West Midlands · Metropolitan borough
Wolverhampton motoring statistics
How many cars and electric cars are registered in Wolverhampton, which fuels they use, how many public chargers there are and how Wolverhampton compares with the West Midlands. From DVLA licensing records, DfT charger statistics and ONS population estimates.
- Licensed cars 120,600 +1.8% on a year earlier
- Private cars per 1,000 people 403 UK 444
- Battery electric cars 3,606 3.0% of cars (UK 5.8%)
- Electric share of private cars 2.2% 59th lowest of 361 councils
- Public chargers 193 69 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
- Company-registered cars 5.9% UK 10.0%
How many cars are there in Wolverhampton?
There were 120,600 licensed cars in Wolverhampton at the end of June 2026, and 141,974 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 26.7% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 403 for every 1,000 residents, 76th lowest of 361 councils (UK 444).
Licensed vehicles in Wolverhampton
Counts at the end of March each year, 2010 to 2026.
| Year | All vehicles | Cars |
|---|---|---|
| 2010 | 110,736 | 95,211 |
| 2011 | 110,583 | 95,156 |
| 2012 | 110,347 | 95,070 |
| 2013 | 111,394 | 96,169 |
| 2014 | 114,045 | 98,477 |
| 2015 | 115,742 | 100,243 |
| 2016 | 118,614 | 102,686 |
| 2017 | 123,212 | 106,353 |
| 2018 | 126,232 | 107,598 |
| 2019 | 128,895 | 109,314 |
| 2020 | 128,169 | 108,856 |
| 2021 | 132,173 | 111,432 |
| 2022 | 132,326 | 111,926 |
| 2023 | 134,399 | 113,745 |
| 2024 | 137,211 | 116,648 |
| 2025 | 139,350 | 118,494 |
| 2026 | 141,974 | 120,600 |
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 | Wolverhampton | West Midlands | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 381 | 506 | – |
| 2012 | 378 | 502 | – |
| 2013 | 381 | 503 | – |
| 2014 | 387 | 500 | – |
| 2015 | 391 | 506 | 473 |
| 2016 | 398 | 513 | 480 |
| 2017 | 408 | 523 | 488 |
| 2018 | 410 | 524 | 490 |
| 2019 | 415 | 519 | 493 |
| 2020 | 414 | 515 | 489 |
| 2021 | 422 | 485 | 493 |
| 2022 | 416 | 480 | 489 |
| 2023 | 413 | 479 | 489 |
| 2024 | 415 | 476 | 490 |
Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated
Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Wolverhampton
52.8% of cars in Wolverhampton run on petrol and 34.1% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 41.2% in 2021. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 7.9%, and cars that plug in 4.7%.
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 | 75.4% | 24.3% | 0.1% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2011 | 73.6% | 26.1% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2012 | 71.7% | 27.8% | 0.2% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2013 | 69.9% | 29.7% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2014 | 67.9% | 31.5% | 0.3% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2015 | 65.9% | 33.5% | 0.4% | 0.0% | 0.0% |
| 2016 | 63.6% | 35.7% | 0.5% | 0.1% | 0.0% |
| 2017 | 60.8% | 38.2% | 0.6% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 59.5% | 39.4% | 0.8% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 58.4% | 40.3% | 0.9% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2020 | 57.2% | 41.1% | 1.2% | 0.1% | 0.2% |
| 2021 | 56.2% | 41.2% | 1.8% | 0.3% | 0.3% |
| 2022 | 55.5% | 40.7% | 2.5% | 0.5% | 0.5% |
| 2023 | 55.0% | 39.9% | 3.3% | 0.8% | 0.6% |
| 2024 | 54.6% | 38.1% | 4.8% | 1.3% | 0.9% |
| 2025 | 53.9% | 36.1% | 6.3% | 2.1% | 1.2% |
| 2026 | 52.8% | 34.1% | 7.9% | 3.0% | 1.8% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Electric cars in Wolverhampton
3,606 battery electric cars were licensed in Wolverhampton at the end of June 2026, 3.0% of all cars, 71st lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 5,718 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 2,478.
Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.2% are battery electric (2,441 cars), 4th lowest of 30 councils in the West Midlands. Companies keep 32.3% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 5.9% of its cars overall. There are also 216 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 | Wolverhampton | West Midlands | United Kingdom |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2017 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2018 | 0.1% | 0.1% | 0.1% |
| 2019 | 0.1% | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| 2020 | 0.1% | 0.5% | 0.4% |
| 2021 | 0.3% | 0.7% | 0.8% |
| 2022 | 0.5% | 1.0% | 1.5% |
| 2023 | 0.8% | 1.4% | 2.3% |
| 2024 | 1.3% | 1.8% | 3.2% |
| 2025 | 2.1% | 2.7% | 4.4% |
| 2026 | 3.0% | 3.7% | 5.8% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Public EV chargers in Wolverhampton
There were 193 public chargers in Wolverhampton on 1 July 2026, 91 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 69 for every 100,000 residents, 35th lowest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 31.3% from 1 January 2026.
