Yorkshire and the Humber · Metropolitan borough
Wakefield motoring statistics
How many cars and electric cars are registered in Wakefield, which fuels they use, how many public chargers there are and how Wakefield compares with the Yorkshire and the Humber. From DVLA licensing records, DfT charger statistics and ONS population estimates.
- Licensed cars 179,846 +1.8% on a year earlier
- Private cars per 1,000 people 461 UK 444
- Battery electric cars 6,475 3.6% of cars (UK 5.8%)
- Electric share of private cars 2.9% 156th lowest of 361 councils
- Public chargers 361 98 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
- Company-registered cars 5.7% UK 10.0%
How many cars are there in Wakefield?
There were 179,846 licensed cars in Wakefield at the end of June 2026, and 226,918 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 27.0% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 461 for every 1,000 residents, 127th lowest of 361 councils (UK 444).
Licensed vehicles in Wakefield
Counts at the end of March each year, 2010 to 2026.
| Year | All vehicles | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 170,106 | 141,595 |
| 2011 | 171,104 | 142,205 |
| 2012 | 172,057 | 142,932 |
| 2013 | 174,639 | 145,039 |
| 2014 | 177,605 | 147,297 |
| 2015 | 180,719 | 149,674 |
| 2016 | 185,604 | 153,304 |
| 2017 | 190,341 | 156,923 |
| 2018 | 194,962 | 160,465 |
| 2019 | 200,162 | 164,265 |
| 2020 | 201,407 | 165,046 |
| 2021 | 207,686 | 168,247 |
| 2022 | 212,560 | 169,445 |
| 2023 | 216,878 | 171,811 |
| 2024 | 222,958 | 174,538 |
| 2025 | 225,038 | 176,676 |
| 2026 | 226,918 | 179,846 |
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 | Wakefield | Yorkshire and the Humber | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 436 | 427 | – |
| 2012 | 436 | 427 | – |
| 2013 | 440 | 429 | – |
| 2014 | 444 | 429 | – |
| 2015 | 448 | 433 | 473 |
| 2016 | 454 | 442 | 480 |
| 2017 | 461 | 450 | 488 |
| 2018 | 466 | 456 | 490 |
| 2019 | 472 | 464 | 493 |
| 2020 | 470 | 463 | 489 |
| 2021 | 476 | 470 | 493 |
| 2022 | 473 | 469 | 489 |
| 2023 | 473 | 469 | 489 |
| 2024 | 475 | 472 | 490 |
Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated
Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Wakefield
51.3% of cars in Wakefield run on petrol and 34.8% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 43.3% in 2020. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 8.0%, and cars that plug in 5.6%.
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 | 70.2% | 29.6% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 68.3% | 31.4% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2012 | 66.4% | 33.2% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 64.4% | 35.3% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2014 | 62.5% | 37.1% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 60.5% | 39.0% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2016 | 58.5% | 40.8% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 57.1% | 42.1% | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 56.1% | 43.0% | 0.6% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 55.6% | 43.3% | 0.8% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 55.2% | 43.3% | 1.0% | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| 2021 | 54.5% | 43.1% | 1.5% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| 2022 | 54.0% | 42.4% | 2.1% | 0.6% | 0.6% |
| 2023 | 53.8% | 41.1% | 3.0% | 1.0% | 0.8% |
| 2024 | 53.2% | 39.4% | 4.4% | 1.6% | 1.0% |
| 2025 | 52.5% | 37.2% | 6.0% | 2.6% | 1.4% |
| 2026 | 51.3% | 34.8% | 8.0% | 3.6% | 2.0% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Electric cars in Wakefield
6,475 battery electric cars were licensed in Wakefield at the end of June 2026, 3.6% of all cars, 153rd lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 9,989 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 4,508.
Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.9% are battery electric (4,915 cars), 6th lowest of 15 councils in the Yorkshire and the Humber. Companies keep 24.1% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 5.7% of its cars overall. There are also 194 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 | Wakefield | Yorkshire and the Humber | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 0.1% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 0.3% | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| 2022 | 0.6% | 1.4% | 1.5% |
| 2023 | 1.0% | 2.2% | 2.3% |
| 2024 | 1.6% | 3.0% | 3.2% |
| 2025 | 2.6% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| 2026 | 3.6% | 5.5% | 5.8% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Public EV chargers in Wakefield
There were 361 public chargers in Wakefield on 1 July 2026, 241 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 98 for every 100,000 residents, 87th lowest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count fell 3.5% from 1 January 2026.
