The well-heeled residents of Chelsea are the most likely in the UK to own a Land Rover, according to official records.

DVLA figures show why SUVs like Range Rovers, the luxury brand of Land Rover, have been dubbed “Chelsea Tractors” and reveal where in the country people are most likely to have brands such as BMW, Mercedes, Ford, and Skoda parked on their drive.

Prestige brands like Mercedes, BMW, Lexus and Tesla are all more likely to be owned by people living in London. Outside the capital, parts of Wales are where you are most likely to see a Fiat, Hondas are most frequently found in Scotland and Northern Irish residents appear to have a penchant for Peugeots.

Brands such as Kia, Volkswagen, Nissan and Volvo are all most popular in the north of England, while Vauxhalls and Fords are concentrated around their respective traditional manufacturing bases in Luton and Dagenham.

The DVLA data reveals which areas of the country, divided up by postcodes, have the highest proportion of privately owned cars of each make. Stanford-le-Hope, in Essex, near Ford’s engine factory in Dagenham, is where 30% of cars are Fords. Nearby Canvey Island and Wickford are only a few percentage points behind.

When it comes to luxury cars, BMWs will most often be found in three London areas all to the east of the capital, Gants Hill, Canary Wharf and Whitechapel. Mercedes are to be found more in the centre of the capital with the highest percentage in South Kensington.

Meanwhile the Lexus brand is most popular in Golders Green. Volkswagens are found most frequently in the Bradford area, Nissans around Newcastle, Volvos close to York, Kias near Manchester and Skodas in Shropshire.

Money-conscious residents on the remote Isle of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides are the keenest to be driving around in the budget brand Dacia.

James Ruppert, editor of Free Car Mag, said: “Mostly, car owners buy what they can afford and people who can afford to live in Chelsea buy the most fashionable rides, irrespective of how inappropriate they may be for the conditions. 

“Once upon a time it would have a Mini, but one that was expensively customised. That doesn’t seem to happen anymore. Land Rovers and Range Rovers rule, well, rule the pavements and permit parking areas of ULEZ London.

“Cars for the people are clearly VWs, Kias and Skodas, affordable, practical for those who just get on with the business of using cars as they were intended rather than worrying about how they look to others. 

“Same thing with the good people of the Isle of Lewis and their Dacias who need a vehicle that will thrive in unfriendly conditions, without making any other point except getting the driver and passengers from A to B.”

He added: “Interesting that there is so much loyalty for locally made products. I wonder how long that will last for areas surrounding the long shut Dagenham works and recently closed Luton plant.”