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Car Licence Statistics in the South West, England
We analysed data from the Department for Transport to discover which areas of the South West have significantly more cars now than five years ago. Residents in postcodes with more licenced cars can struggle with heavier congestion during peak times and finding parking spaces. See how the South West compares to other regions in England in our article Roads Feel More Congested Than Ever? Worst Postcodes Revealed.
In the five years ending Q3 2023, the number of cars in the South West increased from 3,213,691 to 3,334,634, an increase of 120,943 vehicles. This represents a 3.8% increase over five years.
| Car Licence Stats for the South West | |
|---|---|
| Cars in Q3 2018 | 3,213,691 |
| Cars in Q3 2023 | 3,334,634 |
| Change | 120,943 |
| % Change | 3.8% |
Areas of the South West with Significantly More Cars
Most areas in the South West saw an increase in the number of cars in the five years heading into 2024. The area with the biggest increase in cars was Wiltshire—there are now 59,102 cars on the road there, a rise of 20.7%.
Gloucestershire actually has fewer cars on the road compared to five years ago[symbol:-dash]29,988 fewer cars, or 7.6% less, to be exact.
- Biggest numeric increase in cars: Wiltshire (up 59,102)
- Biggest percentage increase in cars: Wiltshire (up 20.7%)
- Biggest number drop in cars: Gloucestershire (down 29,988)
- Biggest percentage drop in cars: Gloucestershire (down 7.6%)
Car Licence Stats for South West, England
Below is car licence data for the South East of England, with the number of licenced cars in Q3 2023 and the absolute and percentage changes over the previous five-year time period. Look up your area to see how it compares to the rest of the region.
| Area in South West, England | Number of Licenced Cars (2023 Q3) | 5 year change | % change 5 years | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bath and North East Somerset | 91,928 | -1,129 | -1.2% | |
| Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole | 199,888 | 2,345 | 1.2% | |
| Bristol, City of | 182,765 | 179 | 0.1% | |
| Cornwall | 312,741 | 13,327 | 4.5% | |
| Dorset | 227,381 | 7,021 | 3.2% | |
| Isles of Scilly | 567 | 34 | 6.4% | |
| North Somerset | 125,020 | 3,720 | 3.1% | |
| Plymouth | 117,191 | 4,123 | 3.6% | |
| South Gloucestershire | 251,715 | 7,009 | 2.9% | |
| Swindon | 256,109 | 24,779 | 10.7% | |
| Torbay | 68,231 | 1,146 | 1.7% | |
| Wiltshire | 344,724 | 59,102 | 20.7% | |
| Devon | 458,351 | 15,755 | 3.6% | |
| East Devon | 87,064 | 5,123 | 6.3% | |
| Exeter | 65,924 | -1,845 | -2.7% | |
| Mid Devon | 48,029 | 2,133 | 4.6% | |
| North Devon | 53,233 | 2,998 | 6.0% | |
| South Hams | 53,333 | 1,716 | 3.3% | |
| Teignbridge | 77,779 | 2,855 | 3.8% | |
| Torridge | 39,242 | 1,638 | 4.4% | |
| West Devon | 33,420 | 957 | 2.9% | |
| District unknown within Devon | 327 | 180 | 122.4% | |
| Gloucestershire | 365,524 | -29,988 | -7.6% | |
| Cheltenham | 58,133 | 688 | 1.2% | |
| Cotswold | 57,158 | 706 | 1.3% | |
| Forest of Dean | 52,614 | 1,446 | 2.8% | |
| Gloucester | 65,088 | -40,082 | -38.1% | |
| Stroud | 74,577 | 3,020 | 4.2% | |
| Tewkesbury | 57,531 | 3,917 | 7.3% | |
| District unknown within Gloucestershire | 423 | 317 | 299.1% | |
| Somerset | 331,755 | 13,291 | 4.2% | |
| Mendip | 67,501 | 1,989 | 3.0% | |
| Sedgemoor | 71,857 | 3,063 | 4.5% | |
| Somerset West and Taunton | 87,982 | 3,454 | 4.1% | |
| South Somerset | 104,228 | 4,664 | 4.7% | |
| South West | 3,334,634 | 120,943 | 3.8% | |
Car Licence Stats for All Regions in England
If you'd like to see the details for other regions near you, here are the studies for other regions in England: