Petrol, hybrid or electric: what are UK drivers actually buying in 2026?

The choice of what powers our cars has become a lot more complicated. Not so long ago, most buyers were deciding between petrol and diesel. Today, the showroom choice can include petrol, diesel, traditional hybrids, plug-in hybrids and fully electric vehicles.

So what are UK drivers actually choosing? The latest new car registration figures suggest the market is changing quickly, but perhaps not quite as simply as “petrol out, electric in”.

Electric cars are taking a bigger share

According to figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 99,201 new battery electric cars were registered in September 2026.

That was 36.3% more than in September 2025 and meant fully electric cars accounted for 28.3% of all new registrations during the month.

Across the first nine months of 2026, almost 455,000 battery electric cars were registered, giving them just over a quarter of the new car market.

But hybrids are growing quickly too

One of the biggest changes isn’t actually coming from fully electric cars. Plug-in hybrid registrations increased by 55.5% year on year in September, reaching almost 60,000 vehicles.

So far in 2026, plug-in hybrid registrations are more than 40% higher than at the same point in 2025. That suggests plenty of drivers may still like the idea of electric driving while wanting the reassurance of a petrol engine for longer journeys.

Petrol is still the single biggest fuel type

Despite the growth in electric and hybrid cars, petrol hasn’t disappeared. Petrol cars accounted for 37.6% of registrations in September and more than 41% of registrations so far this year.

However, the direction of travel is interesting. Petrol registrations were down 6.7% in September compared with last year and are down 3.8% across the year to date.

So why aren’t we all choosing electric?

The answer isn’t necessarily that drivers don’t want one. Simon-Kucher’s Global Automotive Study 2026 found that interest in cars remains high, but buyers are becoming more cautious about the decisions they make.

Price remains the biggest consideration when choosing a vehicle, while some of the main concerns surrounding electric cars are decidedly practical: charging times, battery life, driving range and the potential cost of replacing a battery.

In other words, there’s a difference between liking the idea of an electric car and feeling confident that one will work for your everyday life.

The car market is becoming less clear-cut

The latest figures don’t really point towards one type of car suddenly replacing another. Instead, we’re seeing drivers spread across an increasingly broad mix of technologies.

Some are ready to move fully electric. Others are choosing hybrids as a halfway point, while petrol continues to account for a significant proportion of new cars.

And ultimately, the right choice isn’t necessarily the fuel type that’s growing fastest in the registration figures.

It’s the car that suits how you drive, where you can charge or refuel, the journeys you regularly make and, importantly, what you can comfortably afford.

The UK car market may be changing quickly, but for drivers, the decision remains a very personal one.