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South Ribble motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
79,408 licensed vehicles in South Ribble
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 63,609 +1.3% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 524 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 2,562 4.0% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.3% 90th highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 194 167 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 4.3% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in South Ribble?

There were 63,609 licensed cars in South Ribble at the end of March 2026, and 79,408 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 13.2% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 524 for every 1,000 residents, 106th highest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in South Ribble

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in South Ribble at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 70,69356,185
2011 70,86856,196
2012 69,69356,071
2013 69,91756,189
2014 70,79356,865
2015 71,25157,420
2016 72,58258,237
2017 73,15158,512
2018 73,64558,902
2019 74,78159,659
2020 75,41160,457
2021 76,20860,233
2022 74,55560,445
2023 75,71761,163
2024 76,95462,013
2025 78,21162,809
2026 79,40863,609

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 Ribble compared
Year South RibbleNorth WestUnited Kingdom
2011 516429–
2012 517425–
2013 521428–
2014 523433–
2015 525435473
2016 528438480
2017 533440488
2018 538443490
2019 544448493
2020 541446489
2021 546477493
2022 542472489
2023 540472489
2024 539474490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in South Ribble

55.2% of cars in South Ribble run on petrol and 31.3% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 40.1% in 2019. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 7.2%, and cars that plug in 5.8%.

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 Ribble, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 72.1%27.6%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2011 70.4%29.3%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 68.8%30.8%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2013 66.8%32.8%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2014 64.8%34.7%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2015 63.0%36.4%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2016 61.2%38.0%0.5%0.1%0.1%
2017 59.9%39.2%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2018 59.0%40.0%0.7%0.2%0.1%
2019 58.6%40.1%0.8%0.2%0.2%
2020 58.5%40.0%1.0%0.2%0.2%
2021 58.3%39.6%1.3%0.4%0.3%
2022 57.9%38.8%1.9%0.7%0.5%
2023 57.7%37.6%2.7%1.2%0.6%
2024 57.3%35.9%3.9%1.7%0.8%
2025 56.5%33.8%5.4%2.7%1.2%
2026 55.2%31.3%7.2%4.0%1.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in South Ribble

2,562 battery electric cars were licensed in South Ribble at the end of March 2026, 4.0% of all cars, 117th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 3,690 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 1,671.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.3% are battery electric (2,007 cars), 7th highest of 35 councils in the North West. Companies keep 21.7% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 4.3% of its cars overall. There are also 66 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 Ribble compared, end of March each year
Year South RibbleNorth WestUnited 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%0.1%0.2%
2020 0.2%0.2%0.3%
2021 0.4%0.7%0.7%
2022 0.7%1.5%1.3%
2023 1.2%2.6%2.1%
2024 1.7%3.8%3.0%
2025 2.7%5.4%4.1%
2026 4.0%6.2%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in South Ribble

There were 194 public chargers in South Ribble on 1 July 2026, 85 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 167 for every 100,000 residents, 129th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 5.4% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 15.7 privately kept plug-in cars in South Ribble (UK 11.9), 178th 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 Ribble by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 18478
Apr 2026 19288
Jul 2026 19485

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, South Ribble compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
South Ribble 16773
Lancashire 11346
North West 11240
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

South Ribble has 17 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 2.8% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 4.5%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in South Ribble with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
South Ribble 014 3,527 159 4.5% 6.5%
South Ribble 008 4,533 187 4.1% 5.5%
South Ribble 012 5,958 218 3.7% 5.5%
South Ribble 016 4,751 168 3.5% 5.0%
South Ribble 004 4,500 146 3.2% 4.7%
South Ribble 010 4,381 134 3.1% 4.8%
South Ribble 003 3,674 105 2.9% 4.5%
South Ribble 013 4,194 122 2.9% 4.0%
South Ribble 001 3,267 92 2.8% 4.4%
South Ribble 009 4,779 130 2.7% 3.9%
Lowest electric shares
South Ribble 015 3,393 56 1.7% 2.7%
South Ribble 006 2,867 53 1.8% 3.0%
South Ribble 007 2,871 54 1.9% 3.1%
South Ribble 002 4,040 82 2.0% 3.1%
South Ribble 017 3,570 91 2.5% 3.8%

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

Road traffic and collisions in South Ribble

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in South Ribble, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 18761
2022 20369
2023 19662
2024 20261
2025 19156

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in South Ribble

Unleaded petrol averages 171.6p a litre across 16 filling stations in South Ribble, 0.1p below the UK average. Diesel averages 195.2p, 0.6p above the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Tesco Penwortham Superstore Lancashire 165.9p
  2. Tesco Leyland Extra Leyland 169.9p
  3. MFG Morrisons Leyland Leyland 169.9p

Every filling station and price in South Ribble

How South Ribble compares

South Ribble compared with Lancashire, the North West, England, the UK
South Ribble 524 4.0% 3.3% 4.3% 167 15.7
Lancashire 465 3.6% 2.9% 5.3% 113 17.8
North West 427 6.2% 2.7% 11.8% 112 17.4
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 Lancashire

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

Councils in Lancashire
Chorley 503 4.3% 3.6% 4.1% 124 24.4
Ribble Valley 543 4.3% 3.8% 3.8% 123 27.3
West Lancashire 488 4.3% 3.3% 6.5% 76 18.2
South Ribble 524 4.0% 3.3% 4.3% 167 15.7
Fylde 530 3.9% 3.3% 4.8% 133 21.9
Preston 393 3.6% 2.7% 7.2% 79 20.2
Wyre 504 3.6% 3.0% 4.9% 136 16.9
Rossendale 474 3.1% 2.5% 5.3% 179 11.3
Lancaster 436 3.0% 2.5% 4.2% 135 12.4
Hyndburn 418 2.7% 1.9% 6.7% 58 24.0
Burnley 389 2.6% 1.9% 6.1% 108 11.6
Pendle 420 2.4% 1.7% 6.0% 63 20.2

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 79,408 licensed vehicles in South Ribble 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 3,828 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 Ribble 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.