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South Norfolk motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
112,456 licensed vehicles in South Norfolk
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 87,918 +0.8% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 568 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 3,170 3.6% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.1% 120th highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 195 131 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 4.1% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in South Norfolk?

There were 87,918 licensed cars in South Norfolk at the end of March 2026, and 112,456 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 27.3% 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 South Norfolk

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in South Norfolk at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 87,42869,053
2011 89,01970,317
2012 90,33471,162
2013 90,61372,399
2014 92,59974,044
2015 94,73775,883
2016 97,08177,767
2017 99,19979,300
2018 100,73780,619
2019 103,25282,280
2020 104,95883,810
2021 105,64883,823
2022 107,97885,111
2023 109,23585,788
2024 110,73986,799
2025 111,21687,240
2026 112,45687,918

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 Norfolk compared
Year South NorfolkEast of EnglandUnited Kingdom
2011 569503–
2012 572502–
2013 578505–
2014 585524–
2015 590529473
2016 596537480
2017 601544488
2018 603542490
2019 602541493
2020 594536489
2021 596539493
2022 593532489
2023 591529489
2024 589531490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in South Norfolk

52.9% of cars in South Norfolk run on petrol and 35.2% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 41.5% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 6.3%, and cars that plug in 5.3%.

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 Norfolk, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 69.4%30.2%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2011 67.5%32.1%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 65.7%33.9%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2013 63.9%35.7%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2014 61.8%37.7%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2015 60.3%39.1%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2016 58.9%40.4%0.4%0.0%0.1%
2017 58.0%41.2%0.5%0.1%0.1%
2018 57.4%41.5%0.7%0.1%0.2%
2019 57.2%41.4%0.8%0.2%0.2%
2020 56.9%41.5%1.0%0.3%0.3%
2021 56.5%41.3%1.2%0.5%0.3%
2022 55.9%40.7%1.8%0.9%0.5%
2023 55.3%39.8%2.6%1.3%0.7%
2024 54.5%38.7%3.6%1.9%0.9%
2025 53.7%37.1%5.0%2.6%1.3%
2026 52.9%35.2%6.3%3.6%1.7%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in South Norfolk

3,170 battery electric cars were licensed in South Norfolk at the end of March 2026, 3.6% of all cars, 165th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 4,642 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 2,281.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.1% are battery electric (2,626 cars), 16th highest of 45 councils in the East of England. Companies keep 17.2% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 4.1% of its cars overall. There are also 88 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 Norfolk compared, end of March each year
Year South NorfolkEast of EnglandUnited Kingdom
2016 0.0%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.1%0.2%0.1%
2019 0.2%0.2%0.2%
2020 0.3%0.3%0.3%
2021 0.5%0.6%0.7%
2022 0.9%1.1%1.3%
2023 1.3%1.7%2.1%
2024 1.9%2.6%3.0%
2025 2.6%3.8%4.1%
2026 3.6%5.2%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in South Norfolk

There were 195 public chargers in South Norfolk on 1 July 2026, 32 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 131 for every 100,000 residents, 157th lowest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count fell 10.1% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 18.5 privately kept plug-in cars in South Norfolk (UK 11.9), 136th 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 South Norfolk by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 21732
Apr 2026 21334
Jul 2026 19532

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, South Norfolk compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
South Norfolk 13122
Norfolk 16241
East of England 15049
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

South Norfolk has 16 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 2.3% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 4.4%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in South Norfolk with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
South Norfolk 002 7,854 346 4.4% 6.5%
South Norfolk 006 9,068 333 3.7% 5.2%
South Norfolk 016 5,121 191 3.7% 5.1%
South Norfolk 009 7,696 259 3.4% 5.1%
South Norfolk 007 9,136 301 3.3% 4.8%
South Norfolk 003 4,947 154 3.1% 4.6%
South Norfolk 008 6,321 165 2.6% 4.2%
South Norfolk 011 8,863 217 2.4% 3.7%
South Norfolk 005 3,496 81 2.3% 3.1%
South Norfolk 004 4,519 99 2.2% 3.8%
Lowest electric shares
South Norfolk 015 6,729 99 1.5% 2.4%
South Norfolk 014 6,922 109 1.6% 2.5%
South Norfolk 017 4,735 81 1.7% 2.7%
South Norfolk 013 5,291 100 1.9% 2.8%
South Norfolk 012 6,185 123 2.0% 3.3%

Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of March 2026.

Road traffic and collisions in South Norfolk

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in South Norfolk, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 18339
2022 25161
2023 22370
2024 26777
2025 31196

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in South Norfolk

Unleaded petrol averages 174.6p a litre across 15 filling stations in South Norfolk, 2.9p above the UK average. Diesel averages 196.2p, 1.6p above the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Tesco Norwich Harford Bridge Superstore Norwich 167.9p
  2. MFG Morrisons Diss Diss 169.9p
  3. Poringland Service Station Norwich 169.9p

Every filling station and price in South Norfolk

How South Norfolk compares

South Norfolk compared with Norfolk, the East of England, England, the UK
South Norfolk 568 3.6% 3.1% 4.1% 131 18.5
Norfolk 518 3.0% 2.4% 4.3% 162 12.0
East of England 497 5.2% 2.9% 8.6% 150 15.7
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 Norfolk

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

Councils in Norfolk
South Norfolk 568 3.6% 3.1% 4.1% 131 18.5
Broadland 571 3.3% 2.8% 3.9% 116 22.1
Breckland 553 3.1% 2.4% 4.3% 114 18.4
King's Lynn and West Norfolk 535 2.9% 2.3% 4.1% 172 12.1
Norwich 350 2.7% 1.6% 5.7% 196 4.7
North Norfolk 569 2.6% 2.2% 3.5% 225 8.0
Great Yarmouth 470 2.3% 1.7% 4.7% 211 6.3

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 112,456 licensed vehicles in South Norfolk 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 4,806 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 South Norfolk 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.