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West Dunbartonshire motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
53,443 licensed vehicles in West Dunbartonshire
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 40,240 +1.0% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 421 UK 444
  • Battery electric cars 1,186 2.9% of cars (UK 5.8%)
  • Electric share of private cars 2.4% 81st lowest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 182 204 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 6.7% UK 10.0%

How many cars are there in West Dunbartonshire?

There were 40,240 licensed cars in West Dunbartonshire at the end of June 2026, and 53,443 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 11.5% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 421 for every 1,000 residents, 89th lowest of 361 councils (UK 444).

Licensed vehicles in West Dunbartonshire

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in West Dunbartonshire at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 49,99936,075
2011 39,07534,576
2012 38,92434,601
2013 39,38534,965
2014 40,31935,803
2015 41,17636,538
2016 42,05837,161
2017 43,21837,980
2018 43,96338,418
2019 48,32039,006
2020 49,14639,069
2021 49,96239,397
2022 49,36138,989
2023 49,08438,925
2024 50,60239,497
2025 52,67939,830
2026 53,44340,240

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 Dunbartonshire compared
Year West DunbartonshireScotlandUnited Kingdom
2011 382429–
2012 383430–
2013 389436–
2014 398443–
2015 406446473
2016 412450480
2017 421457488
2018 429461490
2019 436465493
2020 439462489
2021 445469493
2022 442466489
2023 438465489
2024 443468490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in West Dunbartonshire

59.4% of cars in West Dunbartonshire run on petrol and 26.3% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 40.1% in 2020. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 9.1%, and cars that plug in 4.7%.

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 Dunbartonshire, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 73.8%25.9%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2011 74.7%25.0%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2012 72.7%27.0%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2013 70.7%29.0%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2014 68.7%30.9%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2015 66.3%33.3%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2016 63.8%35.6%0.4%0.1%0.0%
2017 62.0%37.3%0.5%0.1%0.1%
2018 60.1%39.1%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2019 59.2%39.8%0.7%0.1%0.1%
2020 58.6%40.1%1.0%0.2%0.2%
2021 58.6%39.0%1.6%0.3%0.3%
2022 58.9%37.3%2.4%0.6%0.6%
2023 59.7%35.2%3.3%0.9%0.7%
2024 60.5%32.3%4.6%1.5%0.8%
2025 60.2%29.4%6.6%2.2%1.1%
2026 59.4%26.3%9.1%2.9%1.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Electric cars in West Dunbartonshire

1,186 battery electric cars were licensed in West Dunbartonshire at the end of June 2026, 2.9% of all cars, 63rd lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 1,895 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 889.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.4% are battery electric (915 cars), 8th lowest of 32 councils in Scotland. Companies keep 22.8% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 6.7% of its cars overall. There are also 228 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 Dunbartonshire compared, end of March each year
Year West DunbartonshireScotlandUnited 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%0.3%0.4%
2021 0.3%0.7%0.8%
2022 0.6%1.2%1.5%
2023 0.9%1.9%2.3%
2024 1.5%2.5%3.2%
2025 2.2%3.4%4.4%
2026 2.9%4.5%5.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in West Dunbartonshire

There were 182 public chargers in West Dunbartonshire on 1 July 2026, 57 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 204 for every 100,000 residents, 81st highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 3.4% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 8.3 privately kept plug-in cars in West Dunbartonshire (UK 12.9), 59th 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 Dunbartonshire by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 17651
Apr 2026 18057
Jul 2026 18257

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, West Dunbartonshire compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
West Dunbartonshire 20464
Scotland 23259
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Road traffic and collisions in West Dunbartonshire

Vehicles travelled an estimated 432 million miles on roads in West Dunbartonshire in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in West Dunbartonshire
Year Million vehicle miles
1993 324
1994 328
1995 334
1996 342
1997 348
1998 352
1999 357
2000 360
2001 362
2002 372
2003 373
2004 372
2005 380
2006 389
2007 385
2008 386
2009 396
2010 386
2011 388
2012 389
2013 388
2014 399
2015 405
2016 412
2017 411
2018 419
2019 419
2020 328
2021 378
2022 412
2023 418
2024 426
2025 432

Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in West Dunbartonshire, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 4321
2022 3912
2023 5531
2024 4324
2025 5631

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in West Dunbartonshire

Unleaded petrol averages 174.2p a litre across 10 filling stations in West Dunbartonshire, 2.7p above the UK average. Diesel averages 200.4p, 1.7p above the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Shell Asda West Highway Express Petrol Clydebank 172.9p
  2. MFG Morrisons Dumbarton Dumbarton 172.9p
  3. BP Clydebank Clydebank 173.9p

Every filling station and price in West Dunbartonshire

Roadworks in West Dunbartonshire

The Scottish Road Works Register lists 186 sets of roadworks in West Dunbartonshire, of which 65 are under way and 121 are planned. 48 of them close a road, a lane, a slip road or the hard shoulder. West Dunbartonshire Council is behind the most, 43 of them (23.1%). From the extract of 30 October 2026.

