My Garage

Popular searches

East Midlands · Unitary authority

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
295,272 licensed vehicles in West Northamptonshire
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 237,775 +1.2% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 516 UK 444
  • Battery electric cars 9,950 4.2% of cars (UK 5.8%)
  • Electric share of private cars 3.5% 114th highest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 634 144 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 4.5% UK 10.0%

How many cars are there in West Northamptonshire?

There were 237,775 licensed cars in West Northamptonshire at the end of June 2026, and 295,272 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 24.3% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 516 for every 1,000 residents, 124th highest of 361 councils (UK 444).

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 230,876191,327
2011 236,362194,050
2012 239,737196,043
2013 244,598199,882
2014 250,389204,239
2015 254,928207,744
2016 260,910212,699
2017 268,114217,802
2018 272,820221,652
2019 275,988223,238
2020 274,104222,224
2021 280,086225,160
2022 281,045226,071
2023 285,757229,190
2024 287,364232,453
2025 290,990234,935
2026 295,272237,775

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 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

52.3% of cars in West Northamptonshire run on petrol and 32.7% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 42.1% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 8.1%, and cars that plug in 6.4%.

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 Northamptonshire, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 70.2%29.4%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2011 68.1%31.4%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2012 66.1%33.4%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2013 64.2%35.2%0.4%0.0%0.0%
2014 62.3%37.0%0.4%0.1%0.0%
2015 60.5%38.7%0.5%0.1%0.0%
2016 58.8%40.2%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2017 57.6%41.1%0.8%0.1%0.2%
2018 56.5%42.1%1.0%0.1%0.2%
2019 56.7%41.4%1.2%0.2%0.3%
2020 56.3%41.4%1.4%0.3%0.4%
2021 55.8%40.8%1.9%0.6%0.6%
2022 55.3%40.0%2.7%1.0%0.8%
2023 54.9%38.8%3.6%1.4%1.0%
2024 54.2%37.2%5.0%2.0%1.2%
2025 53.4%35.1%6.4%2.9%1.7%
2026 52.3%32.7%8.1%4.2%2.2%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Electric cars in West Northamptonshire

9,950 battery electric cars were licensed in West Northamptonshire at the end of June 2026, 4.2% of all cars, 129th highest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 15,288 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 6,842.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 3.5% are battery electric (7,908 cars), 13th highest of 35 councils in the East Midlands. Companies keep 20.5% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 4.5% of its cars overall. There are also 350 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%0.4%
2021 0.6%0.5%0.8%
2022 1.0%0.9%1.5%
2023 1.4%1.4%2.3%
2024 2.0%2.0%3.2%
2025 2.9%3.0%4.4%
2026 4.2%4.3%5.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 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 19.8 privately kept plug-in cars in West Northamptonshire (UK 12.9), 138th 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, 2.8% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 5.7%. 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 8,038 458 5.7% 7.8%
West Northamptonshire 003 9,917 540 5.4% 8.2%
West Northamptonshire 039 5,087 243 4.8% 7.3%
West Northamptonshire 044 5,678 271 4.8% 7.4%
West Northamptonshire 046 9,742 434 4.5% 6.2%
West Northamptonshire 035 4,353 180 4.1% 6.1%
West Northamptonshire 043 5,459 220 4.0% 6.2%
West Northamptonshire 045 6,587 264 4.0% 6.2%
West Northamptonshire 005 7,335 286 3.9% 6.2%
West Northamptonshire 040 6,956 273 3.9% 6.1%
Lowest electric shares
West Northamptonshire 031 3,037 13 0.4% 1.7%
West Northamptonshire 021 3,831 24 0.6% 2.2%
West Northamptonshire 015 2,958 18 0.6% 1.9%
West Northamptonshire 017 3,117 26 0.8% 2.7%
West Northamptonshire 033 3,706 38 1.0% 2.3%

Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of June 2026. 2 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 177.6p a litre across 23 filling stations in West Northamptonshire, 6.1p above the UK average. Diesel averages 205.8p, 7.1p above the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Mapleleaf Express- Byfield Daventry 165.6p
  2. Mapleleaf Garage Daventry 165.6p
  3. Shell MFG Daventry Daventry 167.9p

Every filling station and price in West Northamptonshire

How West Northamptonshire compares

West Northamptonshire compared with the East Midlands, England, the UK
West Northamptonshire 516 4.2% 3.5% 4.5% 144 19.8
East Midlands 483 4.3% 3.3% 6.0% 122 20.8
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 Northamptonshire

There is 1 DVSA car practical test centre in West Northamptonshire, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 52.1% at Northampton.

Other centres in the East Midlands:

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 East Midlands

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

Councils in the East Midlands
Ashfield 473 7.4% 3.2% 15.3% 103 21.4
Rushcliffe 511 6.2% 5.5% 3.6% 142 29.7
North Northamptonshire 521 5.3% 3.4% 7.7% 126 22.2
Harborough 560 5.2% 4.3% 19.3% 126 30.7
Chesterfield 480 5.0% 3.1% 12.0% 258 8.6
North West Leicestershire 547 4.9% 4.1% 4.3% 148 23.1
Newark and Sherwood 524 4.8% 4.1% 4.7% 120 26.8
South Derbyshire 542 4.8% 4.4% 3.5% 114 31.4
Blaby 523 4.7% 3.5% 5.6% 192 14.9
Gedling 480 4.4% 3.7% 5.0% 99 27.7
North Kesteven 552 4.4% 3.6% 4.6% 100 30.6
Bassetlaw 518 4.3% 3.6% 4.4% 146 19.3
Hinckley and Bosworth 553 4.3% 3.6% 3.7% 85 35.8
Amber Valley 533 4.2% 3.5% 4.9% 75 38.0
Bolsover 510 4.2% 3.4% 5.7% 156 16.1
Charnwood 478 4.2% 3.5% 4.6% 79 32.7
Melton 578 4.2% 3.6% 3.5% 63 53.1
Rutland 547 4.2% 3.7% 4.0% 188 18.6
West Northamptonshire 516 4.2% 3.5% 4.5% 144 19.8
Broxtowe 469 4.1% 3.5% 3.8% 141 17.9
North East Derbyshire 538 4.1% 3.5% 4.1% 38 76.8
West Lindsey 552 4.1% 3.6% 4.3% 70 43.7
Derbyshire Dales 587 4.0% 3.5% 3.6% 180 18.5
South Kesteven 545 4.0% 3.4% 4.4% 112 26.4
Mansfield 474 3.8% 2.9% 5.5% 85 25.1
Oadby and Wigston 464 3.8% 3.1% 9.0% 131 18.3
High Peak 514 3.7% 3.3% 3.8% 108 24.0
Erewash 491 3.6% 3.0% 4.9% 66 34.8
Derby 410 3.5% 2.8% 5.5% 120 15.2
Nottingham 299 3.4% 2.4% 7.5% 154 7.6
South Holland 567 3.3% 2.7% 4.2% 79 32.6
Lincoln 363 3.1% 2.3% 6.9% 176 7.4
East Lindsey 533 3.0% 2.4% 5.5% 143 15.0
Boston 508 2.8% 2.1% 5.4% 124 13.9
Leicester 328 2.6% 1.7% 5.9% 88 12.4

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 295,272 licensed vehicles in West Northamptonshire 26 October 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 15,994 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 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.