Record Month for Electric Cars: What September's UK Sales Figures Mean for You
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September 2026 was the biggest month ever for electric car sales in the UK, with nearly 100,000 new EVs registered.
According to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 350,536 new cars were registered in the UK in September 2026. That's up 12% on the same month last year and the strongest September since 2017.
The new 76 plate always gives September a lift, but the bigger story is what people are choosing to drive. Electric cars hit a record monthly total, and they now make up more than a quarter of everything sold.
Electric car sales hit a new high
A record 99,201 battery electric vehicles (BEVs) were registered in September, up 36.3% on September 2025. That gave fully electric cars a 28.3% share of the market.
Plug-in hybrids grew too, with 59,571 registered (up 55.5%), giving them a 17% share. Add the two together and more than 45% of new cars sold in September could be plugged in.
Petrol, meanwhile, continued to slide. Petrol cars accounted for 37.6% of the market, down from 45.2% a year earlier. Diesel made up just 4%.
Businesses and company car drivers are leading the switch
This is the part of the story that often gets missed. Of the 350,536 cars registered in September, 201,370 (57.5%) went to fleets and businesses. Fleet registrations were up 9.6%, and business registrations jumped 37.3%.
Across the first nine months of 2026, fleet and business registrations have passed one million cars.
Company cars and salary sacrifice schemes are a big reason electric cars are growing so quickly. The tax treatment of electric company cars makes them far cheaper to run than a petrol or diesel equivalent, so employees who are offered an EV through work are taking it up in large numbers.
Which cars sold best?
The top ten best-selling cars in September 2026 were:
Two fully electric Teslas made the top five, with the Model 3 in second place. The Jaecoo 7 took the top spot, which is a remarkable result for a brand that only arrived in the UK in 2025, and a sign of how quickly Chinese manufacturers are winning over British drivers.
Why is the market growing?
The SMMT points to more competition, more choice and strong manufacturer incentives. The choice of electric cars in particular has exploded. There are now 178 battery electric models on sale in the UK, more than double the number available in 2023.
Whether you want a small city car, a family SUV or something more premium, there is now an electric option at almost every size and price point.
Is the UK on track for its EV targets?
Not quite yet. Electric cars made up 26.2% of registrations across the first nine months of 2026, against a Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Mandate target of 33% for the year. Manufacturers have ground to make up in the final quarter, and that pressure usually means sharper offers on electric cars.
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