Wales · Council area
Swansea motoring statistics
How many cars and electric cars are registered in Swansea, which fuels they use, how many public chargers there are and how Swansea compares with Wales. From DVLA licensing records, DfT charger statistics and ONS population estimates.
- Licensed cars 135,801 +0.9% on a year earlier
- Private cars per 1,000 people 487 UK 444
- Battery electric cars 5,073 3.7% of cars (UK 5.8%)
- Electric share of private cars 2.3% 71st lowest of 361 councils
- Public chargers 387 154 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
- Company-registered cars 10.0% UK 10.0%
How many cars are there in Swansea?
There were 135,801 licensed cars in Swansea at the end of June 2026, and 177,214 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 14.7% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 487 for every 1,000 residents, 178th lowest of 361 councils (UK 444).
Licensed vehicles in Swansea
Counts at the end of March each year, 2010 to 2026.
| Year | All vehicles | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 140,866 | 118,397 |
| 2011 | 143,009 | 118,795 |
| 2012 | 146,878 | 120,930 |
| 2013 | 146,317 | 120,554 |
| 2014 | 146,685 | 120,825 |
| 2015 | 146,745 | 120,741 |
| 2016 | 150,499 | 123,059 |
| 2017 | 151,765 | 124,717 |
| 2018 | 154,635 | 126,610 |
| 2019 | 156,747 | 126,929 |
| 2020 | 153,958 | 123,264 |
| 2021 | 161,759 | 125,475 |
| 2022 | 164,556 | 127,471 |
| 2023 | 168,762 | 129,814 |
| 2024 | 173,310 | 132,908 |
| 2025 | 176,286 | 134,616 |
| 2026 | 177,214 | 135,801 |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Licensed vehicles by type
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 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.
| Year | Swansea | Wales | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 498 | 470 | – |
| 2012 | 506 | 471 | – |
| 2013 | 504 | 476 | – |
| 2014 | 505 | 482 | – |
| 2015 | 504 | 486 | 473 |
| 2016 | 514 | 493 | 480 |
| 2017 | 521 | 500 | 488 |
| 2018 | 529 | 504 | 490 |
| 2019 | 532 | 510 | 493 |
| 2020 | 516 | 504 | 489 |
| 2021 | 527 | 513 | 493 |
| 2022 | 525 | 510 | 489 |
| 2023 | 521 | 510 | 489 |
| 2024 | 529 | 514 | 490 |
Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated
Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Swansea
54.8% of cars in Swansea run on petrol and 29.7% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 39.7% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 8.8%, and cars that plug in 6.2%.
Cars by fuel type
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Fuel mix over time
Share of licensed cars at the end of March each year.
| Year | Petrol | Diesel | Hybrid | Battery electric | Plug-in hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 73.3% | 26.4% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 70.9% | 28.7% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2012 | 68.8% | 30.8% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 66.7% | 32.8% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2014 | 65.2% | 34.3% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 63.5% | 35.9% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2016 | 61.8% | 37.5% | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 60.4% | 38.8% | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 59.2% | 39.7% | 0.6% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2019 | 59.4% | 39.3% | 0.8% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 59.5% | 38.8% | 1.0% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| 2021 | 58.9% | 38.1% | 1.7% | 0.6% | 0.5% |
| 2022 | 58.3% | 37.1% | 2.6% | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| 2023 | 57.9% | 35.7% | 3.5% | 1.5% | 1.0% |
| 2024 | 57.4% | 33.9% | 5.1% | 1.9% | 1.3% |
| 2025 | 56.0% | 32.1% | 6.9% | 2.7% | 1.8% |
| 2026 | 54.8% | 29.7% | 8.8% | 3.7% | 2.5% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Electric cars in Swansea
5,073 battery electric cars were licensed in Swansea at the end of June 2026, 3.7% of all cars, 162nd lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 8,437 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 3,659.
Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.3% are battery electric (2,806 cars), 8th highest of 22 councils in Wales. Companies keep 44.7% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 10.0% of its cars overall. There are also 734 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.
| Year | Swansea | Wales | United 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% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 0.3% | 0.2% | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 0.6% | 0.3% | 0.8% |
| 2022 | 1.0% | 0.6% | 1.5% |
| 2023 | 1.5% | 1.0% | 2.3% |
| 2024 | 1.9% | 1.5% | 3.2% |
| 2025 | 2.7% | 2.2% | 4.4% |
| 2026 | 3.7% | 3.1% | 5.8% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Public EV chargers in Swansea
There were 387 public chargers in Swansea on 1 July 2026, 129 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 154 for every 100,000 residents, 155th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 4.9% from 1 January 2026.
For every public charger there are 11.8 privately kept plug-in cars in Swansea (UK 12.9), 100th fewest of 361 councils. A higher number means more competition for each public charger, though many drivers charge at home.
