UK vehicle statistics / CPI

How many CPI SM 50 motorcycles are left?

At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 12 licensed and 229 SORN vehicles in the UK within the CPI SM 50 generic-model group.

Looking at a SM 50?

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 SM 50 is off the road? A free SORN check shows whether it is currently SORN, taxed or untaxed.

Is the SM 50 disappearing?

Licensed numbers peaked at 176 in 2014 Q3 and stand at 12 in 2026 Q1, down 93%. That is down 48% in the five years since 2021 Q1.

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.

Recent quarterly trend

QuarterLicensedSORN
2026 Q112229
2025 Q412228
2025 Q311229
2025 Q212227
2025 Q117221
2024 Q416228
2024 Q318240
2024 Q221250
2024 Q120250
2023 Q416252
2023 Q315255
2023 Q217256

Other CPI models

See how many of every CPI model are left

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.