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Worcester motoring statistics

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

Last updated
Records analysed
64,587 licensed vehicles in Worcester
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed cars 54,079 +1.3% on a year earlier
  • Private cars per 1,000 people 483 UK 444
  • Battery electric cars 1,851 3.4% of cars (UK 5.8%)
  • Electric share of private cars 2.6% 106th lowest of 361 councils
  • Public chargers 219 205 per 100,000 people (UK 175)
  • Company-registered cars 4.8% UK 10.0%

How many cars are there in Worcester?

There were 54,079 licensed cars in Worcester at the end of June 2026, and 64,587 licensed vehicles of all kinds. That is 4.6% more cars than in 2010. Privately kept cars work out at 483 for every 1,000 residents, 173rd lowest of 361 councils (UK 444).

Licensed vehicles in Worcester

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

Licensed cars and vehicles in Worcester at the end of March each year
Year All vehiclesCars
2010 59,39751,710
2011 58,97151,227
2012 59,35251,432
2013 61,21752,962
2014 61,77053,431
2015 62,69654,224
2016 64,26355,591
2017 66,56657,614
2018 64,59856,561
2019 65,55756,161
2020 65,10555,949
2021 64,99055,345
2022 61,04051,319
2023 61,80951,857
2024 62,76352,700
2025 63,58853,384
2026 64,58754,079

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, Worcester compared
Year WorcesterWest MidlandsUnited Kingdom
2011 519506–
2012 514502–
2013 523503–
2014 523500–
2015 526506473
2016 531513480
2017 547523488
2018 537524490
2019 534519493
2020 536515489
2021 534485493
2022 493480489
2023 492479489
2024 494476490

Source:ONS Mid-2024 Updated

Petrol, diesel and electric cars in Worcester

57.8% of cars in Worcester run on petrol and 29.7% on diesel. Diesel’s share peaked at 38.0% in 2017. Hybrids that do not plug in make up 7.1%, and cars that plug in 5.0%.

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 Worcester, end of March each year
Year PetrolDieselHybridBattery electricPlug-in hybrid
2010 71.4%28.4%0.1%0.0%0.0%
2011 68.7%31.0%0.2%0.0%0.0%
2012 66.2%33.3%0.2%0.0%0.2%
2013 64.3%35.1%0.2%0.0%0.2%
2014 62.6%36.8%0.3%0.0%0.2%
2015 62.5%36.9%0.3%0.0%0.1%
2016 61.9%37.5%0.4%0.1%0.0%
2017 61.3%38.0%0.4%0.1%0.0%
2018 63.9%35.3%0.6%0.1%0.1%
2019 64.3%34.6%0.7%0.1%0.1%
2020 63.9%34.3%0.9%0.5%0.4%
2021 62.2%34.9%1.4%0.9%0.5%
2022 61.2%35.2%2.2%0.7%0.5%
2023 60.8%34.4%2.9%1.1%0.6%
2024 60.2%33.1%4.0%1.6%0.9%
2025 59.1%31.4%5.5%2.5%1.2%
2026 57.8%29.7%7.1%3.4%1.6%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Electric cars in Worcester

1,851 battery electric cars were licensed in Worcester at the end of June 2026, 3.4% of all cars, 129th lowest of 361 councils. With plug-in hybrids, 2,720 cars plug in. A year earlier there were 1,308.

Of the privately kept cars, which are registered at home addresses, 2.6% are battery electric (1,363 cars), 9th lowest of 30 councils in the West Midlands. Companies keep 26.4% of the area’s battery electric cars, against 4.8% of its cars overall. There are also 62 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, Worcester compared, end of March each year
Year WorcesterWest MidlandsUnited Kingdom
2016 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2017 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2018 0.1%0.1%0.1%
2019 0.1%0.2%0.2%
2020 0.5%0.5%0.4%
2021 0.9%0.7%0.8%
2022 0.7%1.0%1.5%
2023 1.1%1.4%2.3%
2024 1.6%1.8%3.2%
2025 2.5%2.7%4.4%
2026 3.4%3.7%5.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated

Public EV chargers in Worcester

There were 219 public chargers in Worcester on 1 July 2026, 55 of them rapid or ultra-rapid (50kW and above). That is 205 for every 100,000 residents, 77th highest of 361 councils, against 175 across the UK. The count rose 12.3% from 1 January 2026.

