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West Lancashire motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
83,565 licensed vehicles in West Lancashire
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 63,683 +2.0% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 488 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 2,716 4.3% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.3% 90th highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 93 76 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 6.5% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in West Lancashire?

There were 63,683 licensed cars in West Lancashire at the end of March 2026, and 83,565 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 14.6% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 488 for every 1,000 residents, 179th highest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in West Lancashire

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in West Lancashire at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 67,86355,562
2011 68,31755,878
2012 68,70656,115
2013 68,38755,970
2014 69,38456,302
2015 70,08056,537
2016 71,56357,187
2017 72,86557,717
2018 73,86058,219
2019 75,93258,956
2020 76,71559,866
2021 77,12959,569
2022 79,34160,205
2023 79,86560,780
2024 81,83261,566
2025 82,15062,450
2026 83,56563,683

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, West Lancashire compared
Year West LancashireNorth WestUnited Kingdom
2011 506429–
2012 506425–
2013 503428–
2014 503433–
2015 500435473
2016 501438480
2017 504440488
2018 506443490
2019 513448493
2020 509446489
2021 513477493
2022 506472489
2023 508472489
2024 507474490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in West Lancashire

53.2% of cars in West Lancashire run on petrol and 31.2% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 40.4% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 8.4%, and cars that plug in 6.7%.

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 West Lancashire, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 71.1%28.6%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2011 68.8%30.7%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2012 66.4%33.1%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2013 64.9%34.6%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2014 63.4%36.1%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2015 61.8%37.5%0.5%0.0%0.0%
2016 60.4%38.7%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2017 59.1%39.8%0.7%0.1%0.1%
2018 58.3%40.4%0.9%0.1%0.1%
2019 58.2%40.2%1.1%0.2%0.2%
2020 57.9%40.1%1.3%0.2%0.3%
2021 57.7%39.6%1.7%0.4%0.4%
2022 56.9%38.9%2.4%0.9%0.7%
2023 56.5%37.7%3.2%1.4%0.9%
2024 56.0%35.9%4.5%2.0%1.1%
2025 54.8%33.7%6.4%2.9%1.7%
2026 53.2%31.2%8.4%4.3%2.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in West Lancashire

2,716 battery electric cars were licensed in West Lancashire at the end of March 2026, 4.3% of all cars, 80th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 4,249 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 1,824.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.3% are battery electric (1,954 cars), 7th highest of 35 councils in the North West. Companies keep 28.1% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 6.5% of its cars overall. There are also 88 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 Lancashire compared, end of March each year
Year West LancashireNorth WestUnited Kingdom
2016 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2019 0.2%0.1%0.2%
2020 0.2%0.2%0.3%
2021 0.4%0.7%0.7%
2022 0.9%1.5%1.3%
2023 1.4%2.6%2.1%
2024 2.0%3.8%3.0%
2025 2.9%5.4%4.1%
2026 4.3%6.2%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in West Lancashire

There were 93 public chargers in West Lancashire on 1 July 2026, 38 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 76 for every 100,000 residents, 52nd lowest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count fell 44.3% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 18.2 privately kept plug-in cars in West Lancashire (UK 11.9), 143rd 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 West Lancashire by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 16740
Apr 2026 16740
Jul 2026 9338

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, West Lancashire compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
West Lancashire 7631
Lancashire 11346
North West 11240
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

West Lancashire has 15 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, 4.1%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in West Lancashire with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
West Lancashire 009 3,970 161 4.1% 5.7%
West Lancashire 008 4,450 166 3.7% 5.8%
West Lancashire 004 6,571 230 3.5% 4.9%
West Lancashire 001 6,728 222 3.3% 4.9%
West Lancashire 012 5,028 167 3.3% 6.3%
West Lancashire 005 4,654 150 3.2% 5.7%
West Lancashire 013 2,801 81 2.9% 3.9%
West Lancashire 015 4,813 139 2.9% 4.7%
West Lancashire 006 5,195 144 2.8% 4.4%
West Lancashire 003 5,908 150 2.5% 3.8%
Lowest electric shares
West Lancashire 011 3,142 52 1.7% 2.6%
West Lancashire 014 2,631 50 1.9% 3.0%
West Lancashire 010 3,445 64 1.9% 2.6%
West Lancashire 007 3,165 67 2.1% 3.5%
West Lancashire 002 6,080 143 2.4% 3.6%

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

Road traffic and collisions in West Lancashire

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in West Lancashire, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 16570
2022 17780
2023 17256
2024 15651
2025 18567

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in West Lancashire

Unleaded petrol averages 170.8p a litre across 17 filling stations in West Lancashire, 0.9p below the UK average. Diesel averages 194.0p, 0.6p below the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Tarleton Service Station Preston 162.9p
  2. EG Aughton Southport 166.9p
  3. Texaco Roundabout Garage Ltd Southport 167.9p

Every filling station and price in West Lancashire

How West Lancashire compares

West Lancashire compared with Lancashire, the North West, England, the UK
West Lancashire 488 4.3% 3.3% 6.5% 76 18.2
Lancashire 465 3.6% 2.9% 5.3% 113 17.8
North West 427 6.2% 2.7% 11.8% 112 17.4
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 Lancashire

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

Councils in Lancashire
Chorley 503 4.3% 3.6% 4.1% 124 24.4
Ribble Valley 543 4.3% 3.8% 3.8% 123 27.3
West Lancashire 488 4.3% 3.3% 6.5% 76 18.2
South Ribble 524 4.0% 3.3% 4.3% 167 15.7
Fylde 530 3.9% 3.3% 4.8% 133 21.9
Preston 393 3.6% 2.7% 7.2% 79 20.2
Wyre 504 3.6% 3.0% 4.9% 136 16.9
Rossendale 474 3.1% 2.5% 5.3% 179 11.3
Lancaster 436 3.0% 2.5% 4.2% 135 12.4
Hyndburn 418 2.7% 1.9% 6.7% 58 24.0
Burnley 389 2.6% 1.9% 6.1% 108 11.6
Pendle 420 2.4% 1.7% 6.0% 63 20.2

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 83,565 licensed vehicles in West Lancashire 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 4,420 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 West Lancashire 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.