Yorkshire and the Humber · County
West Yorkshire motoring statistics
How many cars and electric cars are registered in West Yorkshire, which fuels they use, how many public chargers there are and how West Yorkshire compares with the Yorkshire and the Humber. From DVLA licensing records, DfT charger statistics and ONS population estimates.
- Licensed cars 1,170,234 +1.9% on a year earlier
- Private cars per 1,000 people 413 UK 444
- Battery electric cars 89,310 7.6% of cars (UK 5.8%)
- Electric share of private cars 2.9% UK 3.1%
- Public chargers 2,571 106 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
- Company-registered cars 14.0% UK 10.0%
How many cars are there in West Yorkshire?
There were 1,170,234 licensed cars in West Yorkshire at the end of June 2026, and 1,409,931 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 26.5% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 413 for every 1,000 residents (UK 444).
Licensed vehicles in West Yorkshire
Counts at the end of March each year, 2010 to 2026.
| Year | All vehicles | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 1,095,519 | 925,291 |
| 2011 | 1,098,689 | 928,728 |
| 2012 | 1,100,847 | 932,523 |
| 2013 | 1,114,462 | 943,332 |
| 2014 | 1,098,792 | 928,171 |
| 2015 | 1,118,267 | 944,253 |
| 2016 | 1,162,317 | 982,566 |
| 2017 | 1,192,508 | 1,007,590 |
| 2018 | 1,223,902 | 1,033,567 |
| 2019 | 1,260,114 | 1,062,050 |
| 2020 | 1,261,469 | 1,064,172 |
| 2021 | 1,290,328 | 1,081,379 |
| 2022 | 1,319,972 | 1,101,021 |
| 2023 | 1,343,894 | 1,120,790 |
| 2024 | 1,368,055 | 1,136,326 |
| 2025 | 1,382,485 | 1,148,587 |
| 2026 | 1,409,931 | 1,170,234 |
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 Yorkshire | Yorkshire and the Humber | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 417 | 427 | – |
| 2012 | 416 | 427 | – |
| 2013 | 418 | 429 | – |
| 2014 | 409 | 429 | – |
| 2015 | 413 | 433 | 473 |
| 2016 | 427 | 442 | 480 |
| 2017 | 435 | 450 | 488 |
| 2018 | 445 | 456 | 490 |
| 2019 | 454 | 464 | 493 |
| 2020 | 454 | 463 | 489 |
| 2021 | 460 | 470 | 493 |
| 2022 | 463 | 469 | 489 |
| 2023 | 465 | 469 | 489 |
| 2024 | 467 | 472 | 490 |
Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated
Petrol, diesel and electric cars in West Yorkshire
48.9% of cars in West Yorkshire run on petrol and 29.3% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 42.8% in 2018. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 10.1%, and cars that plug in 11.3%.
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 | 68.2% | 31.4% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 66.1% | 33.4% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2012 | 64.0% | 35.5% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 62.1% | 37.3% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2014 | 61.9% | 37.5% | 0.5% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 59.9% | 39.3% | 0.6% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2016 | 57.3% | 41.6% | 0.7% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2017 | 56.1% | 42.5% | 0.9% | 0.1% | 0.3% |
| 2018 | 55.4% | 42.8% | 1.1% | 0.1% | 0.4% |
| 2019 | 55.6% | 42.0% | 1.4% | 0.2% | 0.6% |
| 2020 | 56.0% | 40.8% | 1.8% | 0.5% | 0.7% |
| 2021 | 55.6% | 38.9% | 2.8% | 1.2% | 1.2% |
| 2022 | 54.5% | 36.9% | 4.1% | 2.2% | 1.7% |
| 2023 | 53.4% | 35.0% | 5.3% | 3.5% | 2.1% |
| 2024 | 52.3% | 33.2% | 6.7% | 4.5% | 2.5% |
| 2025 | 50.8% | 31.3% | 8.3% | 6.0% | 3.0% |
| 2026 | 48.9% | 29.3% | 10.1% | 7.6% | 3.6% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Electric cars in West Yorkshire
89,310 battery electric cars were licensed in West Yorkshire at the end of June 2026, 7.6% of all cars. With plug-in hybrids, 131,934 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 68,574.
Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.9% are battery electric (29,646 cars). Companies keep 66.8% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 14.0% of its cars overall. There are also 4,624 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 Yorkshire | Yorkshire and the Humber | United 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 | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 1.2% | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| 2022 | 2.2% | 1.4% | 1.5% |
| 2023 | 3.5% | 2.2% | 2.3% |
| 2024 | 4.5% | 3.0% | 3.2% |
| 2025 | 6.0% | 4.1% | 4.4% |
| 2026 | 7.6% | 5.5% | 5.8% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Public EV chargers in West Yorkshire
There were 2,571 public chargers in West Yorkshire on 1 July 2026, 929 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 106 for every 100,000 residents, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 5.4% from 1 January 2026.
For every public charger there are 19.4 privately kept plug-in cars in West Yorkshire (UK 12.9). 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 | 2,440 | 826 |
| Apr 2026 | 2,513 | 855 |
| Jul 2026 | 2,571 | 929 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Chargers per 100,000 residents
| Area | All chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| West Yorkshire | 106 | 38 |
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 111 | 37 |
| England | 173 | 41 |
| UK | 175 | 42 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Petrol and diesel prices in West Yorkshire
Unleaded petrol averages 168.8p a litre across 203 filling stations in West Yorkshire, 2.7p below the UK average. Diesel averages 197.3p, 1.4p below the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.
Cheapest petrol
- Costco Wholesale Leeds Leeds 160.9p
- Asda Glasshoughton Superstore Castleford 161.9p
- Dewsbury Moor Service Station Dewsbury 161.9p
How West Yorkshire compares
| West Yorkshire | 413 | 7.6% | 106 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yorkshire and the Humber | 440 | 5.5% | 111 |
| 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 Yorkshire
There are 11 DVSA car practical test centres in West Yorkshire, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 56.1% at Bradford (Heaton).
- Bradford (Heaton) 56.1% pass rate, 2025/26
- Steeton 52.8% pass rate, 2025/26
- Leeds (Colton Mill) 51.8% pass rate, 2025/26
- Leeds (Fearnville) 51.8% pass rate, 2025/26
- Horsforth 49.7% pass rate, 2025/26
- Huddersfield 49.2% pass rate, 2025/26
- Bradford (Thornbury) 47.8% pass rate, 2025/26
- Pontefract 46.9% pass rate, 2025/26
- Heckmondwike 45.8% pass rate, 2025/26
- Wakefield 45.4% pass rate, 2025/26
- Halifax 45.0% pass rate, 2025/26
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 West Yorkshire
Sorted by battery electric share of cars. Select a column heading to sort by it.
| Leeds | 384 | 14.5% | 138 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kirklees | 443 | 3.6% | 61 |
| Wakefield | 461 | 3.6% | 98 |
| Calderdale | 441 | 3.4% | 101 |
| Bradford | 390 | 3.1% | 99 |
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 | 1,409,931 licensed vehicles in West Yorkshire | 26 October 2026 |
| Plug-in and electric vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 138,465 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 |
- Coverage: licensing and charger figures cover the whole UK. Licensing figures in West Yorkshire 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.
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.