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Test Valley motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
97,865 licensed vehicles in Test Valley
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 79,001 +0.4% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 561 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 3,236 4.1% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.5% 66th highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 160 118 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 3.9% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in Test Valley?

There were 79,001 licensed cars in Test Valley at the end of March 2026, and 97,865 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 20.8% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 561 for every 1,000 residents, 32nd highest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in Test Valley

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Test Valley at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 82,38465,408
2011 85,88266,500
2012 88,82267,052
2013 90,30968,086
2014 93,31269,802
2015 96,33370,957
2016 98,21572,626
2017 103,19074,946
2018 105,25075,840
2019 108,86976,965
2020 109,21077,713
2021 93,62976,230
2022 95,24877,166
2023 95,91577,449
2024 96,88578,296
2025 97,59078,702
2026 97,86579,001

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, Test Valley compared
Year Test ValleySouth EastUnited Kingdom
2011 574534–
2012 575535–
2013 578541–
2014 586547–
2015 585551473
2016 589559480
2017 601567488
2018 604570490
2019 607572493
2020 595561489
2021 586564493
2022 583565489
2023 580567489
2024 583570490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Test Valley

56.0% of cars in Test Valley run on petrol and 30.7% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 40.6% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 6.7%, 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 Test Valley, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 69.8%29.8%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2011 67.6%31.9%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2012 65.9%33.6%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2013 64.0%35.4%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2014 62.2%37.1%0.5%0.0%0.0%
2015 60.9%38.4%0.5%0.0%0.0%
2016 59.5%39.6%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2017 58.3%40.5%0.8%0.1%0.1%
2018 58.0%40.6%0.9%0.2%0.2%
2019 58.3%40.0%1.1%0.3%0.3%
2020 58.4%39.4%1.2%0.4%0.4%
2021 59.2%38.0%1.5%0.6%0.5%
2022 58.5%37.4%2.1%1.1%0.7%
2023 58.0%36.4%2.7%1.6%1.0%
2024 57.5%34.9%3.8%2.3%1.3%
2025 56.8%33.0%5.2%3.0%1.7%
2026 56.0%30.7%6.7%4.1%2.1%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Test Valley

3,236 battery electric cars were licensed in Test Valley at the end of March 2026, 4.1% of all cars, 102nd highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 4,929 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 2,389.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.5% are battery electric (2,643 cars), 19th highest of 64 councils in the South East. Companies keep 18.3% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 3.9% of its cars overall. There are also 98 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, Test Valley compared, end of March each year
Year Test ValleySouth EastUnited Kingdom
2016 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.2%0.2%0.1%
2019 0.3%0.2%0.2%
2020 0.4%0.5%0.3%
2021 0.6%1.0%0.7%
2022 1.1%1.9%1.3%
2023 1.6%3.0%2.1%
2024 2.3%4.2%3.0%
2025 3.0%5.7%4.1%
2026 4.1%8.7%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Test Valley

There were 160 public chargers in Test Valley on 1 July 2026, 62 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 118 for every 100,000 residents, 132nd lowest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 7.4% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 26.7 privately kept plug-in cars in Test Valley (UK 11.9), 56th 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 Test Valley by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 14951
Apr 2026 15460
Jul 2026 16062

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Test Valley compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Test Valley 11846
Hampshire 13450
South East 15940
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

Test Valley has 17 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 3.0% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 4.3%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in Test Valley with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
Test Valley 014 4,796 208 4.3% 6.4%
Test Valley 016 4,994 205 4.1% 5.8%
Test Valley 017 4,419 183 4.1% 5.8%
Test Valley 013 7,914 313 4.0% 6.3%
Test Valley 015 5,703 214 3.8% 6.1%
Test Valley 009 6,866 238 3.5% 5.8%
Test Valley 008 4,063 137 3.4% 5.5%
Test Valley 012 7,925 261 3.3% 4.9%
Test Valley 001 4,948 135 2.7% 4.5%
Test Valley 007 5,588 153 2.7% 4.5%
Lowest electric shares
Test Valley 018 2,720 40 1.5% 2.0%
Test Valley 005 6,464 142 2.2% 3.8%
Test Valley 004 4,182 96 2.3% 3.4%
Test Valley 011 3,268 83 2.5% 3.5%
Test Valley 006 4,811 118 2.5% 3.9%

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 Test Valley

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Test Valley, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 20555
2022 22250
2023 21147
2024 22066
2025 24568

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Test Valley

Unleaded petrol averages 174.2p a litre across 21 filling stations in Test Valley, 2.5p above the UK average. Diesel averages 197.9p, 3.3p above the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Murco T/A Gerrishfuels Paddock Service Station Andover 164.9p
  2. Jet Weyhill Service Station Andover 167.9p
  3. Tesco Andover Extra Andover 168.9p

Every filling station and price in Test Valley

How Test Valley compares

Test Valley compared with Hampshire, the South East, England, the UK
Test Valley 561 4.1% 3.5% 3.9% 118 26.7
Hampshire 547 4.0% 3.3% 13.0% 134 22.4
South East 496 8.7% 3.2% 18.1% 159 16.9
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 Hampshire

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

Councils in Hampshire
Winchester 523 5.0% 4.3% 4.8% 213 17.3
Hart 595 4.9% 3.9% 4.2% 210 23.2
Eastleigh 539 4.2% 3.3% 4.5% 117 23.6
Basingstoke and Deane 524 4.1% 3.6% 3.2% 141 20.9
East Hampshire 594 4.1% 3.6% 3.3% 84 42.9
Rushmoor 480 4.1% 2.3% 63.7% 156 11.4
Test Valley 561 4.1% 3.5% 3.9% 118 26.7
Fareham 564 3.9% 3.4% 3.0% 62 47.8
New Forest 603 3.3% 2.8% 3.3% 177 17.2
Havant 507 3.2% 2.4% 4.8% 72 29.7
Gosport 473 2.4% 2.0% 3.3% 100 14.9

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 97,865 licensed vehicles in Test Valley 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 5,081 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 Test Valley 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.