UK vehicle statistics / JCB

How many JCB 526 cars are left?

At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 545 licensed and 34 SORN vehicles in the UK within the JCB 526 generic-model group.

Looking at a 526?

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

Is the 526 disappearing?

Licensed numbers peaked at 733 in 2020 Q1 and stand at 545 in 2026 Q1, down 26%. That is down 21% in the five years since 2021 Q1. A further 34 are declared SORN — 1 in 17 of the 579 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 JCB 526 generic-model group as diesel.

Before you buy

  • Budget for a shrinking fleet — Licensed numbers are down 26% from the 2020 Q1 peak of 733. Fewer cars on the road usually means fewer donor parts and fewer specialists.
  • Check the actual 526 — 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 Q154534
2025 Q455533
2025 Q356434
2025 Q257433
2025 Q158429
2024 Q458826
2024 Q359927
2024 Q260827
2024 Q162425
2023 Q462723
2023 Q363124
2023 Q264023
2023 Q163922
2022 Q464421
2022 Q366621
2022 Q267022
2022 Q166921
2021 Q468221
2021 Q368319
2021 Q269020
2021 Q169319
2020 Q470017
2020 Q370817
2020 Q272917
2020 Q173316
2019 Q471817
2019 Q368816
2019 Q267615
2019 Q163214
2018 Q460512
2018 Q356311
2018 Q253810
2018 Q15099
2017 Q44717
2017 Q34306
2017 Q23984
2017 Q13662
2016 Q43042
2016 Q32691
2016 Q22461
2016 Q12211
2015 Q41841
2015 Q31501
2015 Q21251
2015 Q11071
2014 Q4801
2014 Q3601

Other JCB models

  • 540 — 6,880 licensed
  • 535 — 3,283 licensed
  • 531 — 2,003 licensed
  • 3CX — 2,418 licensed
  • 525 — 1,820 licensed
  • Tm320 — 2,380 licensed

See how many of every JCB model are left

Common questions

How many JCB 526 cars are left in the UK?

545 were licensed and 34 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, according to DfT and DVLA statistics for this generic-model group.

How many JCB 526 cars are SORN?

34 are declared SORN — 1 in 17 of the 579 still on the DVLA record at the end of 2026 Q1.

Is the 526 disappearing?

Licensed numbers peaked at 733 in 2020 Q1 and stand at 545 in 2026 Q1, down 26%. That is down 21% in the five years since 2021 Q1. A further 34 are declared SORN — 1 in 17 of the 579 still on the DVLA record is off the road, laid up, part-restored or waiting to be sold.

What fuel is the 526 coded as?

DfT codes every vehicle in the JCB 526 generic-model group as diesel.

Does this say whether one 526 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.