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Tunbridge Wells motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
74,855 licensed vehicles in Tunbridge Wells
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 63,999 +0.6% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 515 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 2,430 3.8% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.2% 105th highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 135 113 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 3.8% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in Tunbridge Wells?

There were 63,999 licensed cars in Tunbridge Wells at the end of March 2026, and 74,855 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 14.0% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 515 for every 1,000 residents, 119th highest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in Tunbridge Wells

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Tunbridge Wells at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 65,39456,150
2011 66,29756,881
2012 67,19957,431
2013 67,27057,612
2014 67,79558,231
2015 68,49858,802
2016 69,69359,718
2017 70,31760,522
2018 70,55060,708
2019 71,40461,320
2020 72,06361,937
2021 71,93761,533
2022 72,97562,133
2023 73,42762,477
2024 74,05663,211
2025 74,47863,623
2026 74,85563,999

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, Tunbridge Wells compared
Year Tunbridge WellsSouth EastUnited Kingdom
2011 496534–
2012 499535–
2013 505541–
2014 510547–
2015 515551473
2016 520559480
2017 527567488
2018 531570490
2019 537572493
2020 531561489
2021 539564493
2022 537565489
2023 534567489
2024 532570490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Tunbridge Wells

61.0% of cars in Tunbridge Wells run on petrol and 23.8% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 34.3% in 2017. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 8.4%, and cars that plug in 6.3%.

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 Tunbridge Wells, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 74.2%25.3%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2011 72.4%27.0%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2012 70.7%28.7%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2013 69.1%30.2%0.5%0.0%0.0%
2014 67.4%31.8%0.5%0.0%0.0%
2015 66.1%33.0%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2016 65.2%33.7%0.8%0.1%0.1%
2017 64.4%34.3%0.9%0.2%0.2%
2018 64.0%34.1%1.2%0.2%0.3%
2019 64.2%33.6%1.4%0.2%0.4%
2020 64.4%32.9%1.7%0.4%0.5%
2021 64.3%32.1%2.1%0.6%0.7%
2022 63.4%31.4%2.9%1.1%1.0%
2023 63.2%29.8%3.7%1.6%1.3%
2024 62.6%28.0%5.1%2.2%1.7%
2025 62.1%25.8%6.7%2.8%2.1%
2026 61.0%23.8%8.4%3.8%2.5%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Tunbridge Wells

2,430 battery electric cars were licensed in Tunbridge Wells at the end of March 2026, 3.8% of all cars, 142nd highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 4,060 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 1,805.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.2% are battery electric (1,975 cars), 32nd lowest of 64 councils in the South East. Companies keep 18.7% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 3.8% of its cars overall. There are also 44 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, Tunbridge Wells compared, end of March each year
Year Tunbridge WellsSouth EastUnited Kingdom
2016 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.2%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.2%0.2%0.1%
2019 0.2%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 2.2%4.2%3.0%
2025 2.8%5.7%4.1%
2026 3.8%8.7%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Tunbridge Wells

There were 135 public chargers in Tunbridge Wells on 1 July 2026, 63 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 113 for every 100,000 residents, 116th lowest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 12.5% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 25.5 privately kept plug-in cars in Tunbridge Wells (UK 11.9), 63rd 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 Tunbridge Wells by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 12045
Apr 2026 13553
Jul 2026 13563

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Tunbridge Wells compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Tunbridge Wells 11353
Kent 12844
South East 15940
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

Tunbridge Wells has 14 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 2.9% 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 Tunbridge Wells with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
Tunbridge Wells 006 5,021 194 3.9% 7.1%
Tunbridge Wells 012 4,868 183 3.8% 6.9%
Tunbridge Wells 003 4,904 178 3.6% 5.3%
Tunbridge Wells 007 3,842 134 3.5% 5.8%
Tunbridge Wells 009 4,924 168 3.4% 5.6%
Tunbridge Wells 013 5,480 171 3.1% 4.8%
Tunbridge Wells 001 7,723 227 2.9% 4.7%
Tunbridge Wells 002 4,541 132 2.9% 5.2%
Tunbridge Wells 011 6,501 180 2.8% 5.3%
Tunbridge Wells 004 5,367 138 2.6% 4.6%
Lowest electric shares
Tunbridge Wells 005 3,394 63 1.9% 3.4%
Tunbridge Wells 010 3,098 63 2.0% 3.5%
Tunbridge Wells 014 6,268 138 2.2% 4.2%
Tunbridge Wells 008 3,841 88 2.3% 4.5%
Tunbridge Wells 004 5,367 138 2.6% 4.6%

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

Road traffic and collisions in Tunbridge Wells

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Tunbridge Wells, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 21451
2022 23849
2023 25573
2024 17355
2025 19450

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Tunbridge Wells

Unleaded petrol averages 172.8p a litre across 11 filling stations in Tunbridge Wells, 1.1p above the UK average. Diesel averages 193.8p, 0.8p below the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Sainsbury's Tunbridge Wells Tunbridge Wells 169.9p
  2. BP MFG Highgate Hawkhurst 171.9p
  3. Esso Rontec Pantiles Tunbridge Wells 171.9p

Every filling station and price in Tunbridge Wells

How Tunbridge Wells compares

Tunbridge Wells compared with Kent, the South East, England, the UK
Tunbridge Wells 515 3.8% 3.2% 3.8% 113 25.5
Kent 495 3.4% 2.8% 4.9% 128 18.6
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 Kent

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

Councils in Kent
Sevenoaks 551 4.3% 3.6% 5.0% 95 37.2
Dartford 441 4.2% 3.4% 5.6% 194 14.5
Tonbridge and Malling 530 4.1% 3.3% 5.9% 128 18.3
Tunbridge Wells 515 3.8% 3.2% 3.8% 113 25.5
Ashford 511 3.5% 2.8% 4.7% 145 15.9
Canterbury 454 3.5% 2.8% 4.7% 162 14.5
Maidstone 515 3.4% 2.8% 4.4% 83 29.6
Gravesham 461 3.0% 2.4% 5.5% 78 24.7
Dover 497 2.8% 2.3% 4.2% 137 13.6
Swale 493 2.8% 2.4% 5.4% 107 18.1
Folkestone and Hythe 494 2.7% 2.3% 4.3% 211 9.2
Thanet 457 2.6% 2.0% 5.1% 98 18.8

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 74,855 licensed vehicles in Tunbridge Wells 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 4,152 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 Tunbridge Wells 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.