For every public charger there are 22.0 privately kept plug-in cars in Wakefield (UK 12.9), 114th most 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 | 374 | 238 |
| Apr 2026 | 362 | 238 |
| Jul 2026 | 361 | 241 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Chargers per 100,000 residents
| Area | All chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Wakefield | 98 | 66 |
| West Yorkshire | 106 | 38 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 111 | 37 |
| England | 173 | 41 |
| UK | 175 | 42 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Electric cars by neighbourhood
Wakefield has 45 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 2.2% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 4.5%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.
| Neighbourhood (MSOA) | Private vehicles | Battery electric | Electric share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wakefield 033 | 4,006 | 182 | 4.5% | |
| Wakefield 008 | 4,759 | 209 | 4.4% | |
| Wakefield 038 | 4,248 | 180 | 4.2% | |
| Wakefield 007 | 4,997 | 198 | 4.0% | |
| Wakefield 014 | 4,673 | 163 | 3.5% | |
| Wakefield 036 | 4,256 | 147 | 3.5% | |
| Wakefield 034 | 7,715 | 265 | 3.4% | |
| Wakefield 012 | 5,947 | 196 | 3.3% | |
| Wakefield 013 | 4,455 | 149 | 3.3% | |
| Wakefield 024 | 7,153 | 228 | 3.2% | |
| Lowest electric shares | ||||
| Wakefield 020 | 3,134 | 24 | 0.8% | |
| Wakefield 043 | 2,925 | 31 | 1.1% | |
| Wakefield 018 | 2,960 | 39 | 1.3% | |
| Wakefield 001 | 4,044 | 58 | 1.4% | |
| Wakefield 039 | 3,476 | 52 | 1.5% | |
Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of June 2026.
Road traffic and collisions in Wakefield
Vehicles travelled an estimated 1,945 million miles on roads in Wakefield in 2025.
Traffic on all roads
| Year | Million vehicle miles |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 1,329 |
| 1994 | 1,354 |
| 1995 | 1,386 |
| 1996 | 1,449 |
| 1997 | 1,487 |
| 1998 | 1,518 |
| 1999 | 1,567 |
| 2000 | 1,551 |
| 2001 | 1,573 |
| 2002 | 1,577 |
| 2003 | 1,602 |
| 2004 | 1,628 |
| 2005 | 1,632 |
| 2006 | 1,741 |
| 2007 | 1,756 |
| 2008 | 1,729 |
| 2009 | 1,705 |
| 2010 | 1,673 |
| 2011 | 1,727 |
| 2012 | 1,698 |
| 2013 | 1,717 |
| 2014 | 1,784 |
| 2015 | 1,832 |
| 2016 | 1,899 |
| 2017 | 1,896 |
| 2018 | 1,911 |
| 2019 | 1,960 |
| 2020 | 1,534 |
| 2021 | 1,702 |
| 2022 | 1,803 |
| 2023 | 1,869 |
| 2024 | 1,904 |
| 2025 | 1,945 |
Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated
Reported injury collisions
| Year | Collisions | Killed or seriously injured |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 483 | 151 |
| 2022 | 614 | 171 |
| 2023 | 648 | 188 |
| 2024 | 589 | 187 |
| 2025 | 555 | 167 |
Source:DfT STATS19,UK Motoring analysis 2021 to 2025 Updated
Petrol and diesel prices in Wakefield
Unleaded petrol averages 169.5p a litre across 46 filling stations in Wakefield, 2.0p below the UK average. Diesel averages 199.0p, 0.3p above the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.
Cheapest petrol
- Asda Glasshoughton Superstore Castleford 161.9p
- Jet Altofts Road Service Station Normanton 162.8p
- BP Glasshoughton Service Station Castleford 162.9p
How Wakefield compares
| Wakefield | 461 | 3.6% | 98 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Yorkshire | 413 | 7.6% | 106 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 440 | 5.5% | 111 |
| England | 440 | 6.2% | 173 |
| 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 Wakefield
There are 2 DVSA car practical test centres in Wakefield, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 46.9% at Pontefract.
Other centres in West Yorkshire:
- Bradford (Heaton) 56.1% pass rate, 2025/26
- Steeton 52.8% pass rate, 2025/26
- Leeds (Colton Mill) 51.8% pass rate, 2025/26
- Leeds (Fearnville) 51.8% pass rate, 2025/26
- Horsforth 49.7% pass rate, 2025/26
- Huddersfield 49.2% 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 West Yorkshire
Sorted by battery electric share of cars. Select a column heading to sort by it.
| Leeds | 384 | 14.5% | 138 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirklees | 443 | 3.6% | 61 |
| Wakefield | 461 | 3.6% | 98 |
| Calderdale | 441 | 3.4% | 101 |
| Bradford | 390 | 3.1% | 99 |
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 | 226,918 licensed vehicles in Wakefield | 26 October 2026 |
| Plug-in and electric vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 10,356 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 Wakefield 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.