The number of vehicles in the Balearics grew by 34,265 between 2024 and 2025, according to the latest data published by the Directorate-General for Traffic. Most of this increase consists of passenger cars, almost 20,000, and motorcycles, more than 9,000. The total number of vehicles rose by 3.1%, to 1,141,473, an acceleration thatbreaks with the post-pandemic trend, which has been much more moderate.
With this upturn, the islands are gradually approaching the ratio of one vehicle per inhabitant (in Ibiza and Formentera, this has long since been exceeded). According to the DGT, the region stood at 913 vehicles per 1,000 residents in 2025.
However, the calculation is based on registered vehicles, and it is very difficult to determinehow many are actually on the roads in the Balearics, as apart from visitors arriving with their own vehicles and other factors (such as leased vehicles), many car hire companiesare registered on the mainland and bring their fleet over every year for the season (although according to the 2023 traffic study by the Council of Mallorca, a significant proportion remain on the islands, exacerbating congestion on the roads).
By municipality, Escorca tops the per-capita ratio; with just 199 residents, it has 26 vehicles per person, ananomaly explained by the fact that it has become a tax haven for vehicle tax payments. Formentera is close to two cars per person; it is followed by Montuïri, Estellencs, Ariany and Santanyí.
The fact that the Balearics are the most motorised region is nothing new: they have held that title for decades and far outstrip regions such as Madrid or Catalonia.
As early as 1965, it was the region with the most cars per person, although at that time there were only 181 vehicles per 1,000 inhabitants (with a total fleet of 84,675 units). In the wake of tourism development, even though the population of the islands has increased considerably, so too has this indicator: in other words, the increase in the number of vehicles has outpaced the rate of population growth. In 30 years, the number of vehicles has doubled (+104.5%) whilst the population has increased by 65.3%.
Whilst the Balearics account for around 2.5% of Spain’s population, their vehicles make up 3.1% of the total Spanish vehicle fleet. A striking figure is that this percentage is even higher for motorcycles: the Balearics account for 4.3% of all motorcycles in Spain, which could indicate a much greater preference for this mode of transport than in other regions.
This preference for two-wheelers has become more pronounced in Palma, though only for larger-engined motorcycles, whilst mopeds have declined. In contrast, the growth in cars over the last decade has been slower than that of motorcycles, suggesting either saturation or a shift in transport habits. In Palma, where the Low Emission Zone (LEZ) came into force in 2025, the cleanest categories are those that have grown the most in relative terms over the past year. Zero-emission vehicles have increased by 49% (to 7,654 vehicles) and ECO vehicles by 30% (to 16,517).
It is from 2027 onwards that this measure will really begin to be felt because the exemptions for residents of the zone will expire and entry will be prohibited for Category B cars; in Palma, there were a total of 74,916 vehicles with this badge in 2025. The bulk of the current fleet consists of cars with a C badge, which will be able to circulate without any problems within the LEZ until 2030. In contrast, Menorca accounts for five of the eight municipalities with the oldest vehicle fleets (Es Migjorn Gran, Es Mercadal, Ferreries, Es Castell and Alaior), indicating a slower renewal of the vehicle fleet on this island compared to the rest of the Balearics.