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West Suffolk motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
132,128 licensed vehicles in West Suffolk
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 107,455 +1.2% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 544 UK 441
  • Battery electric cars 3,085 2.9% of cars (UK 5.4%)
  • Electric share of private cars 2.4% 122nd lowest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 445 236 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 4.5% UK 9.9%

How many cars are there in West Suffolk?

There were 107,455 licensed cars in West Suffolk at the end of March 2026, and 132,128 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 21.9% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 544 for every 1,000 residents, 63rd highest of 361 councils (UK 441).

Licensed vehicles in West Suffolk

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in West Suffolk at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 107,60288,121
2011 109,23489,764
2012 110,57691,004
2013 111,89092,028
2014 114,31593,804
2015 115,69594,920
2016 118,11997,077
2017 120,82099,107
2018 121,82199,849
2019 123,455101,013
2020 124,668102,107
2021 124,213100,995
2022 126,745102,637
2023 128,086103,716
2024 129,939105,168
2025 130,557106,183
2026 132,128107,455

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 Suffolk compared
Year West SuffolkEast of EnglandUnited Kingdom
2011 526503–
2012 533502–
2013 541505–
2014 542524–
2015 542529473
2016 553537480
2017 557544488
2018 560542490
2019 564541493
2020 565536489
2021 566539493
2022 566532489
2023 561529489
2024 561531490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in West Suffolk

54.8% of cars in West Suffolk run on petrol and 35.0% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 39.9% in 2021. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 5.5%, and cars that plug in 4.4%.

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 Suffolk, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 72.6%27.1%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2011 70.6%29.1%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 69.0%30.6%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2013 67.1%32.5%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2014 64.9%34.7%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2015 63.1%36.4%0.3%0.0%0.0%
2016 61.5%37.8%0.4%0.0%0.1%
2017 60.2%39.1%0.4%0.1%0.1%
2018 59.6%39.5%0.6%0.1%0.2%
2019 59.2%39.7%0.7%0.1%0.2%
2020 58.9%39.7%0.8%0.2%0.3%
2021 58.1%39.9%1.0%0.4%0.4%
2022 57.5%39.5%1.6%0.7%0.5%
2023 57.0%38.8%2.2%1.1%0.6%
2024 56.2%38.0%3.1%1.6%0.8%
2025 55.5%36.8%4.2%2.1%1.1%
2026 54.8%35.0%5.5%2.9%1.5%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Electric cars in West Suffolk

3,085 battery electric cars were licensed in West Suffolk at the end of March 2026, 2.9% of all cars, 89th lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 4,683 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 2,210.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.4% are battery electric (2,440 cars), 19th lowest of 45 councils in the East of England. Companies keep 20.9% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 4.5% of its cars overall. There are also 95 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 Suffolk compared, end of March each year
Year West SuffolkEast of EnglandUnited Kingdom
2016 0.0%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.1%0.2%0.1%
2019 0.1%0.2%0.2%
2020 0.2%0.3%0.3%
2021 0.4%0.6%0.7%
2022 0.7%1.1%1.3%
2023 1.1%1.7%2.1%
2024 1.6%2.6%3.0%
2025 2.1%3.8%4.1%
2026 2.9%5.2%5.4%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in West Suffolk

There were 445 public chargers in West Suffolk on 1 July 2026, 102 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 236 for every 100,000 residents, 59th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 23.6% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 10.6 privately kept plug-in cars in West Suffolk (UK 11.9), 98th 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 Suffolk by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 36096
Apr 2026 36198
Jul 2026 445102

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, West Suffolk compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
West Suffolk 23654
Suffolk 19449
East of England 15049
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

West Suffolk has 21 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 1.9% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 3.6%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in West Suffolk with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
West Suffolk 016 6,733 241 3.6% 5.3%
West Suffolk 007 7,143 231 3.2% 4.6%
West Suffolk 018 5,998 189 3.2% 4.9%
West Suffolk 012 4,643 134 2.9% 4.6%
West Suffolk 010 7,532 199 2.6% 4.2%
West Suffolk 017 5,137 126 2.5% 4.0%
West Suffolk 006 4,421 101 2.3% 3.5%
West Suffolk 013 4,603 102 2.2% 3.4%
West Suffolk 014 4,894 107 2.2% 3.4%
West Suffolk 021 4,283 84 2.0% 3.4%
Lowest electric shares
West Suffolk 001 7,776 89 1.1% 1.5%
West Suffolk 020 6,026 73 1.2% 2.1%
West Suffolk 004 5,119 65 1.3% 2.4%
West Suffolk 015 5,240 80 1.5% 2.4%
West Suffolk 003 8,940 135 1.5% 2.3%

Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of March 2026. 1 neighbourhood is left out because DfT withholds small counts there.

Road traffic and collisions in West Suffolk

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in West Suffolk, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 26283
2022 22461
2023 21161
2024 26487
2025 28885

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in West Suffolk

Unleaded petrol averages 171.0p a litre across 28 filling stations in West Suffolk, 0.7p below the UK average. Diesel averages 194.8p, 0.2p above the UK average. Prices checked 16 Sept, 16:47.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Murco Stradishall Service Station Newmarket 159.9p
  2. Tesco Bury St Edmunds Superstore Bury St Edmunds 163.9p
  3. Asda Bury St Edmunds Superstore Bury St Edmunds 164.9p

Every filling station and price in West Suffolk

How West Suffolk compares

West Suffolk compared with Suffolk, the East of England, England, the UK
West Suffolk 544 2.9% 2.4% 4.5% 236 10.6
Suffolk 543 3.0% 2.4% 4.3% 194 12.0
East of England 497 5.2% 2.9% 8.6% 150 15.7
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 Suffolk

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

Councils in Suffolk
Mid Suffolk 605 3.5% 2.9% 4.6% 135 19.8
Babergh 584 3.0% 2.6% 3.2% 164 14.1
East Suffolk 547 3.0% 2.4% 4.3% 143 16.0
West Suffolk 544 2.9% 2.4% 4.5% 236 10.6
Ipswich 444 2.5% 1.7% 4.9% 294 4.9

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 132,128 licensed vehicles in West Suffolk 15 September 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 4,853 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 Suffolk 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.