Works most likely to hold you up

  • Wylie Avenue, Alexandria

    Lane closed Under way, until 4 Jan 2027 SGN

    Lay and aban mains

  • Great Western Road, Clydebank

    Lane closed Under way, until 11 Nov 2026 SP Energy Networks

    Excavate, backfill & reinstate to allow 33kV cable jointing

  • Auchincarroch Road, Jamestown

    Road closed Under way, until 30 Oct 2026 BT

    Pole replacement

  • Castle Avenue, Balloch

    Road closed Under way, until 2 Nov 2026 West Dunbartonshire Council

    Carriageway and footway patching

  • Endrick Drive, Balloch

    Road closed Under way, until 2 Nov 2026 West Dunbartonshire Council

    Carriageway and footway Patching

  • Lawrence Drive, Balloch

    Road closed Under way, until 2 Nov 2026 West Dunbartonshire Council

    Carriageway Patching

  • Bank Street, Alexandria

    Road closed Under way, until 6 Jan 2027 West Dunbartonshire Council

    Footway Closure

  • Alexander Street, Alexandria

    Road closed Under way, until 28 Feb 2027 West Dunbartonshire Council

    Occupation of carriageway for regeneration works

  • Alexander Street, Alexandria

    Road closed Under way, until 28 Feb 2027 West Dunbartonshire Council

    Resurfacing works, lay new kerbs and tactiles

  • Dalreoch Station Road, Dumbarton

    Road closed Under way, until 12 Feb 2027 West Dunbartonshire Council

    Occupation of Road and lower carpark for major Scottish Water works

Who is digging

  • West Dunbartonshire Council 43
  • BT 33
  • Scottish Water 33
  • SGN 32
  • SP Energy Networks 29

How traffic is managed

  • Give and take 68
  • Road closed 39
  • Temporary traffic lights 34
  • Footway only 15
  • No obstruction 10

The register publishes one extract a day, so works can start, finish or change after it is taken. Roadworks across Scotland.

Source:SRWR Extract of 2026-10-30 Updated

How West Dunbartonshire compares

West Dunbartonshire compared with Scotland, the UK
West Dunbartonshire 421 2.9% 2.4% 6.7% 204 8.3
Scotland 439 4.5% 3.3% 7.8% 232 9.7
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 Dunbartonshire

There is 1 DVSA car practical test centre in West Dunbartonshire, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 52.8% at Dumbarton.

Other centres in Scotland:

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 Scotland

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

Councils in Scotland
Stirling 471 14.8% 4.5% 32.2% 511 6.0
Renfrewshire 439 12.8% 3.5% 34.8% 243 10.1
East Renfrewshire 475 5.5% 4.9% 4.3% 82 43.0
East Dunbartonshire 482 5.1% 4.5% 4.0% 103 32.4
West Lothian 481 4.9% 4.3% 5.6% 137 21.7
East Lothian 476 4.8% 4.4% 4.4% 600 5.1
Edinburgh 326 4.5% 3.6% 5.2% 192 9.7
Midlothian 465 4.5% 4.1% 5.1% 223 12.7
Orkney Islands 496 4.5% 4.0% 5.2% 386 7.3
South Lanarkshire 465 4.5% 3.9% 6.2% 182 15.3
Perth and Kinross 510 4.4% 3.9% 5.1% 363 8.3
Dundee 373 4.1% 3.2% 6.6% 472 3.7
North Lanarkshire 436 4.0% 3.4% 7.2% 168 13.7
Falkirk 495 3.9% 3.3% 5.4% 163 15.2
Fife 481 3.9% 3.4% 4.8% 132 18.2
South Ayrshire 483 3.9% 3.4% 5.1% 205 12.2
Aberdeenshire 533 3.8% 3.3% 4.3% 162 17.8
East Ayrshire 469 3.6% 3.1% 6.0% 229 9.6
Glasgow 309 3.5% 2.4% 9.6% 180 6.8
North Ayrshire 458 3.5% 3.0% 5.9% 199 10.6
Angus 507 3.4% 3.0% 4.7% 221 10.7
Clackmannanshire 496 3.4% 3.0% 4.9% 205 10.9
Aberdeen 399 3.3% 2.8% 4.4% 192 10.2
Scottish Borders 510 3.2% 2.9% 4.8% 224 10.4
Inverclyde 426 2.9% 2.5% 5.6% 237 7.5
West Dunbartonshire 421 2.9% 2.4% 6.7% 204 8.3
Argyll and Bute 474 2.8% 2.4% 4.7% 396 5.1
Highland 500 2.8% 2.3% 5.0% 387 5.0
Moray 507 2.8% 2.3% 4.5% 153 13.3
Dumfries and Galloway 514 2.4% 2.0% 5.7% 549 3.2
Shetland Islands 476 2.2% 1.7% 9.1% 323 4.3
Na h-Eileanan Siar 507 1.6% 1.3% 4.2% 515 2.4

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 53,443 licensed vehicles in West Dunbartonshire 26 October 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 2,153 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
  • Coverage: licensing and charger figures cover the whole UK. Licensing figures in West Dunbartonshire 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.
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.