For every public charger there are 9.6 privately kept plug-in cars in Worcester (UK 12.9), 74th 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 Worcester by date
Date All public chargers50kW and above
Jan 2026 19547
Apr 2026 21956
Jul 2026 21955

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Chargers per 100,000 residents

Public chargers per 100,000 residents, Worcester compared
Area All chargers50kW and above
Worcester 20552
Worcestershire 13960
West Midlands 16446
England 17341
UK 17542

Source:DfT 1 July 2026 Updated

Electric cars by neighbourhood

Worcester has 14 ONS neighbourhoods (middle layer super output areas, about 7,000 residents each). In the typical one, 2.6% of privately kept vehicles are battery electric; in the highest, 3.5%. ONS names neighbourhoods by council and number, not by place name.

Neighbourhoods in Worcester with the highest battery electric share of privately kept vehicles
Neighbourhood (MSOA) Private vehicles Battery electric Electric share Plug-in share
Worcester 003 4,199 147 3.5% 5.2%
Worcester 008 3,897 135 3.5% 6.0%
Worcester 013 5,337 158 3.0% 4.6%
Worcester 001 5,500 150 2.7% 4.1%
Worcester 006 2,795 73 2.6% 3.8%
Worcester 014 3,758 99 2.6% 4.1%
Worcester 004 4,808 119 2.5% 3.7%
Worcester 012 5,567 127 2.3% 3.6%
Worcester 010 4,017 89 2.2% 3.3%
Worcester 007 3,210 49 1.5% 2.8%
Lowest electric shares
Worcester 005 4,478 30 0.7% 1.5%
Worcester 009 4,405 64 1.5% 2.2%
Worcester 007 3,210 49 1.5% 2.8%
Worcester 010 4,017 89 2.2% 3.3%
Worcester 012 5,567 127 2.3% 3.6%

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 Worcester

Reported injury collisions

Police-reported injury collisions in Worcester, 2021 to 2025
Year CollisionsKilled or seriously injured
2021 8523
2022 10120
2023 7518
2024 8523
2025 9129

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

More road safety figures

Petrol and diesel prices in Worcester

Unleaded petrol averages 172.5p a litre across 11 filling stations in Worcester, 1.0p above the UK average. Diesel averages 199.5p, 0.8p above the UK average. Prices checked 31 Oct, 19:32.

Cheapest petrol

  1. Esso MFG Commandery Worcester 171.9p
  2. Esso MFG Northwick Worcester 171.9p
  3. Esso MFG Nunnery Park Horn Hill Road 171.9p

Every filling station and price in Worcester

How Worcester compares

Worcester compared with Worcestershire, the West Midlands, England, the UK
Worcester 483 3.4% 2.6% 4.8% 205 9.6
Worcestershire 550 4.0% 3.3% 4.6% 139 20.3
West Midlands 459 3.7% 2.9% 6.1% 164 12.9
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 Worcester

There is 1 DVSA car practical test centre in Worcester, and the highest pass rate in 2025/26 was 51.9% at Worcester.

Other centres in Worcestershire:

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 Worcestershire

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

Councils in Worcestershire
Bromsgrove 555 5.1% 4.2% 4.7% 191 19.1
Malvern Hills 596 4.1% 3.5% 3.9% 123 25.7
Wychavon 590 4.1% 3.5% 4.6% 150 21.5
Redditch 512 3.9% 3.0% 5.7% 81 29.0
Worcester 483 3.4% 2.6% 4.8% 205 9.6
Wyre Forest 548 3.2% 2.6% 4.2% 69 34.1

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 64,587 licensed vehicles in Worcester 26 October 2026
Plug-in and electric vehicles Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of June 2026 2,816 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 Worcester 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.