Your car isn’t just a vehicle – it’s a statement. It speaks volumes about who you are, how you live, and surprisingly, where you call home. From the practical commuter choosing reliability, to the eco-warrior embracing sustainability, or the car enthusiast craving luxury performance – our automotive choices reflect our unique needs and desires.
But here’s the intriguing question: is your postcode secretly influencing your garage? Are those regional car stereotypes – Range Rovers in Chelsea, Minis in Brighton, pickup trucks in rural Scotland – based on reality or simply automotive myths?
In this deep dive, we’re mapping the UK’s automotive preferences to reveal whether geography truly shapes our driving choices, or if personal taste ultimately wins the keys. The answers might surprise you…
Where you live vs. what you drive: Breaking down the stereotypes
Looking for a new car opens up a world of choice, with factors like budget, fuel efficiency, and personal style all weighing into the final decision.
Conventional wisdom suggests that city dwellers should gravitate towards number hatchbacks to navigate congested streets or squeeze into small parking spaces. Meanwhile, more rural folk supposedly need robust SUVs or 4x4s capable of handling longer journeys in comfort and conquering rougher terrains.
But does the stereotype hold up to scrutiny? With over 40 million licensed vehicles on the UK roads in 2024, the data tells a more nuanced story.
The unexpected car capitals of Britain
When looking at the most popular car types across the UK, our analysis reveals some fascinating contradictions that challenge what we think we know about regional car preferences.
| Car Type | Most Popular City | What it tells us |
| Compact Car | Hereford | 40% of vehicles in this rural city are compact cars—the highest percentage nationwide. |
| Convertible | Torquay | The seaside city embraces open-top driving more than anywhere else in Britain. |
| Estate | Lincoln | This historic city shows a practical preference for spacious family vehicles. |
| Sports Car | Lincoln | Surprisingly, Lincoln residents also have the strongest appetite for performance vehicles. |
| MPV | Dorchester | This Dorset market town leads in multi-purpose family vehicles. |
| SUV/4×4 | Halifax & Kirkaldy | These less rural areas lead the nation in larger vehicles, defying the country roads stereotype. |
| Sedan | Belfast | Northern Ireland’s capital maintains a traditional preference for classic four-door models. |
| Subcompact Car | Salisbury | This cathedral city embraces ultra-efficient urban runabouts |
The rise of EVs
Electric vehicles (EVs) are becoming increasingly popular, especially with the UK working towards net-zero emissions by 2050. With low-emission zones (LEZs) implemented in major cities like London and Birmingham, many drivers are opting for cleaner alternatives.
While you might expect these cities to lead the electric vehicle revolution, it’s actually Scotland’s more remote locations showing the most impressive adoption rates. Rural locations like Inverness and Galashiels are leading the UK’s EV and hybrid adoption, with Scotland has reaching its charging infrastructure target two years ahead of schedule.
Brand loyalty: Regional relationships with manufacturers
Some areas around the UK are known for specific car brands, often due to local manufacturing, brand loyalty, or regional trends. Our research shows that brand preferences differ dramatically across the UK.
| Car Brand | Most Popular City | What it tells us |
| Premium German | ||
| Audi | Torquay | Seaside luxury preference |
| BMW | Belfast | Northern Ireland’s premium choice |
| Mercedes-Benz | Kirkwall | Orkney’s surprising luxury leader |
| British Heritage | ||
| Jaguar | Falkirk | Strong Scottish loyalty to British luxury |
| Land Rover | Wolverhampton | Near the JLR factory – hometown pride |
| MINI | Durham | Historic city embraces iconic British small car |
| MG | Shetland | Island appreciation for British classic brand |
| EV Pioneers | ||
| Tesla | Truro | Cornwall leads in adopting this premium electric brand |
| Kia | Inverness | Highland city embraces Kia, known for its affordable EV and hybrid options |
| French Design and Comfort | ||
| Citroen | Shetland | Island practicality meets French engineering |
| DS | Perth | Scottish city opts for French luxury |
| Peugeot | Motherwell | Industrial heritage meets European style |
| Renault | Lincoln | Historic city embraces French practicality |
| Asian Reliability and Innovation | ||
| Honda | Swansea | Welsh coastal city values dependability |
| Hyundai | Harrogate | Spa town chooses Korean reliability |
| Mazda | Worcester | Cathedral city enjoys Japanese engineering |
| Mitsubishi | Kirkaldy | Fife town embraces Japanese robustness |
| Nissan | Halifax | Yorkshire town supports British-built Japanese cars |
| Suzuki | Kirkaldy | Another Fife preference for compact Japanese models |
| Toyota | Hereford | Rural city values legendary reliability |
| European Value | ||
| Fiat | Taunton | Somerset town embraces Italian compacts |
| SEAT | Torquay | Riviera city’s second Spanish connection |
| Skoda | Lancaster | Historic city values Czech practicality |
| Volkswagen | Shetland | Islands choose German engineering |
| Volvo | Dundee | Swedish safety meets Scottish practicality |
| American Dependability | ||
| Ford | Taunton | Taunton also shows loyalty to American-heritage brand |
| British Value | ||
| Vauxhall | Salisbury | Cathedral city supports British-built value brand |
The driving decision: More personal than postal
While location does play a role for automotive decisions, our research reveals that British drivers are increasingly influenced by:
- Local automotive culture and community influences
- Lifestyle priorities and personal values
- Environmental considerations and infrastructure availability
- Family needs and practical requirements
- Regional brand relationships and manufacturing heritage
Want to find your perfect vehicle match? Get in touch with our friendly team today to explore which of our extensive range meets your needs.