We welcome any feedback on the structure of our data files, their usability, or any suggestions for improvements; please contact vehicles statistics.
\nChanges to ULEV classifications
\n\nThe Department for Transport is committed to continuously improving the quality and transparency of its statistics, in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics. As set out in the notes and definitions, statistics on ultra low emission vehicles (ULEVs), and CO₂ emissions may be subject to revision as part of ongoing quality assurance and methodological improvements to how we process these data.
\n\nAs part of this commitment, ULEV classifications have been revised across the published time series to improve the treatment of implausible CO₂ values and ensure zero emission vehicles are classified consistently as ULEVs. This removes some non-zero-emission vehicles, mainly hybrids, that were previously classified as ULEVs because missing or unavailable CO₂ information had been recorded as zero, while adding a small number of battery electric vehicles.
\n\nAs a result, ULEV stock figures are around 1.8% lower in recent quarters than previously published, reducing the proportion of licensed vehicles classified as ULEVs by around 0.1 percentage points. Further details are available in the relevant ULEV data tables and the notes and definitions.
\n\nShould you have questions regarding this revision, you may contact the vehicles statistics team who will be happy to address these.
\nData tables containing aggregated information about vehicles in the UK are also available.
\n\nCSV files can be used either as a spreadsheet (using Microsoft Excel or similar spreadsheet packages) or digitally using software packages and languages (for example, R or Python).
\n\nWhen using as a spreadsheet, there will be no formatting, but the file can still be explored like our publication tables. Due to their size, older software might not be able to open the entire file.
\n\ndf_VEH0120_GB:
\n\nScope: All registered vehicles in Great Britain; from 1994 Quarter 4 (end December)
\n\nSchema: BodyType, Make, GenModel, Model, Fuel, LicenceStatus, [number of vehicles; 1 column per quarter]
\n\ndf_VEH0120_UK:
\n\nScope: All registered vehicles in the United Kingdom; from 2014 Quarter 3 (end September)
\n\nSchema: BodyType, Make, GenModel, Model, Fuel, LicenceStatus, [number of vehicles; 1 column per quarter]
\n\ndf_VEH0160_GB:
\n\nScope: All vehicles registered for the first time in Great Britain; from 2001 Quarter 1 (January to March)
\n\nSchema: BodyType, Make, GenModel, Model, Fuel, [number of vehicles; 1 column per quarter]
\n\ndf_VEH0160_UK:
\n\nScope: All vehicles registered for the first time in the United Kingdom; from 2014 Quarter 3 (July to September)
\n\nSchema: BodyType, Make, GenModel, Model, Fuel, [number of vehicles; 1 column per quarter]
\n\nIn order to keep the datafile df_VEH0124 to a reasonable size, it has been split into 2 halves; 1 covering makes starting with A to M, and the other covering makes starting with N to Z.
\n\ndf_VEH0124_AM:
\n\nScope: All licensed vehicles in the United Kingdom with Make starting with A to M; annually from 2014
\n\nSchema: BodyType, Make, GenModel, Model, YearFirstUsed, YearManufacture, LicenceStatus, [number of vehicles; 1 column per year]
\n\ndf_VEH0124_NZ:
\n\nScope: All licensed vehicles in the United Kingdom with Make starting with N to Z; annually from 2014
\n\nSchema: BodyType, Make, GenModel, Model, YearFirstUsed, YearManufacture, LicenceStatus, [number of vehicles; 1 column per year]
\n\ndf_VEH0220:
\n\nScope: All licensed vehicles in the United Kingdom; annually from 2014
\n\nSchema: BodyType, Make, GenModel, Model, Fuel, EngineSizeSimple, EngineSizeDesc, LicenceStatus, [number of vehicles; 1 column per year]
\n\ndf_VEH0270:
\n\nScope: All vehicles registered for the first time in the United Kingdom; annually from 2015
\n\nSchema: BodyType, Make, GenModel, Model, Fuel, EngineSizeSimple, EngineSizeDesc, [number of vehicles; 1 column per year]
\n\nIn order to keep these files to a reasonable size, small areas which have never had 5 or more vehicles in scope are excluded from these datasets, with those vehicles combined into the Miscellaneous row. This means a number of LSOAs will be missing from the file.
\n\ndf_VEH0125:
\n\nScope: All licensed vehicles in the United Kingdom; Great Britain from 2009 Quarter 4 (end December); and United Kingdom from 2014 Quarter 3 (end September)
\n\nSchema: LSOA21CD, LSOA21NM, BodyType, Keepership, LicenceStatus, [number of vehicles; 1 column per quarter]
\n\ndf_VEH0135:
\n\nScope: All licensed ultra low emission vehicles in the United Kingdom; from 2011 Quarter 4 (end December)
\n\nSchema: LSOA21CD, LSOA21NM, Fuel, Keepership, [number of vehicles; 1 column per quarter]
\n\ndf_VEH0145:
\n\nScope: All licensed plug-in vehicles in the United Kingdom; from 2011 Quarter 4 (end December)
\n\nSchema: LSOA21CD, LSOA21NM, Fuel, Keepership, [number of vehicles; 1 column per quarter]
\n\nThis datafile replaces the following withdrawn tables:
\n\ndf_VEH0520:
\n\nScope: All licensed heavy goods vehicles (HGVs), as well as all licensed zero emission light goods vehicles (LGVs) between 3.5 tonnes and 4.25 tonnes in the United Kingdom; annually; Great Britain from 1994; and United Kingdom from 2014
\n\nSchema: Geography, TaxClass, WheelPlan, WheelPlanDetailed, BodyTypeDetailed, RoadUsing, MaximumGrossWeightBand, YearFirstUsed, Fuel, [number of vehicles; 1 column per year]
\n\nThe same variables are used across the data files to maintain consistency and ease of use.
