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West Northamptonshire motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
291,668 licensed vehicles in West Northamptonshire
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 235,722 +1.1% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 512 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 8,985 3.8% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.1% 120th highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 634 144 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 4.5% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in West Northamptonshire?

There were 235,722 licensed cars in West Northamptonshire at the end of March 2026, and 291,668 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 24.1% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 512 for every 1,000 residents, 128th highest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in West Northamptonshire

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in West Northamptonshire at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 228,364189,989
2011 231,593192,672
2012 237,930195,077
2013 240,209197,377
2014 246,383201,959
2015 251,267205,827
2016 258,017211,104
2017 264,868216,101
2018 271,323221,407
2019 272,116221,368
2020 275,874224,619
2021 275,763222,815
2022 278,890225,155
2023 282,218227,200
2024 284,441230,853
2025 287,655233,256
2026 291,668235,722

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 Northamptonshire compared
Year West NorthamptonshireEast MidlandsUnited Kingdom
2011 516482–
2012 515480–
2013 518485–
2014 522490–
2015 522493473
2016 525496480
2017 529503488
2018 531504490
2019 529509493
2020 526501489
2021 528508493
2022 526505489
2023 525505489
2024 529506490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in West Northamptonshire

52.4% of cars in West Northamptonshire run on petrol and 33.5% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 42.5% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 7.7%, and cars that plug in 5.9%.

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 Northamptonshire, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 70.6%29.0%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2011 68.6%31.0%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 66.5%33.1%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2013 64.5%34.9%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2014 62.6%36.7%0.4%0.1%0.0%
2015 60.8%38.4%0.5%0.1%0.0%
2016 59.3%39.8%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2017 58.0%40.8%0.8%0.1%0.2%
2018 56.1%42.5%1.0%0.1%0.2%
2019 56.7%41.5%1.2%0.2%0.3%
2020 56.3%41.4%1.4%0.3%0.4%
2021 55.8%41.1%1.8%0.5%0.6%
2022 55.3%40.3%2.5%0.9%0.7%
2023 54.9%39.2%3.3%1.3%0.9%
2024 54.2%37.7%4.6%1.9%1.2%
2025 53.5%35.7%6.1%2.6%1.6%
2026 52.4%33.5%7.7%3.8%2.1%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in West Northamptonshire

8,985 battery electric cars were licensed in West Northamptonshire at the end of March 2026, 3.8% of all cars, 142nd highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 13,943 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 6,160.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.1% are battery electric (6,958 cars), 11th highest of 35 councils in the East Midlands. Companies keep 22.6% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 4.5% of its cars overall. There are also 329 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 Northamptonshire compared, end of March each year
Year West NorthamptonshireEast MidlandsUnited 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 0.3%0.2%0.3%
2021 0.5%0.4%0.7%
2022 0.9%0.8%1.3%
2023 1.3%1.3%2.1%
2024 1.9%1.9%3.0%
2025 2.6%2.7%4.1%
2026 3.8%3.9%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in West Northamptonshire

There were 634 public chargers in West Northamptonshire on 1 July 2026, 222 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 144 for every 100,000 residents, 172nd highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 11.4% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 17.8 privately kept plug-in cars in West Northamptonshire (UK 11.9), 148th 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 Northamptonshire by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 569222
Apr 2026 629222
Jul 2026 634222

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, West Northamptonshire compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
West Northamptonshire 14451
East Midlands 12247
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

West Northamptonshire has 53 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 2.5% 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 Northamptonshire with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
West Northamptonshire 047 7,892 391 5.0% 6.8%
West Northamptonshire 003 9,688 465 4.8% 7.5%
West Northamptonshire 039 5,010 229 4.6% 6.8%
West Northamptonshire 044 5,646 248 4.4% 6.8%
West Northamptonshire 046 9,613 403 4.2% 5.8%
West Northamptonshire 001 5,261 188 3.6% 5.6%
West Northamptonshire 005 7,297 263 3.6% 5.8%
West Northamptonshire 035 4,294 154 3.6% 5.4%
West Northamptonshire 040 6,829 245 3.6% 5.6%
West Northamptonshire 045 6,472 236 3.6% 5.7%
Lowest electric shares
West Northamptonshire 031 2,975 12 0.4% 1.6%
West Northamptonshire 021 3,787 17 0.4% 1.8%
West Northamptonshire 015 2,917 13 0.4% 1.7%
West Northamptonshire 017 3,093 24 0.8% 2.6%
West Northamptonshire 033 3,733 32 0.9% 2.0%

Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of March 2026. 3 neighbourhoods are left out because DfT withholds small counts there.

