In 2023, there were 1.90 million new passenger cars registered in the United Kingdom. This was an 18 percent increase compared to the previous year. The UK new car market has recorded its best year since the pandemic. The growth in 2023, was attributed to fleet investment, as the supply constraints of the previous year faded, thereby facilitating the fulfillment of accumulated demand. . What consumers want The most important feature British consumers were looking for in their new car was fuel efficiency. According to a 2023 Statista survey, some 56 percent of respondents reported this characteristic to be of importance to them when deciding on a new purchase. Vehicle safety, suitability for everyday use, low price, and high driving comfort were the features rounding off the top five. Total number of licensed cars The overall number of licensed cars in Great Britain came close to 32.2 million units in 2022, which marked a full recovery from the dip recorded in 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Almost 31.9 million units were registered in Great Britain in 2019.

There were around 33.2 million passenger cars in operation in the United Kingdom in 2022. UK roads have become busier since experiencing the most significant decline in the aftermath of the 2008-09 financial crisis. It remains to be seen whether the coronavirus crisis will cause a similar dent in the graph.

Car ownership per household

The majority of car owners in the UK have one car available to them. As of 2018, 53 percent of motorists had one vehicle in their household. Only one percent of respondents owned five cars or more.

Road safety The number of car drivers involved in reported road accidents in Great Britain fell to a record-low of just under 160,000 in 2019. The age group of under 16 year olds witnessed a sharp drop in the number of traffic-related fatalities in 2019. That said, all other age groups reported an increase in fatalities between 2018 and 2019.

This statistic illustrates the number of passenger cars registered in the United Kingdom (UK) from 1990 to 2017, in thousand vehicles. In the period of consideration, UK's stock of passenger cars presented a trend of continuous growth. In 2017, 32. 2 million passenger cars were registered in the UK. This value represents an increase of 55.4 percent in comparison with 1990.

Key information about UK Registered Motor Vehicles

• UK Registered Motor Vehicles was reported at 42,403.988 Unit th in Dec 2020.
• This records an increase from the previous number of 38,219.610 Unit th for Dec 2015.
• UK Registered Motor Vehicles data is updated yearly, averaging 35,585.020 Unit th from Dec 2005 to 2020, with 12 observations.
• The data reached an all-time high of 42,403.988 Unit th in 2020 and a record low of 34,393.823 Unit th in 2005.
• UK Registered Motor Vehicles data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers. The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Association: Automobile Sector – Table RA.OICA.VIU: Vehicle In Use: by Country (Discontinued).

This statistic represents the percentage of cars registered in the United Kingdom (UK) from 2014 to 2019 according to their sales type. The share of new cars sold in fleets, i.e. in large numbers, dominates the sales types for the period in consideration. In 2019, 53.3 percent of the newly registered cars were fleet. Business sales presented a trend of decline throughout the years recorded, falling from 4.8 to 2.6 percent of new registrations.

This dataset contains details of the number of registered vehicles based upon registering address in Leicester and is sourced from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).Data is updated quarterly.This dataset is also part of a dashboard that has been created showing a range of transport related data. The dashboard can be viewed here.

Number of licensed vehicles (in thousands) at year end broken down by type including , cars, motor cycles, light goods, heavy goods, buses an coaches, and Other.

Vehicles are allocated to a local authority according to the postcode of the registered keeper. This is the keeper's address for privately owned vehicles or the company's registered address for company owned vehicles. Significant changes in the number of vehicles from year to year can often occur when a companies with a large number of vehicles change their registered address.
Other vehicles includes rear diggers, lift trucks, rollers, ambulances, Hackney Carriages, three wheelers and agricultural vehicles.
Data from DFT Table VEH0104 and VEH0105.

https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/vehicles-statistics

Over the period in consideration, as some of the most affordable cars, superminis were the most popular segment type. In 2022, approximately 490,900 new supermini cars were registered, a slight decrease compared to the previous year.

