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Torfaen motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
61,644 licensed vehicles in Torfaen
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 50,077 +0.8% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 499 UK 444
  • Battery electric cars 1,469 2.9% of cars (UK 5.8%)
  • Electric share of private cars 2.2% 59th lowest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 146 155 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 6.2% UK 10.0%

How many cars are there in Torfaen?

There were 50,077 licensed cars in Torfaen at the end of June 2026, and 61,644 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 17.3% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 499 for every 1,000 residents, 167th highest of 361 councils (UK 444).

Licensed vehicles in Torfaen

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Torfaen at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 50,50842,698
2011 50,73642,872
2012 50,81642,845
2013 51,33843,291
2014 52,46344,110
2015 52,93944,414
2016 53,68045,053
2017 54,74345,913
2018 55,88846,743
2019 56,95147,633
2020 56,74347,683
2021 58,43548,224
2022 58,70448,145
2023 59,51348,552
2024 60,35149,214
2025 60,94649,668
2026 61,64450,077

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.

Cars per 1,000 residents at mid-year, Torfaen compared
Year TorfaenWalesUnited Kingdom
2011 470470–
2012 470471–
2013 477476–
2014 485482–
2015 489486473
2016 497493480
2017 507500488
2018 513504490
2019 520510493
2020 516504489
2021 522513493
2022 518510489
2023 519510489
2024 523514490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Torfaen

55.3% of cars in Torfaen run on petrol and 33.0% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 39.9% in 2020. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 7.4%, and cars that plug in 4.1%.

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.

Share of licensed cars by fuel type in Torfaen, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 73.6%26.3%0.0%0.0%0.0%
2011 71.8%28.0%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2012 69.8%29.9%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2013 67.9%31.8%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2014 66.3%33.4%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2015 64.2%35.3%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2016 62.4%37.1%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2017 61.1%38.4%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2018 59.8%39.5%0.5%0.1%0.1%
2019 59.5%39.7%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2020 59.1%39.9%0.7%0.1%0.1%
2021 58.6%39.7%1.2%0.2%0.2%
2022 57.9%39.3%1.9%0.5%0.3%
2023 57.3%38.5%2.6%0.9%0.4%
2024 57.0%36.8%4.0%1.3%0.5%
2025 56.1%35.1%5.6%2.0%0.8%
2026 55.3%33.0%7.4%2.9%1.1%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Torfaen

1,469 battery electric cars were licensed in Torfaen at the end of June 2026, 2.9% of all cars, 63rd lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 2,043 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 1,004.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.2% are battery electric (1,050 cars), 10th highest of 22 councils in Wales. Companies keep 28.5% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 6.2% of its cars overall. There are also 67 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, Torfaen compared, end of March each year
Year TorfaenWalesUnited Kingdom
2016 0.0%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.0%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2019 0.1%0.1%0.2%
2020 0.1%0.2%0.4%
2021 0.2%0.3%0.8%
2022 0.5%0.6%1.5%
2023 0.9%1.0%2.3%
2024 1.3%1.5%3.2%
2025 2.0%2.2%4.4%
2026 2.9%3.1%5.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Torfaen

There were 146 public chargers in Torfaen on 1 July 2026, 30 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 155 for every 100,000 residents, 151st highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 14.1% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 10.6 privately kept plug-in cars in Torfaen (UK 12.9), 89th 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 Torfaen by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 12830
Apr 2026 14330
Jul 2026 14630

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Torfaen compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Torfaen 15532
Wales 18643
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

Torfaen has 13 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 1.6% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 3.9%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in Torfaen with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
Torfaen 013 4,933 190 3.9% 5.5%
Torfaen 005 3,995 96 2.4% 3.2%
Torfaen 012 4,336 104 2.4% 3.7%
Torfaen 011 3,607 76 2.1% 3.4%
Torfaen 006 4,674 78 1.7% 2.5%
Torfaen 008 4,062 65 1.6% 2.6%
Torfaen 010 3,931 59 1.5% 2.5%
Torfaen 004 5,389 76 1.4% 2.0%
Torfaen 003 3,895 44 1.1% 1.6%
Torfaen 002 4,322 38 0.9% 1.8%
Lowest electric shares
Torfaen 001 3,623 25 0.7% 1.2%
Torfaen 002 4,322 38 0.9% 1.8%
Torfaen 003 3,895 44 1.1% 1.6%
Torfaen 004 5,389 76 1.4% 2.0%
Torfaen 010 3,931 59 1.5% 2.5%

Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of June 2026. 2 neighbourhoods are left out because DfT withholds small counts there.

Road traffic and collisions in Torfaen

Vehicles travelled an estimated 444 million miles on roads in Torfaen in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in Torfaen
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 308
1994 312
1995 316
1996 321
1997 321
1998 332
1999 337
2000 337
2001 340
2002 344
2003 353
2004 352
2005 349
2006 362
2007 356
2008 364
2009 357
2010 352
2011 356
2012 355
2013 353
2014 377
2015 388
2016 403
2017 397
2018 420
2019 423
2020 336
2021 388
2022 421
2023 431
2024 434
2025 444

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Torfaen, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 7127
2022 8325
2023 7931
2024 8934
2025 8640

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

More road safety figures

How Torfaen compares

Torfaen compared with Wales, the UK
Torfaen 499 2.9% 2.2% 6.2% 155 10.6
Wales 493 3.1% 2.4% 6.1% 186 9.8
United Kingdom4445.8%3.1%10.0%17512.9

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 June 2026.

Driving test centres in Torfaen

There is no DVSA car practical test centre in Torfaen. The nearest centres are elsewhere in Wales.

Centres in Wales:

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.

Councils in Wales
Bridgend 490 4.7% 3.1% 10.2% 146 15.6
Monmouthshire 581 4.1% 3.5% 4.5% 283 11.0
Vale of Glamorgan 516 3.8% 3.3% 4.6% 139 19.3
Swansea 487 3.7% 2.3% 10.0% 154 11.8
Newport 461 3.5% 2.8% 5.5% 303 6.6
Cardiff 385 3.4% 2.7% 6.3% 118 13.9
Denbighshire 508 3.2% 2.4% 6.4% 179 10.2
Flintshire 559 3.2% 2.6% 4.7% 118 18.6
Conwy 519 2.9% 2.3% 5.6% 152 11.6
Torfaen 499 2.9% 2.2% 6.2% 155 10.6
Carmarthenshire 531 2.8% 2.2% 6.0% 216 8.5
Neath Port Talbot 477 2.8% 2.1% 6.8% 73 22.0
Caerphilly 497 2.7% 2.1% 5.7% 108 14.5
Wrexham 507 2.7% 2.1% 4.8% 204 8.3
Rhondda Cynon Taf 474 2.6% 2.1% 6.0% 121 12.6
Ceredigion 517 2.5% 2.1% 4.6% 306 5.5
Pembrokeshire 540 2.5% 2.1% 5.4% 365 4.8
Powys 554 2.5% 2.1% 5.1% 270 6.8
Isle of Anglesey 555 2.4% 1.9% 4.3% 245 6.7
Gwynedd 498 2.3% 1.7% 4.8% 390 3.5
Merthyr Tydfil 455 2.2% 1.7% 6.6% 139 9.3
Blaenau Gwent 503 1.9% 1.5% 5.3% 228 4.9

Data stories to read next

All insights

Data sources and methodology

Datasets used on this page
Figures Source Period Records Updated
Licensed vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 61,644 licensed vehicles in Torfaen 26 October 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 2,138 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 Torfaen 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.