East of England · District council
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.
- Licensed cars 108,062 +1.2% on a year earlier
- Private cars per 1,000 people 547 UK 444
- Battery electric cars 3,403 3.1% of cars (UK 5.8%)
- Electric share of private cars 2.7% 120th lowest of 361 councils
- Public chargers 445 236 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
- Company-registered cars 4.6% UK 10.0%
How many cars are there in West Suffolk?
There were 108,062 licensed cars in West Suffolk at the end of June 2026, and 133,364 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 21.3% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 547 for every 1,000 residents, 67th highest of 361 councils (UK 444).
Licensed vehicles in West Suffolk
Counts at the end of March each year, 2010 to 2026.
| Year | All vehicles | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 109,048 | 89,113 |
| 2011 | 110,245 | 90,262 |
| 2012 | 112,068 | 91,590 |
| 2013 | 113,663 | 93,076 |
| 2014 | 116,218 | 94,771 |
| 2015 | 116,790 | 95,437 |
| 2016 | 119,125 | 97,489 |
| 2017 | 122,119 | 99,632 |
| 2018 | 122,920 | 100,319 |
| 2019 | 124,522 | 101,379 |
| 2020 | 123,497 | 100,751 |
| 2021 | 126,307 | 102,279 |
| 2022 | 127,711 | 103,101 |
| 2023 | 129,461 | 104,394 |
| 2024 | 131,167 | 105,809 |
| 2025 | 131,881 | 106,748 |
| 2026 | 133,364 | 108,062 |
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.
| Year | West Suffolk | East of England | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 526 | 503 | – |
| 2012 | 533 | 502 | – |
| 2013 | 541 | 505 | – |
| 2014 | 542 | 524 | – |
| 2015 | 542 | 529 | 473 |
| 2016 | 553 | 537 | 480 |
| 2017 | 557 | 544 | 488 |
| 2018 | 560 | 542 | 490 |
| 2019 | 564 | 541 | 493 |
| 2020 | 565 | 536 | 489 |
| 2021 | 566 | 539 | 493 |
| 2022 | 566 | 532 | 489 |
| 2023 | 561 | 529 | 489 |
| 2024 | 561 | 531 | 490 |
Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated
Petrol, diesel and electric cars in West Suffolk
54.7% of cars in West Suffolk run on petrol and 34.3% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 39.8% in 2020. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 5.8%, and cars that plug in 4.8%.
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.
| Year | Petrol | Diesel | Hybrid | Battery electric | Plug-in hybrid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 72.1% | 27.6% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 70.3% | 29.3% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2012 | 68.5% | 31.1% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 66.7% | 32.8% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2014 | 64.7% | 34.9% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 62.8% | 36.7% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2016 | 61.1% | 38.2% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 60.0% | 39.2% | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 59.4% | 39.6% | 0.6% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2019 | 59.2% | 39.7% | 0.7% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 58.8% | 39.8% | 0.8% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| 2021 | 58.1% | 39.7% | 1.2% | 0.5% | 0.4% |
| 2022 | 57.4% | 39.3% | 1.7% | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| 2023 | 56.9% | 38.6% | 2.3% | 1.2% | 0.7% |
| 2024 | 56.2% | 37.6% | 3.4% | 1.7% | 0.9% |
| 2025 | 55.4% | 36.3% | 4.5% | 2.3% | 1.2% |
| 2026 | 54.7% | 34.3% | 5.8% | 3.1% | 1.6% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Electric cars in West Suffolk
3,403 battery electric cars were licensed in West Suffolk at the end of June 2026, 3.1% of all cars, 82nd lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 5,136 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 2,409.
Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.7% are battery electric (2,744 cars), 19th lowest of 45 councils in the East of England. Companies keep 19.4% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 4.6% of its cars overall. There are also 113 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.
| Year | West Suffolk | East of England | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0.0% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 0.3% | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 0.5% | 0.8% | 0.8% |
| 2022 | 0.8% | 1.2% | 1.5% |
| 2023 | 1.2% | 1.9% | 2.3% |
| 2024 | 1.7% | 2.9% | 3.2% |
| 2025 | 2.3% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| 2026 | 3.1% | 5.6% | 5.8% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 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 9.5 privately kept plug-in cars in West Suffolk (UK 12.9), 72nd fewest of 361 councils. A higher number means more competition for each public charger, though many drivers charge at home.
Public chargers
| Date | All public chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 2026 | 360 | 96 |
| Apr 2026 | 361 | 98 |
| Jul 2026 | 445 | 102 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Chargers per 100,000 residents
| Area | All chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| West Suffolk | 236 | 54 |
| Suffolk | 194 | 49 |
| East of England | 150 | 49 |
| England | 173 | 41 |
| UK | 175 | 42 |
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, 2.0% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 3.9%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.
| Neighbourhood (MSOA) | Private vehicles | Battery electric | Electric share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Suffolk 016 | 6,765 | 261 | 3.9% | |
| West Suffolk 007 | 7,234 | 253 | 3.5% | |
| West Suffolk 018 | 6,084 | 205 | 3.4% | |
| West Suffolk 012 | 4,697 | 149 | 3.2% | |
| West Suffolk 010 | 7,677 | 231 | 3.0% | |
| West Suffolk 017 | 5,208 | 146 | 2.8% | |
| West Suffolk 006 | 4,459 | 108 | 2.4% | |
| West Suffolk 013 | 4,615 | 112 | 2.4% | |
| West Suffolk 014 | 4,925 | 116 | 2.4% | |
| West Suffolk 021 | 4,329 | 97 | 2.2% | |
| Lowest electric shares | ||||
| West Suffolk 009 | 3,605 | 44 | 1.2% | |
| West Suffolk 001 | 7,724 | 95 | 1.2% | |
| West Suffolk 020 | 6,061 | 81 | 1.3% | |
| West Suffolk 004 | 5,154 | 78 | 1.5% | |
| West Suffolk 015 | 5,262 | 87 | 1.7% | |
Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of June 2026.
Road traffic and collisions in West Suffolk
Reported injury collisions
| Year | Collisions | Killed or seriously injured |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 262 | 83 |
| 2022 | 224 | 61 |
| 2023 | 211 | 61 |
| 2024 | 264 | 87 |
| 2025 | 288 | 85 |
Source:DfT STATS19,UK Motoring analysis 2021 to 2025 Updated
Petrol and diesel prices in West Suffolk
Unleaded petrol averages 169.6p a litre across 23 filling stations in West Suffolk, 1.9p below the UK average. Diesel averages 197.8p, 0.9p below the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.
Cheapest petrol
- Asda Bury St Edmunds Superstore Bury St Edmunds 164.9p
- Sainsbury's Bury St Edmunds Bury St. Edmunds 164.9p
- Jet MFG Bury St. Edmunds Bury St. Edmunds 165.9p
How West Suffolk compares
| West Suffolk | 547 | 3.1% | 236 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suffolk | 547 | 3.3% | 194 |
| East of England | 501 | 5.6% | 150 |
| England | 440 | 6.2% | 173 |
| United Kingdom | 444 | 5.8% | 175 |
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 Suffolk
There is 1 DVSA car practical test centre in West Suffolk, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 46.2% at Bury St Edmunds.
Other centres in Suffolk:
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 Suffolk
Sorted by battery electric share of cars. Select a column heading to sort by it.
| Mid Suffolk | 612 | 3.9% | 135 |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Suffolk | 551 | 3.4% | 143 |
| Babergh | 590 | 3.3% | 164 |
| West Suffolk | 547 | 3.1% | 236 |
| Ipswich | 446 | 2.7% | 294 |
Data stories to read next
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 133,364 licensed vehicles in West Suffolk | 26 October 2026 |
| Plug-in and electric vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 5,344 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 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.
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.