The number of cars on UK roads reached a record 36,165,401 in 2024, representing a 1.3% increase or 470,556 more vehicles than the previous year, according to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). This marks the third consecutive year of growth and the second-largest annual increase since 2016.
Vehicle Statistics Breakdown
The overall vehicle count on UK roads now stands at 41,964,268, a 1.4% year-on-year increase. This total includes:
- Cars: 36,165,401 (up 1.3%)
- Vans: 5,102,180 (up 1.8%)
- HGVs: 625,509 (down 0.1%)
- Buses/coaches: 71,718 (down 0.1%)
Electric Vehicle Adoption
Plug-in vehicles, including battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), have seen a 34.6% increase, now making up 5.1% of all vehicles on the road. BEVs alone have grown by 38.9% to 1,334,246 units, comprising 3.7% of all cars. The average CO2 emissions from cars have dropped by 1.6%, driven by a significant 5.6% reduction in company car emissions.
Vehicle Age and Emissions
The average age of vehicles on UK roads has increased to 9.5 years, up from 9.3 years in 2023. More than two-fifths (43.4%) of vehicles are now over a decade old, predating the introduction of Euro 6 emissions technology. Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, noted that while progress is being made in reducing emissions, the slow replacement of older vehicles is hindering faster environmental improvements.
Commercial Vehicle Trends
The commercial vehicle sector is also transitioning to cleaner energy, with:
- Bus zero-emission units increasing by 81.8% to 3,494
- Electric vans growing by 31.6% to 80,476 units
- Electric trucks showing growth, though still below 0.1% of the fleet
Regional and Market Trends
The South East and London have the highest number of cars at 8,993,282, followed by the North West and South West regions. Germany remains the largest source of cars on UK roads, accounting for 29.5%, while China ranks 12th. Black remains the most popular car color at 20.2%, and white is the most popular van color.
The top five most common cars are:
- Ford Fiesta: 1,465,402 units
- Vauxhall Corsa: 1,035,440 units
- Ford Focus: 1,004,153 units
- Volkswagen Golf: 997,788 units
- Volkswagen Polo: 997,788 units
Conclusion
While the UK is making progress in vehicle electrification, challenges remain in replacing older, higher-emission vehicles. The SMMT is calling for greater incentives and infrastructure investment to accelerate this transition.