Road traffic and collisions in West Northamptonshire

Vehicles travelled an estimated 3,899 million miles on roads in West Northamptonshire in 2025.

Traffic on all roads

Million vehicle miles a year on roads in West Northamptonshire
Year Million vehicle miles
2021 3,251
2022 3,646
2023 3,711
2024 3,785
2025 3,899

Source:DfT 2021 to 2025 Updated

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in West Northamptonshire, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 604116
2022 747146
2023 749100
2024 751133
2025 770163

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in West Northamptonshire

Unleaded petrol averages 175.8p a litre across 47 filling stations in West Northamptonshire, 4.1p above the UK average. Diesel averages 196.9p, 2.3p above the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Tesco Brackley Superstore Brackley 162.9p
  2. Sainsbury's Brackley Brackley 162.9p
  3. BP Brackley Sf Connect Brackley 166.9p

Every filling station and price in West Northamptonshire

How West Northamptonshire compares

West Northamptonshire compared with the East Midlands, England, the UK
West Northamptonshire 512 3.8% 3.1% 4.5% 144 17.8
East Midlands 479 3.9% 2.9% 5.9% 122 18.1
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 the East Midlands

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

Councils in the East Midlands
Rushcliffe 507 5.6% 4.9% 3.5% 142 31.5
Harborough 555 4.8% 3.8% 18.6% 126 29.8
North Northamptonshire 516 4.8% 3.0% 7.7% 126 17.9
Chesterfield 476 4.7% 2.7% 11.6% 258 9.0
Derby 407 4.6% 2.5% 9.2% 120 13.9
Ashfield 470 4.5% 2.8% 7.9% 103 21.3
North West Leicestershire 542 4.4% 3.6% 4.3% 148 20.8
Blaby 519 4.3% 3.1% 5.6% 192 12.4
Newark and Sherwood 519 4.3% 3.6% 4.7% 120 13.5
South Derbyshire 537 4.3% 3.8% 3.5% 114 28.5
Gedling 477 4.0% 3.3% 5.0% 99 24.3
Bassetlaw 514 3.9% 3.1% 4.4% 146 19.0
Hinckley and Bosworth 548 3.9% 3.2% 3.7% 85 25.1
North Kesteven 548 3.9% 3.2% 4.6% 100 35.0
Amber Valley 529 3.8% 3.1% 5.0% 75 36.1
Bolsover 506 3.8% 2.9% 5.8% 156 13.8
Charnwood 475 3.8% 3.1% 4.6% 79 27.0
Rutland 542 3.8% 3.3% 3.9% 188 19.5
West Northamptonshire 512 3.8% 3.1% 4.5% 144 17.8
Broxtowe 467 3.7% 3.1% 3.8% 141 17.6
Melton 571 3.7% 3.1% 3.5% 63 49.9
West Lindsey 547 3.7% 3.2% 4.3% 70 38.3
Derbyshire Dales 584 3.6% 3.1% 3.6% 180 16.1
North East Derbyshire 532 3.6% 3.0% 4.2% 38 63.7
South Kesteven 541 3.6% 3.0% 4.4% 112 18.6
High Peak 511 3.4% 2.9% 3.8% 108 20.5
Mansfield 471 3.4% 2.5% 5.6% 85 23.1
Oadby and Wigston 461 3.4% 2.7% 9.1% 131 15.9
Erewash 488 3.3% 2.7% 4.8% 66 37.9
Nottingham 296 3.1% 2.1% 7.4% 154 6.6
South Holland 561 3.0% 2.4% 4.2% 79 28.7
Lincoln 362 2.9% 2.0% 6.8% 176 6.1
East Lindsey 527 2.7% 2.1% 5.6% 143 13.4
Boston 502 2.5% 1.9% 5.5% 124 12.8
Leicester 325 2.4% 1.5% 5.9% 88 10.5

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 291,668 licensed vehicles in West Northamptonshire 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 14,524 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 Northamptonshire 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.