p a litre across 20 filling stations in Solihull, 0.9p above the UK average. Diesel averages 200.3p, 1.6p above the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.
Cheapest petrol
- Esso Asda Solihull New Con Express Petrol Solihull 166.9p
- Sainsbury's Marshall Lake Solihull 167.9p
- EG Birmingham Airport Birmingham 169.9p
How Solihull compares
| Solihull | 497 | 7.8% | 278 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Midlands (county) | 393 | 3.4% | 194 |
| West Midlands | 459 | 3.7% | 164 |
| 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 Solihull
There is no DVSA car practical test centre in Solihull. The nearest centres are elsewhere in the West Midlands metropolitan county.
Centres in the West Midlands metropolitan county:
- Birmingham (Shirley) 56.6% pass rate, 2025/26
- Birmingham (Cocks Moors) 53.5% pass rate, 2025/26
- Birmingham (Kingstanding) 48.5% pass rate, 2025/26
- Birmingham (Kings Heath) 46.8% pass rate, 2025/26
- Dudley 45.2% pass rate, 2025/26
- Birmingham (Garretts Green) 44.4% pass rate, 2025/26
- Birmingham (South Yardley) 42.8% pass rate, 2025/26
- Coventry 40.0% 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 the West Midlands metropolitan county
Sorted by battery electric share of cars. Select a column heading to sort by it.
| Solihull | 497 | 7.8% | 278 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dudley | 472 | 3.3% | 104 |
| Walsall | 420 | 3.0% | 66 |
| Wolverhampton | 403 | 3.0% | 69 |
| Birmingham | 347 | 2.8% | 135 |
| Coventry | 387 | 2.7% | 717 |
| Sandwell | 383 | 2.6% | 88 |
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 | 170,600 licensed vehicles in Solihull | 26 October 2026 |
| Plug-in and electric vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 22,748 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 Solihull 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.