UK vehicle statistics / BMW

How many BMW CI cars are left?

At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 138 licensed and 237 SORN vehicles in the UK within the BMW CI generic-model group.

Looking at a CI?

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 CI is off the road? A free SORN check shows whether it is currently SORN, taxed or untaxed.

Is the CI disappearing?

Licensed numbers peaked at 296 in 2014 Q3 and stand at 138 in 2026 Q1, down 53%. That is down 26% in the five years since 2021 Q1. A further 237 are declared SORN — 1 in 2 of the 375 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.

Fuel

DfT codes every vehicle in the BMW CI generic-model group as petrol.

Before you buy

  • Ask why it was off the road — Of the 375 CI vehicles still on the DVLA record, 1 in 2 is SORN (237 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 53% from the 2014 Q3 peak of 296. Fewer cars on the road usually means fewer donor parts and fewer specialists.
  • Check the actual CI — 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 Q1138237
2025 Q4140227
2025 Q3163204
2025 Q2158205
2025 Q1149212
2024 Q4137221
2024 Q3162202
2024 Q2161204
2024 Q1143216
2023 Q4148223
2023 Q3174202
2023 Q2173195
2023 Q1157202
2022 Q4159216
2022 Q3187194
2022 Q2187188
2022 Q1173200
2021 Q4165211
2021 Q3190196
2021 Q2198186
2021 Q1186190
2020 Q4197195
2020 Q3212179
2020 Q2206177
2020 Q1198195
2019 Q4212184
2019 Q3236157
2019 Q2234147
2019 Q1213165
2018 Q4220175
2018 Q3244150
2018 Q2240145
2018 Q1233147
2017 Q4241157
2017 Q3261136
2017 Q2269132
2017 Q1256122
2016 Q4277118
2016 Q3284106
2016 Q2274107
2016 Q1277114
2015 Q4277116
2015 Q3295103
2015 Q2293101
2015 Q1275103
2014 Q4276103
2014 Q329695

Other BMW models

See how many of every BMW model are left

Common questions

How many BMW CI cars are left in the UK?

138 were licensed and 237 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, according to DfT and DVLA statistics for this generic-model group.

How many BMW CI cars are SORN?

237 are declared SORN — 1 in 2 of the 375 still on the DVLA record at the end of 2026 Q1.

Is the CI disappearing?

Licensed numbers peaked at 296 in 2014 Q3 and stand at 138 in 2026 Q1, down 53%. That is down 26% in the five years since 2021 Q1. A further 237 are declared SORN — 1 in 2 of the 375 still on the DVLA record is off the road, laid up, part-restored or waiting to be sold.

What fuel is the CI coded as?

DfT codes every vehicle in the BMW CI generic-model group as petrol.

Does this say whether one CI 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.