How many on the roadMOT resultsMOT check
United Kingdom · DVLA register · end of June 2026

Britain’s cars, counted

Every car on the UK register, updated every quarter.

38.9 million cars are on the UK register: 34.9 million licensed for the road and 4.0 million declared off it (SORN). That’s up 2.0% on a year ago, across 492 makes and 2,725 models.

Look up any make or model MOT resultsMOT history check

Licensed
34,888,140taxed for the road
SORN
3,996,747declared off the road
1-year change
+2.0%cars on the register
Battery electric
2,016,9685.8% of licensed cars
Makes
492on the register
Models
2,725each with its own page
United Kingdom · DfT VEH0120 · 1994 to 2026 Q2

Cars on the road since 1994

The number of licensed cars has grown from 21.2 million at the end of 1994 to 34.9 million today.

LicensedSORN (stacked on top)

Yearly figures to 2007, then every quarter. Great Britain until June 2014, the whole UK after (marked). SORN was only recorded from the end of 2007.

United Kingdom · DfT VEH0120 · 2008 to 2026 Q2

The electric shift

Diesel’s share of licensed cars has fallen from 40% at its peak in March 2018 to 28%. 1 in 17 licensed cars is now battery electric, up from 1 in 124 five years ago.

Petrol 53.8%Diesel 28.1%Hybrid 9.3%Plug-in hybrid 2.9%Battery electric 5.8%Other 0.1%

Share of licensed cars by fuel. Hybrid includes mild hybrids, which DVLA records as hybrids. Plug-in hybrid includes range-extended electric. Other covers gas, fuel cell and other fuels.

United Kingdom · VEH0120 · 2026 Q2

Most common cars

1 in 28 licensed cars is a Ford Fiesta.

  1. Ford Fiesta1,259,187
  2. Volkswagen Golf952,492
  3. Vauxhall Corsa911,579
  4. Ford Focus862,774
  5. Nissan Qashqai703,391
  6. Volkswagen Polo685,291
  7. Toyota Yaris589,579
  8. Vauxhall Astra527,023
  9. Mini Cooper523,667
  10. BMW 3 Series474,574

Licensed cars, all versions of each model. Full list of 50

United Kingdom · VEH0120 · 2021 to 2026

Rising and falling

Biggest changes in licensed numbers over five years, for models with at least 1,000 five years ago.

Rising fastest

#Model2021NowChange
1Volkswagen ID41,57340,864+2,497.8%
2Cupra Formentor2,74459,032+2,051.3%
3MG HS6,474128,533+1,885.4%
4Polestar 22,45338,163+1,455.8%
5Vauxhall Frontera1,58718,391+1,058.9%

Falling fastest

#Model2021NowChange
1Fiat Stilo2,123372−82.5%
2Daewoo Matiz2,359425−82.0%
3Chrysler Voyager2,404488−79.7%
4Dodge Caliber2,607535−79.5%
5Kia Cerato1,681351−79.1%
United Kingdom · DfT VEH0160 · 2001 to 2026 Q2

New cars each year

2,071,394 cars were registered for the first time in 2025. 23% were battery electric and 5% diesel; ten years earlier, diesel was 48% and battery electric under 1%.

PetrolDieselHybridPlug-in hybridBattery electricOther

2026* covers January to June only. Great Britain until June 2014, the whole UK after. Hybrid includes mild hybrids, so it is higher than the industry’s own figures, which count most mild hybrids as petrol or diesel.

Best-selling new cars in 2025

  1. Ford Puma55,376
  2. Kia Sportage47,773
  3. Nissan Qashqai41,115
  4. Toyota Yaris38,294
  5. Vauxhall Corsa35,976
  6. Volkswagen Golf35,063
  7. Nissan Juke34,795
  8. Volkswagen Tiguan31,592
  9. BYD Seal30,682
  10. Volvo XC4030,427
United Kingdom · DfT VEH0124 · end of 2025

How old are Britain’s cars?

