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South Ayrshire motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
69,049 licensed vehicles in South Ayrshire
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 57,062 0.0% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 482 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 2,036 3.6% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.0% 136th highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 230 205 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 5.3% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in South Ayrshire?

There were 57,062 licensed cars in South Ayrshire at the end of March 2026, and 69,049 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 9.1% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 482 for every 1,000 residents, 175th lowest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in South Ayrshire

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in South Ayrshire at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 60,72552,296
2011 60,93552,560
2012 61,02652,503
2013 61,43152,734
2014 62,20753,323
2015 62,87853,827
2016 63,97754,592
2017 65,11355,415
2018 65,63455,753
2019 66,15755,959
2020 66,63256,608
2021 66,65156,031
2022 67,41356,177
2023 67,69956,272
2024 68,39456,726
2025 68,87657,067
2026 69,04957,062

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, South Ayrshire compared
Year South AyrshireScotlandUnited Kingdom
2011 466429–
2012 467430–
2013 471436–
2014 476443–
2015 481446473
2016 487450480
2017 495457488
2018 500461490
2019 502465493
2020 500462489
2021 506469493
2022 505466489
2023 505465489
2024 507468490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in South Ayrshire

56.0% of cars in South Ayrshire run on petrol and 28.4% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 40.3% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 9.5%, and cars that plug in 5.4%.

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 South Ayrshire, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 74.3%25.4%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2011 72.2%27.5%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 70.1%29.5%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2013 68.2%31.4%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2014 66.0%33.4%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2015 63.8%35.6%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2016 61.8%37.5%0.5%0.1%0.1%
2017 60.2%39.1%0.5%0.1%0.1%
2018 58.8%40.3%0.7%0.1%0.1%
2019 58.5%40.3%0.9%0.1%0.1%
2020 58.4%40.1%1.1%0.2%0.2%
2021 58.4%39.2%1.5%0.4%0.3%
2022 58.0%38.1%2.5%0.7%0.5%
2023 58.0%36.4%3.6%1.1%0.6%
2024 57.8%34.1%5.0%1.7%0.9%
2025 57.2%31.3%7.2%2.4%1.3%
2026 56.0%28.4%9.5%3.6%1.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in South Ayrshire

2,036 battery electric cars were licensed in South Ayrshire at the end of March 2026, 3.6% of all cars, 165th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 3,078 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 1,389.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.0% are battery electric (1,643 cars), 12th highest of 32 councils in Scotland. Companies keep 19.3% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 5.3% of its cars overall. There are also 35 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, South Ayrshire compared, end of March each year
Year South AyrshireScotlandUnited 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%0.2%0.2%
2020 0.2%0.3%0.3%
2021 0.4%0.6%0.7%
2022 0.7%1.1%1.3%
2023 1.1%1.7%2.1%
2024 1.7%2.3%3.0%
2025 2.4%3.2%4.1%
2026 3.6%4.2%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in South Ayrshire

There were 230 public chargers in South Ayrshire on 1 July 2026, 53 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 205 for every 100,000 residents, 79th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 2.2% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 10.5 privately kept plug-in cars in South Ayrshire (UK 11.9), 94th fewest 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 South Ayrshire by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 22548
Apr 2026 24154
Jul 2026 23053

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, South Ayrshire compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
South Ayrshire 20547
Scotland 23259
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Road traffic and collisions in South Ayrshire

Vehicles travelled an estimated 670 million miles on roads in South Ayrshire in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in South Ayrshire
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 480
1994 493
1995 502
1996 515
1997 524
1998 530
1999 540
2000 537
2001 553
2002 582
2003 599
2004 594
2005 587
2006 599
2007 606
2008 602
2009 600
2010 604
2011 601
2012 592
2013 588
2014 605
2015 615
2016 635
2017 648
2018 649
2019 650
2020 499
2021 585
2022 646
2023 655
2024 662
2025 670

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in South Ayrshire, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 6940
2022 7138
2023 6635
2024 6532
2025 8644

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in South Ayrshire

Unleaded petrol averages 167.8p a litre across 16 filling stations in South Ayrshire, 3.9p below the UK average. Diesel averages 190.1p, 4.5p below the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Jd Cameron Maybole 162.9p
  2. Asda Ayr Superstore Ayr 164.7p
  3. Tesco Ayr Extra Ayr 164.9p

Every filling station and price in South Ayrshire

Roadworks in South Ayrshire

The Scottish Road Works Register lists 407 sets of roadworks in South Ayrshire, of which 110 are under way and 297 are planned. 73 of them close a road, a lane, a slip road or the hard shoulder. BT is behind the most, 154 of them (37.8%). From the extract of 16 September 2026.

