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West Berkshire motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
120,153 licensed vehicles in West Berkshire
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 96,837 +0.9% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 562 UK 444
  • Battery electric cars 4,403 4.5% of cars (UK 5.8%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.9% 61st highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 467 283 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 4.1% UK 10.0%

How many cars are there in West Berkshire?

There were 96,837 licensed cars in West Berkshire at the end of June 2026, and 120,153 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 7.2% fewer cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 562 for every 1,000 residents, 37th highest of 361 councils (UK 444).

Licensed vehicles in West Berkshire

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in West Berkshire at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 131,057104,365
2011 134,455105,138
2012 136,667106,337
2013 151,298120,744
2014 146,007117,084
2015 151,567121,396
2016 156,893125,402
2017 140,491112,211
2018 128,856103,453
2019 122,00598,055
2020 116,78894,332
2021 115,62093,736
2022 115,81193,887
2023 116,78094,466
2024 118,41195,469
2025 119,09095,991
2026 120,15396,837

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, West Berkshire compared
Year West BerkshireSouth EastUnited Kingdom
2011 682534–
2012 685535–
2013 770541–
2014 743547–
2015 764551473
2016 781559480
2017 698567488
2018 643570490
2019 610572493
2020 586561489
2021 579564493
2022 578565489
2023 575567489
2024 578570490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in West Berkshire

57.8% of cars in West Berkshire run on petrol and 28.0% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 47.9% in 2016. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 6.6%, and cars that plug in 7.2%.

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.

Share of licensed cars by fuel type in West Berkshire, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 63.3%35.8%0.7%0.0%0.0%
2011 61.0%38.1%0.8%0.0%0.0%
2012 58.7%40.3%0.8%0.0%0.0%
2013 53.3%45.5%1.0%0.0%0.0%
2014 52.9%45.8%0.9%0.0%0.1%
2015 50.6%47.6%0.9%0.1%0.5%
2016 49.6%47.9%0.8%0.1%1.2%
2017 52.7%45.0%0.8%0.1%1.1%
2018 56.0%41.8%0.9%0.2%0.9%
2019 58.8%39.2%1.0%0.3%0.6%
2020 60.0%37.6%1.1%0.5%0.6%
2021 60.5%36.2%1.5%0.8%0.8%
2022 60.1%35.3%2.0%1.3%1.1%
2023 59.7%34.2%2.6%1.9%1.3%
2024 59.3%32.3%3.7%2.5%1.8%
2025 58.8%30.1%5.1%3.4%2.2%
2026 57.8%28.0%6.6%4.5%2.7%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Electric cars in West Berkshire

4,403 battery electric cars were licensed in West Berkshire at the end of June 2026, 4.5% of all cars, 94th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 6,987 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 3,277.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.9% are battery electric (3,621 cars), 15th highest of 64 councils in the South East. Companies keep 17.8% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 4.1% of its cars overall. There are also 106 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, West Berkshire compared, end of March each year
Year West BerkshireSouth 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%0.3%0.2%
2020 0.5%0.5%0.4%
2021 0.8%1.1%0.8%
2022 1.3%2.2%1.5%
2023 1.9%3.3%2.3%
2024 2.5%4.5%3.2%
2025 3.4%6.4%4.4%
2026 4.5%9.3%5.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in West Berkshire

There were 467 public chargers in West Berkshire on 1 July 2026, 194 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 283 for every 100,000 residents, 41st highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 5.2% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 12.1 privately kept plug-in cars in West Berkshire (UK 12.9), 105th 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 West Berkshire by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 444163
Apr 2026 432165
Jul 2026 467194

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, West Berkshire compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
West Berkshire 283118
South East 15940
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

West Berkshire has 22 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 3.5% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 5.0%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in West Berkshire with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
West Berkshire 003 4,447 221 5.0% 8.1%
West Berkshire 007 6,342 311 4.9% 7.2%
West Berkshire 001 4,895 218 4.5% 6.6%
West Berkshire 015 4,366 183 4.2% 6.7%
West Berkshire 022 4,430 182 4.1% 6.2%
West Berkshire 004 4,539 167 3.7% 6.1%
West Berkshire 011 7,823 286 3.7% 5.7%
West Berkshire 012 5,122 192 3.7% 5.3%
West Berkshire 017 4,532 164 3.6% 5.5%
West Berkshire 018 5,138 183 3.6% 6.0%
Lowest electric shares
West Berkshire 016 4,360 89 2.0% 3.4%
West Berkshire 014 5,614 121 2.2% 3.3%
West Berkshire 013 4,031 103 2.6% 3.8%
West Berkshire 010 3,935 105 2.7% 4.5%
West Berkshire 002 4,155 117 2.8% 4.9%

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

Road traffic and collisions in West Berkshire

Vehicles travelled an estimated 1,880 million miles on roads in West Berkshire in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in West Berkshire
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 1,420
1994 1,459
1995 1,500
1996 1,566
1997 1,622
1998 1,688
1999 1,702
2000 1,730
2001 1,768
2002 1,805
2003 1,781
2004 1,783
2005 1,824
2006 1,838
2007 1,855
2008 1,839
2009 1,805
2010 1,794
2011 1,792
2012 1,735
2013 1,746
2014 1,801
2015 1,899
2016 1,924
2017 1,972
2018 1,937
2019 1,961
2020 1,328
2021 1,502
2022 1,763
2023 1,806
2024 1,820
2025 1,880

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in West Berkshire, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 19341
2022 21048
2023 18450
2024 20650
2025 22172

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in West Berkshire

Unleaded petrol averages 182.7p a litre across 17 filling stations in West Berkshire, 11.2p above the UK average. Diesel averages 210.4p, 11.7p above the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Asda Pangbourne Express Petrol Reading 174.9p
  2. Jet Basildon Service Station Reading 174.9p
  3. BP Global Fuel - Calcot Reading 174.9p

Every filling station and price in West Berkshire

How West Berkshire compares

West Berkshire compared with the South East, England, the UK
West Berkshire 562 4.5% 3.9% 4.1% 283 12.1
South East 499 9.3% 3.5% 18.5% 159 17.7
England 440 6.2% 3.2% 10.7% 173 13.4
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 West Berkshire

There is 1 DVSA car practical test centre in West Berkshire, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 56.5% at Greenham.