Half the cars on the register were made in 2016 or earlier, so the typical car is about 9 years old.

LicensedSORN

Year of manufacture (or first registration where unknown), from 1970. Another 279,273 made before 1970 are still registered.

United Kingdom · DfT VEH0124 · end of 2025

Most common classics

Models with the most cars made in 1985 or earlier still registered.

  1. MG B38,315
  2. Morris Minor22,965
  3. Ford Escort20,821
  4. Volkswagen Beetle15,272
  5. MG Midget15,249
  6. Austin Mini14,371
  7. Mercedes 2008,990
  8. Triumph Spitfire8,726
  9. Triumph Stag8,517
  10. Ford Cortina8,368
Great Britain · DVSA MOT tests · 2025

MOT at a glance

Of 32.0 million car MOT tests in 2025, 72.2% passed first time. Pass rates fall with age, from 87.4% for cars aged 3 to 4 to 57.6% at 15 to 19.

First-time pass
72.2%all cars
Failed
22.6%needed a retest
Dangerous defect
7.4%at least one
Typical mileage
68,800at the test

Best for their age

  1. Ferrari F430 same age 57.3%94.6% +37.3 pts
  2. Aston Martin V8 same age 59.9%91.2% +31.3 pts
  3. Aston Martin DB9 same age 59.9%90.1% +30.2 pts
  4. Ferrari 458 same age 66.3%96.1% +29.8 pts
  5. Nissan GT-R same age 66.9%95.2% +28.3 pts

Worst for their age

  1. Ssangyong Rodius same age 74.8%59.4% −15.4 pts
  2. Citroen DS3 same age 65.8%51.7% −14.1 pts
  3. Mitsubishi Space Star same age 58.4%45.0% −13.4 pts
  4. Vauxhall Antara same age 65.7%53.3% −12.4 pts
  5. Renault Clio same age 68.8%56.8% −12.0 pts

First-time pass rate, ranked by the gap to all cars of the same age. Models with at least 1,000 tests.

