THE number of vehicles on British roads reached its highest ever level in 2024, rising by 1.4 per cent to 41,964,268, according to new Motorparc data published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

The number of cars in use also reached new highs, growing by 1.3 per cent or 470,556 units to 36,165,401, marking the third consecutive year of growth and the second-biggest volume gain since 2016.

The increase reflects growth in the new car market, which in 2024 saw 1.953 million new cars registered, with battery electric vehicles (BEVs) making up 19.6 per cent of the market.

Van use also grew to record levels, up 1.8 per cent to 5,102,180 units, with more than one million of these workhorses added to roads since 2015.

Heavy goods vehicle volumes remained almost unchanged, down just 0.1 per cent or 364 units, at 625,509 units. Bus and coach volumes fell by just 0.1 per cent to 71,718 units, although this means that the UK public transport fleet is now the smallest since records began.

Britain's vehicle parc continues to decarbonise, with a 34.6 per cent increase in plug-in vehicles (BEV and plug-in hybrid) - now accounting for one in 20 (5.1 per cent), or 2,157,360, vehicles in use.

Manufacturer discounting has driven up demand for battery electric cars which saw them remain the fastest growing sector of the parc, breaking the million motor milestone as volumes soared by 38.9 per cent to 1,334,246 units. As a result, BEVs comprise 3.7 per cent of cars in use, up a full percentage point on 2023.

Conventionally fuelled cars remained the most dominant powertrains, with petrol-powered motors rising by 1.0 per cent to 21.0 million, and an almost unchanged market share of 58.2 per cent, while diesel volumes fell 4.4 per cent to 11.6 million - making up 32.1 per cent of cars in use - and marking the fuel type's fifth straight year of decline.

The proliferation of newer lower and zero emission technologies across the parc led to a reduction in average car CO2, which dropped by 1.6 per cent. This was fuelled by a significant fall in company car emissions, down 5.6 per cent thanks to fiscal fleet incentives and manufacturer investment into an ever-expanding range of electrified model choices to appeal to every motorist.

Private car CO2also dipped, falling marginally by 1.0 per cent, demonstrating a need for consumer fiscal incentives to deliver rapid decarbonisation.

Lower uptake in the new car market means motorists are holding onto their cars for longer, with the average age of a car on the road now 9.5 years old, up from 9.3 years in 2023 and much older than the eight year-old average of 2019.

More than two-fifths (43.4 per cent) of the totalparc has now been in use for more than a decade, predating the introduction of lower-emission Euro 6 technology which has done much to improve air quality.

The commercial vehicle parc is also decarbonising, with buses leading the way with an 81.8 per cent increase in zero emission units on last year to 3,494 - accounting for almost one in 20 (4.9 per cent) buses in use.

Vans, which support businesses across the country, are also increasingly going zero-emission, with battery electric van volumes increasing by 31.6 per cent to 80,476 units - or 1.6 per cent of the parc. Electric truck use also rose, but overall they account for fewer than 0.1 per cent of the fleet.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executivesaid: "Britain's vehicle parc is growing, providing essential mobility for the nation while reducing its environmental impact. However, there is scope to push environmental improvements much faster as motorists are holding onto their cars for longer, some one and half years longer on average, than only five years ago.

"Drivers need more incentives and greater confidence in infrastructure investment if we are to replace the high volumes of older high-emission cars with zero-emission alternatives. Success will keep the country on the move while driving up economic growth from every business dependent on road transport."

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