United Kingdom Motor Vehicles Registered: Newly: Car: Great Britain: By Make: Others data was reported at 40.500 Unit th in 2017. This records an increase from the previous number of 39.285 Unit th for 2016. United Kingdom Motor Vehicles Registered: Newly: Car: Great Britain: By Make: Others data is updated yearly, averaging 24.300 Unit th from Dec 2009 (Median) to 2017, with 9 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 40.500 Unit th in 2017 and a record low of 16.300 Unit th in 2012. United Kingdom Motor Vehicles Registered: Newly: Car: Great Britain: By Make: Others data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department for Transport. The data is categorized under Global Database’s UK – Table UK.RA003: Motor Vehicle Registered: Newly: Car: By Make.

European Union Motor Vehicle New Registered: Passenger Cars: EU 27 excl UK data was reported at 1,029,519.000 Unit in Mar 2025. This records an increase from the previous number of 853,670.000 Unit for Feb 2025. European Union Motor Vehicle New Registered: Passenger Cars: EU 27 excl UK data is updated monthly, averaging 923,868.000 Unit from Jan 2006 (Median) to Mar 2025, with 231 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 1,357,349.000 Unit in Mar 2006 and a record low of 270,357.000 Unit in Apr 2020. European Union Motor Vehicle New Registered: Passenger Cars: EU 27 excl UK data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by European Automobile Manufacturers' Association. The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Association: Automobile Sector – Table EU.TA013: European Automobile Manufacturers Association: No of Motor Vehicle: Newly Registered. [COVID-19-IMPACT]

The United Kingdom produced roughly 905,100 passenger cars in 2023. This marked the first year when figures increased since they started declining in 2016. Compared to 2022, production increased by approximately 16.8 percent in 2023. Challenges on the domestic front The United Kingdom’s automotive industry has been struggling following the Brexit referendum and was hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, supply chain shortages, and raw material price increases. The United Kingdom was once the largest exporter of cars, and its long-standing brands still enjoy success worldwide. The UK domestic market, however, has been faring slightly worse than production for overseas. UK auto industry loses ground In 2023, the United Kingdom did not make it into the top 10 in a list of leading car producers worldwide. That same year, China was the world’s leading manufacturer of such motor vehicles. The country produced a staggering 26.1 million units.

The United Kingdom had a motorization rate of 491 cars per 1,000 inhabitants in 2022. That year, there were more than 2.2 million motor vehicle sales in the United Kingdom.

United Kingdom Motor Vehicles Registered: Great Britain: Cars data was reported at 336.794 Unit th in Sep 2018. This records an increase from the previous number of 92.510 Unit th for Aug 2018. United Kingdom Motor Vehicles Registered: Great Britain: Cars data is updated monthly, averaging 166.478 Unit th from Oct 1994 (Median) to Sep 2018, with 288 observations. The data reached an all-time high of 556.784 Unit th in Mar 2017 and a record low of 35.400 Unit th in Jul 1995. United Kingdom Motor Vehicles Registered: Great Britain: Cars data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by Department for Transport. The data is categorized under Global Database’s United Kingdom – Table UK.TA003: Motor Vehicle Registered: Great Britain.

London was home to some 2.6 million passenger cars in 2020. Between 1995 and 2020, the number of licensed cars in the capital city saw a net increase of 17 percent, although figures have declined in the last two years recorded. Overall, there were some 32.7 million cars in the United Kingdom in 2020. London has the longest metro network in Europe. However, despite efforts to promote public transportation as a way to reduce fossil fuel intensive car driving, the motor vehicle still proved popular.

Pollution fighting schemes

In recent years, the Greater London Authority has increased incentives to stifle car usage in the city center. It introduced the Congestion Charge Zone in 2003, the Low Emission Zone in 2008, and followed up with the Ultra Low Emission Zone in early 2019, which are all intended to reduce traffic pollution and improve air quality. On average, around two million unique vehicles traversed the Congestion Charge Zone every month in 2018.

Car-sharing: a means to reduce car ownership

According to a 2018 survey, members of car-sharing clubs in London are more likely to own no cars of their own after joining. While more than half of those participating in car sharing associations were already car-less before becoming members, the share increased to 73 percent after. Vehicle sales in the UK declined dramatically amid the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020.

In 2021, some 443,632 new dual purpose vehicles were registered in the United Kingdom. The leading five models accounted for 26 percent of all new registrations that year. In detail, the Kia Sportage model was ranked first with more than 27,600 registered cars. Volvo XC40, the second-ranked model, was registered 25,226 times that year.