South West · District council
West Devon motoring statistics
How many cars and electric cars are registered in West Devon, which fuels they use, how many public chargers there are and how West Devon compares with the South West. From DVLA licensing records, DfT charger statistics and ONS population estimates.
- Licensed cars 34,465 +1.0% on a year earlier
- Private cars per 1,000 people 564 UK 444
- Battery electric cars 1,061 3.1% of cars (UK 5.8%)
- Electric share of private cars 2.7% 120th lowest of 361 councils
- Public chargers 105 178 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
- Company-registered cars 3.5% UK 10.0%
How many cars are there in West Devon?
There were 34,465 licensed cars in West Devon at the end of June 2026, and 47,775 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 16.1% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 564 for every 1,000 residents, 34th highest of 361 councils (UK 444).
Licensed vehicles in West Devon
Counts at the end of March each year, 2010 to 2026.
| Year | All vehicles | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 39,046 | 29,684 |
| 2011 | 39,609 | 30,043 |
| 2012 | 39,999 | 30,366 |
| 2013 | 40,325 | 30,608 |
| 2014 | 41,195 | 31,121 |
| 2015 | 41,493 | 31,217 |
| 2016 | 42,488 | 31,814 |
| 2017 | 43,359 | 32,273 |
| 2018 | 43,761 | 32,423 |
| 2019 | 44,293 | 32,580 |
| 2020 | 43,894 | 32,262 |
| 2021 | 45,357 | 32,994 |
| 2022 | 45,331 | 33,249 |
| 2023 | 45,723 | 33,361 |
| 2024 | 46,537 | 33,865 |
| 2025 | 47,074 | 34,131 |
| 2026 | 47,775 | 34,465 |
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 | West Devon | South West | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 560 | 524 | – |
| 2012 | 563 | 527 | – |
| 2013 | 567 | 533 | – |
| 2014 | 572 | 541 | – |
| 2015 | 572 | 546 | 473 |
| 2016 | 579 | 550 | 480 |
| 2017 | 581 | 565 | 488 |
| 2018 | 583 | 569 | 490 |
| 2019 | 583 | 580 | 493 |
| 2020 | 574 | 573 | 489 |
| 2021 | 574 | 575 | 493 |
| 2022 | 571 | 571 | 489 |
| 2023 | 566 | 570 | 489 |
| 2024 | 575 | 571 | 490 |
Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated
Petrol, diesel and electric cars in West Devon
50.0% of cars in West Devon run on petrol and 39.6% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 46.0% in 2019. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 5.5%, and cars that plug in 4.6%.
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 | 64.3% | 35.3% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 62.6% | 37.0% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2012 | 60.7% | 38.9% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 58.8% | 40.7% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2014 | 57.3% | 42.2% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 55.9% | 43.5% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2016 | 54.6% | 44.8% | 0.4% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 53.9% | 45.3% | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 53.2% | 45.9% | 0.6% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 52.8% | 46.0% | 0.7% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 52.6% | 46.0% | 0.8% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| 2021 | 52.4% | 45.5% | 1.1% | 0.4% | 0.3% |
| 2022 | 51.9% | 44.9% | 1.6% | 0.8% | 0.5% |
| 2023 | 51.6% | 44.0% | 2.4% | 1.2% | 0.6% |
| 2024 | 51.1% | 42.9% | 3.3% | 1.6% | 0.8% |
| 2025 | 50.6% | 41.5% | 4.4% | 2.1% | 1.1% |
| 2026 | 50.0% | 39.6% | 5.5% | 3.1% | 1.5% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Electric cars in West Devon
1,061 battery electric cars were licensed in West Devon at the end of June 2026, 3.1% of all cars, 82nd lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 1,570 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 732.
Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.7% are battery electric (906 cars), 11th lowest of 27 councils in the South West. Companies keep 14.6% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 3.5% of its cars overall. There are also 39 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 | West Devon | South West | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 0.2% | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 0.4% | 1.2% | 0.8% |
| 2022 | 0.8% | 2.3% | 1.5% |
| 2023 | 1.2% | 3.5% | 2.3% |
| 2024 | 1.6% | 4.4% | 3.2% |
| 2025 | 2.1% | 5.4% | 4.4% |
| 2026 | 3.1% | 5.2% | 5.8% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Public EV chargers in West Devon
There were 105 public chargers in West Devon on 1 July 2026, 32 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 178 for every 100,000 residents, 116th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 8.2% from 1 January 2026.
For every public charger there are 13.0 privately kept plug-in cars in West Devon (UK 12.9), 119th fewest 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 | 97 | 32 |
| Apr 2026 | 103 | 32 |
| Jul 2026 | 105 | 32 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Chargers per 100,000 residents
| Area | All chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| West Devon | 178 | 54 |
| Devon | 176 | 61 |
| South West | 157 | 50 |
| England | 173 | 41 |
| UK | 175 | 42 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Electric cars by neighbourhood
West Devon has 7 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 2.3% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 2.4%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.
| Neighbourhood (MSOA) | Private vehicles | Battery electric | Electric share |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Devon 007 | 4,836 | 116 | 2.4% |
| West Devon 001 | 8,679 | 200 | 2.3% |
| West Devon 005 | 8,192 | 192 | 2.3% |
| West Devon 006 | 4,874 | 111 | 2.3% |
| West Devon 003 | 5,458 | 119 | 2.2% |
| West Devon 004 | 6,279 | 122 | 1.9% |
| West Devon 002 | 4,515 | 72 | 1.6% |
Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of June 2026.
Road traffic and collisions in West Devon
Reported injury collisions
| Year | Collisions | Killed or seriously injured |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 109 | 20 |
| 2022 | 122 | 29 |
| 2023 | 119 | 41 |
| 2024 | 100 | 31 |
| 2025 | 118 | 27 |
Source:DfT STATS19,UK Motoring analysis 2021 to 2025 Updated
Petrol and diesel prices in West Devon
Unleaded petrol averages 170.4p a litre across 6 filling stations in West Devon, 1.1p below the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.
Cheapest petrol
- Bridge Garage Okehampton 167.9p
- MFG Morrisons Tavistock Tavistock 167.9p
- Texaco Tavistock Service Station Ltd Tavistock 169.9p
How West Devon compares
| West Devon | 564 | 3.1% | 178 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Devon | 520 | 3.5% | 176 |
| South West | 509 | 5.2% | 157 |
| 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 West Devon
There is no DVSA car practical test centre in West Devon. The nearest centres are elsewhere in Devon.
Centres in Devon:
- Newton Abbot 53.8% pass rate, 2025/26
- Barnstaple 51.4% pass rate, 2025/26
- Exeter 46.8% 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 Devon
Sorted by battery electric share of cars. Select a column heading to sort by it.
| Exeter | 357 | 5.2% | 259 |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Hams | 572 | 3.9% | 145 |
| East Devon | 546 | 3.4% | 200 |
| Teignbridge | 551 | 3.3% | 147 |
| Mid Devon | 562 | 3.1% | 91 |
| West Devon | 564 | 3.1% | 178 |
| North Devon | 518 | 2.7% | 208 |
| Torridge | 555 | 2.6% | 107 |
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 | 47,775 licensed vehicles in West Devon | 26 October 2026 |
| Plug-in and electric vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 1,631 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 Devon 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.