Other centres in the South East:

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 the South East

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

Councils in the South East
Windsor and Maidenhead 521 40.1% 4.1% 83.4% 150 24.9
Milton Keynes 459 28.0% 4.8% 62.3% 323 10.1
Slough 386 26.3% 2.8% 50.4% 100 22.2
Portsmouth 362 8.2% 1.8% 36.0% 203 5.4
Elmbridge 530 6.2% 4.8% 4.3% 181 25.0
Cherwell 515 5.9% 3.8% 14.4% 204 15.4
Wokingham 544 5.7% 5.1% 3.1% 159 27.2
Winchester 527 5.4% 4.7% 4.9% 213 17.7
Hart 599 5.2% 4.2% 4.2% 210 18.7
Vale of White Horse 542 5.2% 4.8% 3.1% 194 20.0
Guildford 501 5.1% 4.4% 4.8% 182 19.1
Waverley 569 5.0% 4.5% 2.9% 155 26.6
Epsom and Ewell 463 4.9% 4.0% 3.8% 131 24.3
South Oxfordshire 563 4.9% 4.2% 3.3% 121 31.5
Buckinghamshire 546 4.8% 4.2% 4.1% 141 26.6
Mole Valley 595 4.8% 3.9% 15.9% 286 13.6
Eastleigh 544 4.7% 3.8% 4.6% 117 25.4
Surrey Heath 576 4.7% 4.1% 3.4% 207 18.5
East Hampshire 600 4.6% 4.0% 3.3% 84 45.1
Reigate and Banstead 500 4.6% 3.6% 9.9% 123 25.6
Runnymede 498 4.6% 3.6% 5.9% 246 12.3
Rushmoor 482 4.6% 2.6% 66.2% 156 13.1
Dartford 443 4.5% 3.7% 5.6% 194 14.2
Mid Sussex 535 4.5% 3.8% 5.0% 176 18.8
Sevenoaks 554 4.5% 3.9% 4.9% 95 39.0
Test Valley 565 4.5% 3.9% 3.9% 118 28.3
West Berkshire 562 4.5% 3.9% 4.1% 283 12.1
Basingstoke and Deane 529 4.4% 3.9% 3.2% 141 22.4
Tonbridge and Malling 534 4.4% 3.6% 5.9% 128 24.8
Fareham 568 4.3% 3.7% 3.0% 62 52.0
Horsham 583 4.3% 3.7% 3.4% 195 17.4
Tandridge 554 4.3% 3.6% 3.8% 138 25.3
Oxford 279 4.2% 3.3% 5.6% 167 8.7
West Oxfordshire 553 4.2% 3.7% 4.3% 195 17.1
Bracknell Forest 532 4.1% 3.6% 19.6% 159 19.7
Woking 516 4.1% 3.7% 3.2% 274 12.0
Brighton and Hove 309 4.0% 3.1% 5.3% 283 5.3
Tunbridge Wells 518 4.0% 3.4% 3.8% 113 27.2
Canterbury 458 3.9% 3.1% 4.8% 162 14.1
Wealden 600 3.9% 3.4% 3.4% 115 28.1
Ashford 516 3.8% 3.1% 4.7% 145 18.1
Chichester 562 3.8% 3.2% 4.1% 173 17.0
Lewes 493 3.7% 3.2% 3.8% 140 17.4
Maidstone 520 3.7% 3.1% 4.4% 83 32.5
New Forest 606 3.6% 3.1% 3.3% 177 17.2
Reading 362 3.6% 2.9% 5.1% 189 9.1
Havant 510 3.5% 2.7% 4.8% 72 29.4
Worthing 467 3.4% 2.8% 3.6% 255 7.4
Arun 532 3.3% 2.9% 3.3% 166 14.1
Spelthorne 496 3.3% 2.8% 3.8% 160 16.3
Adur 476 3.2% 2.6% 4.1% 168 11.2
Crawley 435 3.2% 2.5% 4.9% 223 8.2
Gravesham 465 3.2% 2.6% 5.6% 78 28.8
Medway 461 3.2% 2.5% 4.7% 79 25.3
Rother 551 3.2% 2.8% 3.9% 67 38.3
Swale 497 3.2% 2.7% 5.4% 107 20.3
Dover 499 3.0% 2.6% 4.2% 137 15.2
Folkestone and Hythe 498 3.0% 2.5% 4.3% 211 9.9
Eastbourne 428 2.9% 2.2% 6.9% 116 13.0
Isle of Wight 500 2.8% 2.3% 4.2% 135 12.5
Thanet 461 2.8% 2.2% 5.0% 98 17.1
Gosport 475 2.7% 2.2% 3.3% 100 16.3
Southampton 372 2.7% 2.0% 4.5% 70 17.4
Hastings 417 2.5% 2.0% 4.8% 52 26.5

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 120,153 licensed vehicles in West Berkshire 26 October 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 7,183 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 West Berkshire 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.