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South Lanarkshire motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
193,735 licensed vehicles in South Lanarkshire
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 164,867 +1.3% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 463 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 6,860 4.2% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.5% 66th highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 607 182 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 6.2% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in South Lanarkshire?

There were 164,867 licensed cars in South Lanarkshire at the end of March 2026, and 193,735 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 21.3% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 463 for every 1,000 residents, 134th lowest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in South Lanarkshire

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in South Lanarkshire at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 156,561135,878
2011 158,218137,256
2012 159,497138,365
2013 160,653139,260
2014 162,766141,186
2015 165,165143,270
2016 168,791146,230
2017 172,099148,670
2018 173,999150,130
2019 176,867152,588
2020 180,441156,093
2021 181,217155,302
2022 182,781155,778
2023 185,554157,630
2024 189,487160,847
2025 191,865162,805
2026 193,735164,867

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 Lanarkshire compared
Year South LanarkshireScotlandUnited Kingdom
2011 438429–
2012 440430–
2013 444436–
2014 450443–
2015 452446473
2016 458450480
2017 466457488
2018 469461490
2019 476465493
2020 475462489
2021 481469493
2022 478466489
2023 479465489
2024 484468490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in South Lanarkshire

57.4% of cars in South Lanarkshire run on petrol and 26.1% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 42.3% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 9.6%, and cars that plug in 6.2%.

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 Lanarkshire, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 72.4%27.4%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2011 70.6%29.1%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 68.8%30.9%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2013 66.9%32.8%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2014 64.7%35.0%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2015 62.4%37.1%0.3%0.1%0.0%
2016 60.2%39.2%0.4%0.1%0.0%
2017 58.4%40.9%0.4%0.1%0.1%
2018 57.0%42.3%0.5%0.1%0.1%
2019 56.8%42.3%0.6%0.1%0.2%
2020 56.8%41.9%0.8%0.2%0.2%
2021 57.3%40.7%1.2%0.4%0.3%
2022 57.8%38.6%2.0%0.8%0.5%
2023 58.5%36.2%2.9%1.3%0.7%
2024 58.8%33.1%4.7%1.9%0.9%
2025 58.4%29.8%7.0%2.9%1.3%
2026 57.4%26.1%9.6%4.2%2.0%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in South Lanarkshire

6,860 battery electric cars were licensed in South Lanarkshire at the end of March 2026, 4.2% of all cars, 94th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 10,223 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 4,726.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.5% are battery electric (5,431 cars), 8th highest of 32 councils in Scotland. Companies keep 20.8% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 6.2% of its cars overall. There are also 160 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 Lanarkshire compared, end of March each year
Year South LanarkshireScotlandUnited 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 0.8%1.1%1.3%
2023 1.3%1.7%2.1%
2024 1.9%2.3%3.0%
2025 2.9%3.2%4.1%
2026 4.2%4.2%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in South Lanarkshire

There were 607 public chargers in South Lanarkshire on 1 July 2026, 187 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 182 for every 100,000 residents, 110th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 0.7% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 14.0 privately kept plug-in cars in South Lanarkshire (UK 11.9), 156th 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 Lanarkshire by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 603178
Apr 2026 601176
Jul 2026 607187

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, South Lanarkshire compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
South Lanarkshire 18256
Scotland 23259
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Road traffic and collisions in South Lanarkshire

Vehicles travelled an estimated 1,799 million miles on roads in South Lanarkshire in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in South Lanarkshire
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 1,134
1994 1,168
1995 1,197
1996 1,235
1997 1,272
1998 1,295
1999 1,328
2000 1,294
2001 1,309
2002 1,362
2003 1,421
2004 1,442
2005 1,436
2006 1,510
2007 1,515
2008 1,518
2009 1,533
2010 1,520
2011 1,516
2012 1,549
2013 1,556
2014 1,600
2015 1,614
2016 1,680
2017 1,732
2018 1,740
2019 1,756
2020 1,344
2021 1,582
2022 1,728
2023 1,766
2024 1,797
2025 1,799

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in South Lanarkshire, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 18477
2022 21783
2023 262119
2024 253114
2025 220104

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in South Lanarkshire

Unleaded petrol averages 174.5p a litre across 42 filling stations in South Lanarkshire, 2.8p above the UK average. Diesel averages 197.3p, 2.7p above the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Esso Hamilton Service Station Hamilton 168.6p
  2. MFG Morrisons Hamilton Hamilton 168.9p
  3. Gulf Tinto Garage Biggar 168.9p

Every filling station and price in South Lanarkshire

Roadworks in South Lanarkshire

The Scottish Road Works Register lists 975 sets of roadworks in South Lanarkshire, of which 218 are under way and 757 are planned. 358 of them close a road, a lane, a slip road or the hard shoulder. South Lanarkshire Council is behind the most, 348 of them (35.7%). From the extract of 16 September 2026.

Works most likely to hold you up

  • C203 From Woolfords To A70 At Carnwath, Auchengray

    Road closed Under way, until 17 Sept 2026 Scottish Water

    Repair burst water main

  • Simpson Drive, East Kilbride

    Road closed Under way, until 15 Sept 2026 Scottish Water

    Repair burst water main

  • Kirklands Crescent, Bothwell

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

    Carriageway Subsidence D-741374

  • Millheugh Brae, Larkhall

    Road closed Under way, until 24 Sept 2026 Scottish Water

    Repair To Lateral Sewer

  • Gilbertfield Road, Cambuslang

    Road closed Under way, until 20 Sept 2026 Scottish Water

    Repair burst water main

  • East Kilbride Road, Rutherglen

    Lane closed Under way, until 24 Sept 2026 SP Energy Networks

    Excavate, backfill and reinstate to lay HV cable

  • Burnside Road, Rutherglen

    Lane closed Under way, until 7 Oct 2026 SP Energy Networks

    Excavate, backfill and reinstate to lay HV cable

  • Cathkin Bypass, Rutherglen

    Lane closed Under way, until 7 Oct 2026 SP Energy Networks

    Excavate, backfill and reinstate to lay HV cable

  • Larchfield Drive, Rutherglen

    Road closed Under way, until 7 Oct 2026 SP Energy Networks

    Excavate, backfill and reinstate to lay HV cable

  • Lorne Street, Hamilton

    Road closed Under way, until 10 Nov 2026 SP Energy Networks

    Excavate to install road crossing, backfill & reinstate

Who is digging

  • South Lanarkshire Council 348
  • BT 216
  • SP Energy Networks 146
  • Scottish Water 121
  • SGN 82

How traffic is managed

  • Road closed 333
  • Give and take 215
  • Temporary traffic lights 202
  • Road narrowed 98
  • Footway only 55

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 Lanarkshire compares

South Lanarkshire compared with Scotland, the UK
South Lanarkshire 463 4.2% 3.5% 6.2% 182 14.0
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 193,735 licensed vehicles in South Lanarkshire 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 10,486 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 Lanarkshire 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.