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South Hams motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
73,433 licensed vehicles in South Hams
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 54,420 +1.2% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 568 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 1,944 3.6% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.0% 136th highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 134 145 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 3.8% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in the South Hams?

There were 54,420 licensed cars in the South Hams at the end of March 2026, and 73,433 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 14.6% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 568 for every 1,000 residents, 24th highest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in the South Hams

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in the South Hams at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 60,22447,475
2011 60,86047,938
2012 61,29548,066
2013 61,77048,296
2014 62,69748,900
2015 63,09149,024
2016 64,45249,760
2017 65,82550,453
2018 66,43650,784
2019 67,60151,494
2020 67,98851,797
2021 69,12352,233
2022 70,71753,016
2023 71,01552,978
2024 71,70153,344
2025 72,37353,757
2026 73,43354,420

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, the South Hams compared
Year South HamsSouth WestUnited Kingdom
2011 577524–
2012 580527–
2013 581533–
2014 586541–
2015 584546473
2016 591550480
2017 597565488
2018 597569490
2019 598580493
2020 587573489
2021 593575493
2022 593571489
2023 586570489
2024 583571490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in the South Hams

53.4% of cars in the South Hams run on petrol and 35.1% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 42.1% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 6.1%, 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.

Share of licensed cars by fuel type in the South Hams, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 68.1%31.5%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2011 66.5%33.1%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 64.6%34.9%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2013 62.8%36.7%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2014 60.8%38.6%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2015 59.4%39.8%0.5%0.0%0.0%
2016 58.3%40.8%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2017 57.3%41.6%0.7%0.1%0.1%
2018 56.8%42.1%0.8%0.1%0.2%
2019 56.7%41.9%0.9%0.2%0.2%
2020 56.7%41.4%1.1%0.3%0.3%
2021 56.3%41.0%1.5%0.6%0.4%
2022 55.7%40.3%2.2%1.0%0.6%
2023 55.3%39.3%2.8%1.5%0.7%
2024 54.8%38.2%3.7%2.0%1.0%
2025 54.1%36.8%4.8%2.6%1.3%
2026 53.4%35.1%6.1%3.6%1.5%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in the South Hams

1,944 battery electric cars were licensed in the South Hams at the end of March 2026, 3.6% of all cars, 165th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 2,769 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 1,407.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.0% are battery electric (1,561 cars), 7th highest of 27 councils in the South West. Companies keep 19.7% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 3.8% of its cars overall. There are also 91 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, the South Hams compared, end of March each year
Year South HamsSouth WestUnited 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%0.2%0.2%
2020 0.3%0.4%0.3%
2021 0.6%1.0%0.7%
2022 1.0%2.1%1.3%
2023 1.5%3.2%2.1%
2024 2.0%4.2%3.0%
2025 2.6%5.2%4.1%
2026 3.6%4.9%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in the South Hams

There were 134 public chargers in the South Hams on 1 July 2026, 26 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 145 for every 100,000 residents, 170th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count fell 0.7% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 16.6 privately kept plug-in cars in the South Hams (UK 11.9), 167th 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 the South Hams by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 13524
Apr 2026 13926
Jul 2026 13426

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, the South Hams compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
South Hams 14528
Devon 17661
South West 15750
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

The South Hams has 12 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 2.5% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 3.0%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in the South Hams with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
South Hams 004 6,504 195 3.0% 4.3%
South Hams 006 6,035 183 3.0% 4.1%
South Hams 009 7,062 211 3.0% 4.8%
South Hams 002 7,519 208 2.8% 3.9%
South Hams 011 5,016 139 2.8% 4.2%
South Hams 003 4,910 122 2.5% 3.2%
South Hams 005 7,773 184 2.4% 3.2%
South Hams 012 4,077 97 2.4% 3.7%
South Hams 001 4,543 91 2.0% 3.1%
South Hams 008 6,414 130 2.0% 3.3%
Lowest electric shares
South Hams 010 4,041 73 1.8% 2.6%
South Hams 008 6,414 130 2.0% 3.3%
South Hams 001 4,543 91 2.0% 3.1%
South Hams 012 4,077 97 2.4% 3.7%
South Hams 005 7,773 184 2.4% 3.2%

Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of March 2026. 1 neighbourhood is left out because DfT withholds small counts there.

Road traffic and collisions in the South Hams

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in the South Hams, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 13932
2022 13437
2023 14133
2024 14633
2025 15821

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in South Hams

Unleaded petrol averages 171.0p a litre across 21 filling stations in South Hams, 0.7p below the UK average. Diesel averages 193.2p, 1.4p below the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Texaco Shinners Bridge Garage Totnes 164.9p
  2. Valero Brixton Road Garage Plymouth 165.9p
  3. Phillips 66 - Jet Marldon Service Station Limited Paignton 165.9p

Every filling station and price in South Hams

How the South Hams compares

South Hams compared with Devon, the South West, England, the UK
South Hams 568 3.6% 3.0% 3.8% 145 16.6
Devon 516 3.2% 2.5% 8.6% 176 11.2
South West 506 4.9% 2.6% 9.6% 157 13.3
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 Devon

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

Councils in Devon
Exeter 355 4.5% 2.5% 34.1% 259 5.4
South Hams 568 3.6% 3.0% 3.8% 145 16.6
East Devon 542 3.1% 2.7% 3.4% 200 11.5
Teignbridge 547 3.0% 2.5% 3.7% 147 13.9
Mid Devon 557 2.8% 2.4% 3.9% 91 22.8
West Devon 561 2.7% 2.4% 3.5% 178 11.7
North Devon 514 2.5% 2.0% 4.2% 208 7.8
Torridge 550 2.4% 2.0% 4.5% 107 15.6

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 73,433 licensed vehicles in South Hams 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 2,942 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 the South Hams 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.
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.