Public chargers
| Date | All public chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2026 | 369 | 115 |
| Apr 2026 | 368 | 111 |
| Jul 2026 | 387 | 129 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Chargers per 100,000 residents
| Area | All chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Swansea | 154 | 51 |
| Wales | 186 | 43 |
| UK | 175 | 42 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Electric cars by neighbourhood
Swansea has 30 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 2.0% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 3.7%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.
| Neighbourhood (MSOA) | Private vehicles | Battery electric | Electric share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swansea 004 | 5,900 | 219 | 3.7% | |
| Swansea 027 | 3,297 | 121 | 3.7% | |
| Swansea 031 | 4,677 | 170 | 3.6% | |
| Swansea 022 | 4,567 | 154 | 3.4% | |
| Swansea 028 | 4,094 | 130 | 3.2% | |
| Swansea 030 | 4,952 | 146 | 2.9% | |
| Swansea 032 | 6,841 | 195 | 2.9% | |
| Swansea 029 | 3,738 | 104 | 2.8% | |
| Swansea 006 | 4,797 | 130 | 2.7% | |
| Swansea 007 | 6,212 | 154 | 2.5% | |
| Lowest electric shares | ||||
| Swansea 015 | 3,797 | 20 | 0.5% | |
| Swansea 009 | 18,033 | 158 | 0.9% | |
| Swansea 008 | 3,669 | 37 | 1.0% | |
| Swansea 011 | 3,575 | 41 | 1.1% | |
| Swansea 014 | 3,856 | 50 | 1.3% | |
Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of June 2026. 5 neighbourhoods are left out because DfT withholds small counts there.
Road traffic and collisions in Swansea
Vehicles travelled an estimated 1,151 million miles on roads in Swansea in 2025.
Traffic on all roads
| Year | Million vehicle miles |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 839 |
| 1994 | 854 |
| 1995 | 868 |
| 1996 | 876 |
| 1997 | 890 |
| 1998 | 910 |
| 1999 | 939 |
| 2000 | 934 |
| 2001 | 946 |
| 2002 | 989 |
| 2003 | 999 |
| 2004 | 1,023 |
| 2005 | 1,026 |
| 2006 | 1,042 |
| 2007 | 1,055 |
| 2008 | 1,034 |
| 2009 | 1,011 |
| 2010 | 1,001 |
| 2011 | 1,014 |
| 2012 | 1,014 |
| 2013 | 1,027 |
| 2014 | 1,059 |
| 2015 | 1,080 |
| 2016 | 1,108 |
| 2017 | 1,116 |
| 2018 | 1,128 |
| 2019 | 1,141 |
| 2020 | 907 |
| 2021 | 1,028 |
| 2022 | 1,108 |
| 2023 | 1,118 |
| 2024 | 1,132 |
| 2025 | 1,151 |
Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated
Reported injury collisions
| Year | Collisions | Killed or seriously injured |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 157 | 31 |
| 2022 | 144 | 32 |
| 2023 | 158 | 42 |
| 2024 | 138 | 27 |
| 2025 | 107 | 27 |
Source:DfT STATS19,UK Motoring analysis 2021 to 2025 Updated
Petrol and diesel prices in Swansea
Unleaded petrol averages 171.6p a litre across 27 filling stations in Swansea, 0.1p above the UK average. Diesel averages 198.6p, 0.1p below the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.
Cheapest petrol
- Esso Herons Way Service Station Llanrhidian 167.9p
- Esso MFG Dunvant Dunvant / Swansea 167.9p
- Texaco MFG Mumbles Swansea 167.9p
How Swansea compares
| Swansea | 487 | 3.7% | 154 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wales | 493 | 3.1% | 186 |
| United Kingdom | 444 | 5.8% | 175 |
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 June 2026.
Driving test centres in Swansea
There is 1 DVSA car practical test centre in Swansea, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 48.2% at Swansea.
Other centres in Wales:
- Pwllheli 68.1% pass rate, 2025/26
- Abergavenny 64.2% pass rate, 2025/26
- Bangor 62.2% pass rate, 2025/26
- Bala 61.6% pass rate, 2025/26
- Brecon 58.7% pass rate, 2025/26
- Newtown 58.0% pass rate, 2025/26
- Barry 57.0% pass rate, 2025/26
DVSA publishes pass rates by centre name, with no address, so centres are placed here by the place name in the name DVSA uses. See pass rates at every test centre.
Councils in Wales
Sorted by battery electric share of cars. Select a column heading to sort by it.
| Bridgend | 490 | 4.7% | 146 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monmouthshire | 581 | 4.1% | 283 |
| Vale of Glamorgan | 516 | 3.8% | 139 |
| Swansea | 487 | 3.7% | 154 |
| Newport | 461 | 3.5% | 303 |
| Cardiff | 385 | 3.4% | 118 |
| Denbighshire | 508 | 3.2% | 179 |
| Flintshire | 559 | 3.2% | 118 |
| Conwy | 519 | 2.9% | 152 |
| Torfaen | 499 | 2.9% | 155 |
| Carmarthenshire | 531 | 2.8% | 216 |
| Neath Port Talbot | 477 | 2.8% | 73 |
| Caerphilly | 497 | 2.7% | 108 |
| Wrexham | 507 | 2.7% | 204 |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf | 474 | 2.6% | 121 |
| Ceredigion | 517 | 2.5% | 306 |
| Pembrokeshire | 540 | 2.5% | 365 |
| Powys | 554 | 2.5% | 270 |
| Isle of Anglesey | 555 | 2.4% | 245 |
| Gwynedd | 498 | 2.3% | 390 |
| Merthyr Tydfil | 455 | 2.2% | 139 |
| Blaenau Gwent | 503 | 1.9% | 228 |
Data stories to read next
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 177,214 licensed vehicles in Swansea | 26 October 2026 |
| Plug-in and electric vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 9,428 plug-in vehicles | 26 October 2026 |
| Public chargers | Electric vehicle public charging infrastructure statistics Department for Transport | 1 July 2026 | 121,171 public chargers (UK) | 26 October 2026 |
| Population | Mid-year population estimates Office for National Statistics | Mid-2024 | 404 areas | 26 October 2026 |
| Neighbourhoods | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 35,672 small areas (LSOAs) in England and Wales | 26 October 2026 |
- Coverage: licensing and charger figures cover the whole UK. Licensing figures in Swansea 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.
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.