\n\nTable 1: Metadata for general variables within VEH data files
\n\n| Name | \nType | \nSize | \nExample value | \nDescription | \n
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BodyType | \nString | \n17 | \nCars | \nThe 6 main body type categories used throughout the VEH series | \n
| Make | \nString | \n50 [note 1] | \nMINI | \nVehicle make derived from make model codes | \n
| GenModel | \nString | \n50 [note 1] | \nMINI COUNTRYMAN | \nGrouping of model variants to help compare models in the market | \n
| Model | \nString | \n50 [note 1] | \nCOUNTRYMAN COOPER D ALL4 | \nDetailed vehicle model derived from make model codes | \n
| LicenceStatus | \nString | \n8 | \nLicensed | \nIndicates whether the vehicle was licensed or with a SORN at the end of the quarter | \n
| YearFirstUsed | \nInt | \nNot applicable | \n2019 | \nYear of first registration if registered as new, otherwise not available | \n
| YearManufacture | \nInt | \nNot applicable | \n2016 | \nYear of manufacture, usually very similar to YearFirstUsed but not always available | \n
| Fuel | \nString | \n32 | \nPlug-in hybrid electric (Petrol) | \nFuel type of the vehicle (groupings within data files can vary) | \n
| EngineSizeSimple | \nInt | \nNot applicable | \n1400 | \nSimplification of the engine size group EngineSizeDesc, showing the maximum value (useful for sorting) | \n
| EngineSizeDesc | \nString | \n18 | \n1301cc to 1400cc | \nGrouping of engine sizes, usually in bands of 100cc, with exceptions for motorcycles | \n
| LSOA21CD | \nString | \n15 | \nE01000001 | \nONS lower super output areas (LSOA) code from the 2021 Census for England and Wales, national equivalents for Scotland and Northern Ireland | \n
| LSOA21NM | \nString | \n75 | \nNewcastle-under-Lyme 007E | \nONS lower super output area (LSOA) name from the 2021 Census for England and Wales, national equivalents for Scotland and Northern Ireland | \n
Note 1: Model information is subject to change with subsequent updates but can reasonably be expected to be under 50 characters.
\nTable 2: Metadata for variables within df_VEH0520
\n\n| Name | \nType | \nSize | \nExample value | \nDescription | \n
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Geography | \nString | \n20 | \nScotland | \nGeographic area that the statistics apply to within that record | \n
| TaxClass | \nString | \n17 | \nGoods | \nGrouping of tax classes | \n
| WheelPlan | \nString | \n11 | \nRigid | \nSimple wheelplan | \n
| WheelPlanDetailed | \nString | \n30 | \nArticulated: 2 and 3 axle | \nDetailed wheelplan including axle counts | \n
| BodyTypeDetailed | \nString | \n50 | \nDropside Lorry | \nDetailed body type | \n
| RoadUsing | \nInt | \nNot applicable | \n1 | \nIndicator for whether the detailed body type is considered “road using” within these statistics | \n
| MaximumGrossWeightBand | \nString | \n40 | \nA: Over 3.5 and up to 4.25 tonnes | \nGrouping of maximum gross weights | \n
Symbols can appear in nearly all datafile variables, including integer valued ones, and are the same as those found in publication tables.
\n\nTable 3: Symbols used within VEH data files
\n\n| Symbol | \nType | \n
|---|---|
| [c] | \nConfidential (between 1 and 4 vehicles) | \n
| [x] | \nNot available | \n
| [z] | \nNot applicable | \n
The units used in data files are always a number of vehicles.
\n\nThe majority of variables reported are recorded by DVLA for administrative purposes only and any errors can take time to be resolved, especially if they do not impact the taxation or keepership of the vehicle. Common inconsistencies include:
\n\nDue to the encoding system used for makes and models, data can be missing for a variety of reasons. These include:
\n\nEngine sizes are often reported slightly lower than the colloquial value for a vehicle, for example a car with a 1.4 litre engine might have a reported engine size of 1398cc (cubic capacity).
\n\nVehicles are allocated to a lower super output area (LSOA) according to the postcode of the registered keeper. This is the keeper’s address for privately-kept vehicles or the company’s registered address for company-kept vehicles. The address does not necessarily reflect where the vehicle is located. This is especially true for large fleets kept by companies involved with vehicle management, leasing or rentals. Significant changes in the number of vehicles from year to year can often occur when these companies change their registered address.
\n\nOther vehicles in BodyType refers to all vehicles not included in the other 5 categories, including rear diggers, lift trucks, rollers, ambulances, Hackney Carriages, 3 wheelers, tricycles and agricultural vehicles.
\n\nMiscellaneous in LSOA21CD refers to vehicles between keepers, registered at invalid postcodes, or within a lower super output area (LSOA) that has fewer than 5 individual vehicles in total.
\n\nFurther information can be found in the notes and definitions.
\n\nVehicles statistics
\n\n\n\n Email vehicles.stats@dft.gov.uk\n
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