Works most likely to hold you up

  • Longhill Avenue, Ayr

    Road closed Under way, until 30 Sept 2026 SP Energy Networks

    Excavate, backfill & reinstate for work to install cable for new 11kV connection

  • U72 From B730 Junction At Crooks South West To U99 Junction, Dundonald

    Road closed Under way, until 12 Oct 2026 SP Energy Networks

    Excavate, backfill & reinstate for work to install cable for new connection

  • Oswald Place, Ayr

    Road closed Under way, until 22 Oct 2026 SP Energy Networks

    Excavate, backfill & reinstate for work to install 11kv overlay

  • Woodfield Avenue, Ayr

    Road closed Under way, until 22 Oct 2026 SP Energy Networks

    Excavate, backfill & reinstate for work to install 11kv overlay

  • Millbrae, Ayr

    Road closed Under way, until 2 Dec 2026 SP Energy Networks

    Excavate, backfill & reinstate for work to install cable for new connection

  • Montgomerie Street, Girvan

    Road closed Under way, until 17 Sept 2026 Scottish Water

    Dig down 1.4m on road marked with yellow paint

  • Woodfield Avenue, Ayr

    Road closed Under way, until 22 Oct 2026 SP Energy Networks

    Excavate, backfill & reinstate for work to install 11kv overlay

  • B730 From Roundabout At Fairfield Via A77 Bogend Toll Overbridge To Roundabout Opposite Auchenlea, Symington

    Road closed Under way, until 18 Sept 2026 Transport Scotland - SW Unit Op Company

    Overnight works for BEJ replacement works

  • U72 From B730 Junction At Crooks South West To U99 Junction (plus 4 more), Dundonald

    Road closed Under way, until 12 Oct 2026 South Ayrshire Council

    Diversion route during closure of U72

  • Woodpark, Ayr

    Road closed Under way, until 17 Sept 2026 South Ayrshire Council

    Carriageway and footway resurfacing

Who is digging

  • BT 154
  • South Ayrshire Council 116
  • SP Energy Networks 51
  • SGN 33
  • Scottish Water 31

How traffic is managed

  • Give and take 139
  • Temporary traffic lights 123
  • Road closed 67
  • No obstruction 39
  • Footway only 18

The register publishes one extract a day, so works can start, finish or change after it is taken. Roadworks across Scotland.

Source:SRWR Extract of 2026-09-16 Updated

How South Ayrshire compares

South Ayrshire compared with Scotland, the UK
South Ayrshire 482 3.6% 3.0% 5.3% 205 10.5
Scotland 436 4.2% 3.0% 7.8% 232 8.9
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 Scotland

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

Councils in Scotland
Stirling 468 13.9% 4.1% 32.1% 511 5.6
Renfrewshire 436 11.9% 3.2% 34.9% 243 9.1
East Renfrewshire 473 5.1% 4.5% 4.2% 82 40.4
East Dunbartonshire 481 4.7% 4.1% 4.0% 103 32.8
East Lothian 472 4.5% 4.0% 4.4% 600 5.0
Orkney Islands 490 4.4% 3.8% 5.0% 386 6.9
West Lothian 479 4.4% 3.8% 5.7% 137 22.2
Edinburgh 325 4.2% 3.3% 5.3% 192 8.6
South Lanarkshire 463 4.2% 3.5% 6.2% 182 14.0
Midlothian 461 4.1% 3.7% 5.1% 223 11.6
Perth and Kinross 506 4.0% 3.5% 5.1% 363 7.6
Dundee 371 3.9% 3.0% 6.7% 472 3.3
North Lanarkshire 434 3.6% 3.0% 7.2% 168 12.1
South Ayrshire 482 3.6% 3.0% 5.3% 205 10.5
Aberdeenshire 528 3.5% 3.0% 4.3% 162 17.8
Falkirk 493 3.5% 2.9% 5.4% 163 13.9
Fife 478 3.5% 3.0% 4.9% 132 17.2
Glasgow 307 3.4% 2.2% 9.7% 180 6.2
East Ayrshire 467 3.3% 2.8% 6.0% 229 9.1
North Ayrshire 457 3.2% 2.7% 5.9% 199 9.2
Aberdeen 396 3.1% 2.5% 4.5% 192 9.6
Clackmannanshire 492 3.1% 2.7% 4.9% 205 9.5
Angus 504 3.0% 2.6% 4.7% 221 9.7
Scottish Borders 506 3.0% 2.6% 4.8% 224 9.6
West Dunbartonshire 420 2.8% 2.3% 6.5% 204 7.7
Inverclyde 425 2.7% 2.3% 5.6% 237 6.8
Moray 501 2.6% 2.1% 4.5% 153 11.7
Argyll and Bute 471 2.5% 2.2% 4.7% 396 4.9
Highland 496 2.5% 2.0% 5.0% 387 4.4
Dumfries and Galloway 510 2.2% 1.8% 5.8% 549 2.9
Shetland Islands 471 1.9% 1.4% 9.1% 323 3.9
Na h-Eileanan Siar 500 1.5% 1.2% 4.1% 515 2.4

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 69,049 licensed vehicles in South Ayrshire 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 3,259 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
  • Coverage: licensing and charger figures cover the whole UK. Licensing figures in South Ayrshire 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.
How we calculate these figures All data sources

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.