UK vehicle statistics / Alfa Romeo

How many Alfa Romeo 159 cars are left?

At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 2,124 licensed and 1,690 SORN vehicles in the UK within the Alfa Romeo 159 generic-model group.

Looking at a 159?

Population figures cannot tell you whether one particular car is taxed, MOT-valid or safe to buy.

Check its registration free for the official tax, MOT and mileage record. If the car is still worth pursuing, the optional £9.99 full history check adds outstanding-finance, stolen and insurance write-off checks.

Wondering whether one particular 159 is off the road? A free SORN check shows whether it is currently SORN, taxed or untaxed.

Is the 159 disappearing?

Licensed numbers peaked at 9,152 in 2014 Q3 and stand at 2,124 in 2026 Q1, down 77%. That is down 61% in the five years since 2021 Q1. A further 1,690 are declared SORN — 1 in 2 of the 3,814 still on the DVLA record is off the road, laid up, part-restored or waiting to be sold.

A falling population is worth knowing before you buy: it usually means fewer donor cars, fewer specialists and slower parts supply, and it is why a good example of a scarce model can hold its price while a neglected one is hard to sell at any price.

159 MOT pass rate

In 2024, 56.2% of 2,991 Alfa Romeo 159 MOTs passed first time — below the 71.2% UK average. Pass rate moves with age: 58.3% of cars aged 10–14 years passed first time, against 55% aged 15–30 years.

  • Brake Performance — 13.5% of tests. The brakes underperformed on the rolling road. Expect brake work rather than an adjustment.
  • Exhaust Emissions — 9.2% of tests. The car exceeded its emissions limits. Can be a sensor or a service, but on a diesel it can also mean an expensive filter or catalyst.
  • Springs — 7.6% of tests. A broken or sagging coil spring. Replaced in pairs, so it is not the cheapest failure.
  • Suspension Arms — 7.4% of tests. Worn arms or bushes. A common age-related repair that affects handling and tyre wear.

Full age bands and failure notes are on the Alfa Romeo 159 MOT pass rate page.

Before you buy

  • Brake Performance — 13.5% of tests in 2024. The brakes underperformed on the rolling road. Expect brake work rather than an adjustment.
  • Exhaust Emissions — 9.2% of tests in 2024. The car exceeded its emissions limits. Can be a sensor or a service, but on a diesel it can also mean an expensive filter or catalyst.
  • Springs — 7.6% of tests in 2024. A broken or sagging coil spring. Replaced in pairs, so it is not the cheapest failure.
  • Suspension Arms — 7.4% of tests in 2024. Worn arms or bushes. A common age-related repair that affects handling and tyre wear.
  • Ask why it was off the road — Of the 3,814 159 vehicles still on the DVLA record, 1 in 2 is SORN (1,690 at 2026 Q1). A car that has been laid up needs a closer look at brakes, tyres and the MOT history.
  • Budget for a shrinking fleet — Licensed numbers are down 77% from the 2014 Q3 peak of 9,152. Fewer cars on the road usually means fewer donor parts and fewer specialists.
  • Check the actual 159 — These figures describe the model group. Enter the registration for that vehicle's free MOT, tax and mileage record before you pay a deposit.

Quarterly licensed and SORN counts

Every quarter DfT has published for this model group, newest first.

QuarterLicensedSORN
2026 Q12,1241,690
2025 Q42,2381,680
2025 Q32,3841,640
2025 Q22,5191,627
2025 Q12,6811,605
2024 Q42,7981,616
2024 Q33,0141,570
2024 Q23,1641,543
2024 Q13,3601,500
2023 Q43,5391,458
2023 Q33,7271,417
2023 Q23,9171,395
2023 Q14,0741,349
2022 Q44,3151,317
2022 Q34,5021,256
2022 Q24,7091,240
2022 Q14,8811,227
2021 Q44,9971,214
2021 Q35,1401,177
2021 Q25,3531,187
2021 Q15,5041,194
2020 Q45,7231,125
2020 Q35,9451,037
2020 Q25,9921,050
2020 Q16,1661,018
2019 Q46,444912
2019 Q36,653851
2019 Q26,823799
2019 Q16,985728
2018 Q47,181683
2018 Q37,338610
2018 Q27,489559
2018 Q17,669553
2017 Q47,853498
2017 Q38,008423
2017 Q28,100379
2017 Q18,260340
2016 Q48,431331
2016 Q38,481266
2016 Q28,581243
2016 Q18,720232
2015 Q48,809199
2015 Q38,890182
2015 Q28,915163
2015 Q19,000149
2014 Q49,074134
2014 Q39,152117

Other Alfa Romeo models

See how many of every Alfa Romeo model are left

Common questions

How many Alfa Romeo 159 cars are left in the UK?

2,124 were licensed and 1,690 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, according to DfT and DVLA statistics for this generic-model group.

How many Alfa Romeo 159 cars are SORN?

1,690 are declared SORN — 1 in 2 of the 3,814 still on the DVLA record at the end of 2026 Q1.

Is the 159 disappearing?

Licensed numbers peaked at 9,152 in 2014 Q3 and stand at 2,124 in 2026 Q1, down 77%. That is down 61% in the five years since 2021 Q1. A further 1,690 are declared SORN — 1 in 2 of the 3,814 still on the DVLA record is off the road, laid up, part-restored or waiting to be sold.

What is the Alfa Romeo 159 MOT pass rate?

In 2024, 56.2% of 2,991 Alfa Romeo 159 MOTs passed first time — below the 71.2% UK average.

What does the 159 fail its MOT on?

The most common initial failure categories in 2024 are brake performance (13.5% of tests), exhaust emissions (9.2% of tests), springs (7.6% of tests).

Does this say whether one 159 is a good buy?

No. These are population figures for the model group. Enter that vehicle's registration for its own free MOT, tax and mileage record.

Source and limitations

Source: Department for Transport and DVLA, df_VEH0120_UK. Released 2026-07-15 under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

DVLA make and model fields are administrative data and can contain omissions or inconsistencies. These statistics describe model groups, not an individual registration.

Confidential cells marked [c] represent between 1 and 4 vehicles and are treated as zero in aggregates, so totals can be slightly understated.