For every public charger there are 21.8 privately kept plug-in cars in Wolverhampton (UK 12.9), 118th most 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 | 147 | 48 |
| Apr 2026 | 183 | 75 |
| Jul 2026 | 193 | 91 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Chargers per 100,000 residents
| Area | All chargers | 50kW and above |
|---|---|---|
| Wolverhampton | 69 | 32 |
| West Midlands (county) | 194 | 37 |
| West Midlands | 164 | 46 |
| England | 173 | 41 |
| UK | 175 | 42 |
Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated
Electric cars by neighbourhood
Wolverhampton has 33 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, 3.5%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.
| Neighbourhood (MSOA) | Private vehicles | Battery electric | Electric share | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wolverhampton 019 | 3,860 | 134 | 3.5% | |
| Wolverhampton 021 | 5,188 | 154 | 3.0% | |
| Wolverhampton 014 | 4,387 | 129 | 2.9% | |
| Wolverhampton 031 | 3,744 | 109 | 2.9% | |
| Wolverhampton 009 | 4,407 | 122 | 2.8% | |
| Wolverhampton 006 | 4,051 | 107 | 2.6% | |
| Wolverhampton 030 | 4,263 | 110 | 2.6% | |
| Wolverhampton 012 | 3,900 | 93 | 2.4% | |
| Wolverhampton 026 | 4,145 | 101 | 2.4% | |
| Wolverhampton 029 | 5,327 | 127 | 2.4% | |
| Lowest electric shares | ||||
| Wolverhampton 015 | 4,122 | 27 | 0.7% | |
| Wolverhampton 011 | 2,472 | 18 | 0.7% | |
| Wolverhampton 007 | 2,418 | 16 | 0.7% | |
| Wolverhampton 035 | 5,576 | 44 | 0.8% | |
| Wolverhampton 018 | 3,964 | 38 | 1.0% | |
Privately kept licensed vehicles of all types at the end of June 2026. 4 neighbourhoods are left out because DfT withholds small counts there.
Road traffic and collisions in Wolverhampton
Vehicles travelled an estimated 724 million miles on roads in Wolverhampton in 2025.
Traffic on all roads
| Year | Million vehicle miles |
|---|---|
| 1993 | 695 |
| 1994 | 704 |
| 1995 | 714 |
| 1996 | 721 |
| 1997 | 719 |
| 1998 | 731 |
| 1999 | 749 |
| 2000 | 731 |
| 2001 | 726 |
| 2002 | 742 |
| 2003 | 746 |
| 2004 | 741 |
| 2005 | 737 |
| 2006 | 729 |
| 2007 | 734 |
| 2008 | 719 |
| 2009 | 706 |
| 2010 | 693 |
| 2011 | 696 |
| 2012 | 695 |
| 2013 | 693 |
| 2014 | 711 |
| 2015 | 717 |
| 2016 | 730 |
| 2017 | 732 |
| 2018 | 743 |
| 2019 | 747 |
| 2020 | 606 |
| 2021 | 661 |
| 2022 | 692 |
| 2023 | 707 |
| 2024 | 722 |
| 2025 | 724 |
Source:DfT 1993 to 2025 Updated
Reported injury collisions
| Year | Collisions | Killed or seriously injured |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 473 | 85 |
| 2022 | 447 | 79 |
| 2023 | 455 | 78 |
| 2024 | 358 | 70 |
| 2025 | 377 | 75 |
Source:DfT STATS19,UK Motoring analysis 2021 to 2025 Updated
Petrol and diesel prices in Wolverhampton
Unleaded petrol averages 170.9p a litre across 20 filling stations in Wolverhampton, 0.6p below the UK average. Diesel averages 197.3p, 1.4p below the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.
Cheapest petrol
- Blakenhall Service Station Wolverhampton 166.6p
- Murco Linthouse Lane Service Station Wolverhampton 168.8p
- Asda Wolverhampton Superstore Wolverhampton 168.9p
How Wolverhampton compares
| Wolverhampton | 403 | 3.0% | 69 |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Midlands (county) | 393 | 3.4% | 194 |
| West Midlands | 459 | 3.7% | 164 |
| 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 Wolverhampton
There is 1 DVSA car practical test centre in Wolverhampton, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 34.3% at Wolverhampton.
Other centres in the West Midlands metropolitan county:
- Birmingham (Shirley) 56.6% pass rate, 2025/26
- Birmingham (Cocks Moors) 53.5% pass rate, 2025/26
- Birmingham (Kingstanding) 48.5% pass rate, 2025/26
- Birmingham (Kings Heath) 46.8% pass rate, 2025/26
- Dudley 45.2% pass rate, 2025/26
- Birmingham (Garretts Green) 44.4% pass rate, 2025/26
- Birmingham (South Yardley) 42.8% 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 the West Midlands metropolitan county
Sorted by battery electric share of cars. Select a column heading to sort by it.
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 | 141,974 licensed vehicles in Wolverhampton | 26 October 2026 |
| Plug-in and electric vehicles | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 5,970 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 Wolverhampton 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.