Pass rate by area

AB Aberdeen · Scotland: 243,982 tests, 67.9% first-time passABAL St Albans · East of England: 141,049 tests, 75.8% first-time passALB Birmingham · West Midlands: 1,003,880 tests, 75.9% first-time passBBA Bath · South West: 270,276 tests, 66.6% first-time passBABB Blackburn · North West: 278,898 tests, 75.5% first-time passBBBD Bradford · Yorkshire and the Humber: 285,785 tests, 73.9% first-time passBDBH Bournemouth · South West: 334,191 tests, 67.8% first-time passBHBL Bolton · North West: 245,443 tests, 74.9% first-time passBLBN Brighton · South East: 385,430 tests, 67.1% first-time passBNBR Bromley · London: 114,701 tests, 78.9% first-time passBRBS Bristol · South West: 553,455 tests, 65.8% first-time passBSCA Carlisle · North West: 190,856 tests, 71.6% first-time passCACB Cambridge · East of England: 227,063 tests, 71.5% first-time passCBCF Cardiff · Wales: 522,150 tests, 68.5% first-time passCFCH Chester · North West: 356,133 tests, 69.5% first-time passCHCM Chelmsford · East of England: 383,536 tests, 75.5% first-time passCMCO Colchester · East of England: 253,504 tests, 71.2% first-time passCOCR Croydon · London: 216,499 tests, 77.7% first-time passCRCT Canterbury · South East: 246,444 tests, 70.8% first-time passCTCV Coventry · West Midlands: 472,401 tests, 74.8% first-time passCVCW Crewe · North West: 193,107 tests, 72.4% first-time passCWDA Dartford · South East: 234,606 tests, 77.7% first-time passDADD Dundee · Scotland: 130,959 tests, 64.8% first-time passDDDE Derby · East Midlands: 441,932 tests, 74.7% first-time passDEDG Dumfries · Scotland: 75,060 tests, 74.2% first-time passDGDH Durham · North East: 159,213 tests, 73.5% first-time passDHDL Darlington · North East: 185,604 tests, 69.7% first-time passDLDN Doncaster · Yorkshire and the Humber: 418,812 tests, 71.8% first-time passDNDT Dorchester · South West: 125,285 tests, 66.7% first-time passDTDY Dudley · West Midlands: 216,952 tests, 73.7% first-time passDYE London E · London: 257,622 tests, 77.7% first-time passEEH Edinburgh · Scotland: 401,935 tests, 69.8% first-time passEHEN Enfield · London: 187,484 tests, 78.2% first-time passENEX Exeter · South West: 360,511 tests, 64.6% first-time passEXFK Falkirk · Scotland: 138,306 tests, 70.0% first-time passFKFY Blackpool · North West: 135,502 tests, 67.6% first-time passFYG Glasgow · Scotland: 512,664 tests, 72.0% first-time passGGL Gloucester · South West: 394,965 tests, 69.1% first-time passGLGU Guildford · South East: 434,262 tests, 72.1% first-time passGUHA Harrow · London: 193,021 tests, 78.4% first-time passHAHD Huddersfield · Yorkshire and the Humber: 131,528 tests, 70.6% first-time passHDHG Harrogate · Yorkshire and the Humber: 89,374 tests, 73.7% first-time passHGHP Hemel Hempstead · South East: 308,698 tests, 75.2% first-time passHPHR Hereford · West Midlands: 119,772 tests, 71.7% first-time passHRHS Outer Hebrides · Scotland: 14,320 tests, 71.1% first-time passHSHU Hull · Yorkshire and the Humber: 223,383 tests, 68.7% first-time passHUHX Halifax · Yorkshire and the Humber: 79,881 tests, 70.5% first-time passHXIG Ilford · London: 140,201 tests, 79.9% first-time passIGIP Ipswich · East of England: 380,379 tests, 70.9% first-time passIPIV Inverness · Scotland: 137,819 tests, 70.8% first-time passIVKA Kilmarnock · Scotland: 171,377 tests, 70.5% first-time passKAKT Kingston upon Thames · London: 264,204 tests, 78.4% first-time passKTKW Kirkwall · Scotland: 26,987 tests, 71.0% first-time passKWKY Kirkcaldy · Scotland: 180,032 tests, 63.6% first-time passKYL Liverpool · North West: 349,331 tests, 73.8% first-time passLLA Lancaster · North West: 173,020 tests, 70.5% first-time passLALD Llandrindod Wells · Wales: 27,416 tests, 65.5% first-time passLDLE Leicester · East Midlands: 569,002 tests, 74.0% first-time passLELL Llandudno · Wales: 306,410 tests, 70.0% first-time passLLLN Lincoln · East Midlands: 181,125 tests, 67.5% first-time passLNLS Leeds · Yorkshire and the Humber: 359,962 tests, 71.7% first-time passLSLU Luton · East of England: 212,870 tests, 74.8% first-time passLUM Manchester · North West: 482,721 tests, 72.7% first-time passMME Rochester · South East: 342,146 tests, 74.2% first-time passMEMK Milton Keynes · South East: 337,553 tests, 74.1% first-time passMKML Motherwell · Scotland: 158,695 tests, 70.5% first-time passMLN London N · London: 215,346 tests, 76.8% first-time passNNE Newcastle upon Tyne · North East: 536,807 tests, 73.0% first-time passNENG Nottingham · East Midlands: 592,723 tests, 71.0% first-time passNGNN Northampton · East Midlands: 435,501 tests, 70.6% first-time passNNNP Newport · Wales: 280,952 tests, 68.8% first-time passNPNR Norwich · East of England: 439,619 tests, 70.4% first-time passNRNW London NW · London: 213,195 tests, 78.6% first-time passNWOL Oldham · North West: 220,676 tests, 74.1% first-time passOLOX Oxford · South East: 357,472 tests, 71.9% first-time passOXPA Paisley · Scotland: 146,518 tests, 69.1% first-time passPAPE Peterborough · East of England: 595,889 tests, 72.9% first-time passPEPH Perth · Scotland: 94,644 tests, 69.2% first-time passPHPL Plymouth · South West: 327,620 tests, 64.6% first-time passPLPO Portsmouth · South East: 451,671 tests, 67.2% first-time passPOPR Preston · North West: 293,506 tests, 72.5% first-time passPRRG Reading · South East: 486,906 tests, 74.7% first-time passRGRH Redhill · South East: 332,096 tests, 73.9% first-time passRHRM Romford · London: 260,483 tests, 79.3% first-time passRMS Sheffield · Yorkshire and the Humber: 723,243 tests, 75.1% first-time passSSA Swansea · Wales: 405,555 tests, 68.5% first-time passSASE London SE · London: 249,935 tests, 75.5% first-time passSESG Stevenage · East of England: 233,798 tests, 74.0% first-time passSGSK Stockport · North West: 321,587 tests, 72.7% first-time passSKSL Slough · South East: 229,408 tests, 78.4% first-time passSLSM Sutton · London: 71,498 tests, 78.9% first-time passSMSN Swindon · South West: 284,813 tests, 70.7% first-time passSNSO Southampton · South East: 391,026 tests, 71.0% first-time passSOSP Salisbury · South West: 153,084 tests, 66.1% first-time passSPSR Sunderland · North East: 106,955 tests, 69.3% first-time passSRSS Southend-on-Sea · East of England: 279,477 tests, 76.7% first-time passSSST Stoke-on-Trent · West Midlands: 355,717 tests, 71.2% first-time passSTSW London SW · London: 136,269 tests, 77.2% first-time passSWSY Shrewsbury · West Midlands: 216,672 tests, 71.4% first-time passSYTA Taunton · South West: 208,899 tests, 67.1% first-time passTATD Galashiels · Scotland: 61,277 tests, 70.9% first-time passTDTF Telford · West Midlands: 121,589 tests, 71.6% first-time passTFTN Tonbridge · South East: 425,815 tests, 72.0% first-time passTNTQ Torquay · South West: 162,610 tests, 65.3% first-time passTQTR Truro · South West: 195,563 tests, 64.9% first-time passTRTS Teesside · North East: 297,877 tests, 71.4% first-time passTSTW Twickenham · London: 233,113 tests, 78.4% first-time passTWUB Southall · London: 198,276 tests, 79.2% first-time passUBW London W · London: 85,061 tests, 77.6% first-time passWWA Warrington · North West: 327,570 tests, 73.1% first-time passWAWD Watford · East of England: 126,297 tests, 73.8% first-time passWDWF Wakefield · Yorkshire and the Humber: 285,078 tests, 73.5% first-time passWFWN Wigan · North West: 149,063 tests, 70.2% first-time passWNWR Worcester · West Midlands: 188,055 tests, 72.8% first-time passWRWS Walsall · West Midlands: 230,511 tests, 71.6% first-time passWSWV Wolverhampton · West Midlands: 216,697 tests, 74.0% first-time passWVYO York · Yorkshire and the Humber: 303,411 tests, 70.2% first-time passYOZE Shetland · Scotland: 11,937 tests, 69.0% first-time passZE
  • under 68%
  • 68–70%
  • 70–72%
  • 72–74%
  • 74% or more

First-time pass rate by postcode area of the garage that did the test. Hover over or tap an area for its figures.

All MOT results Check a car’s MOT history

United Kingdom · DfT and DVSA · 2026 Q2

Did you know?

Car of the week · week 46

Mazda323

1994Licensed at each year end2025
Licensed now
794
SORN
3,111
Peak
125,635

Peaked at 125,635 licensed (December 1999); 1% of that peak is still on the road.

See the 323

Facts are worked out from the data at each update. Car of the week changes every Monday, picked from 150 well-known older models.

Sources: DfT and DVLA vehicle licensing statistics; DVSA MOT data. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Updated 11 November 2026. About the data