UK vehicle statistics / JCB

How many JCB 527 cars are left?

At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 147 licensed and 25 SORN vehicles in the UK within the JCB 527 generic-model group.

Looking at a 527?

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

Is the 527 disappearing?

Licensed numbers peaked at 204 in 2022 Q2 and stand at 147 in 2026 Q1, down 28%. That is down 26% in the five years since 2021 Q1. A further 25 are declared SORN — 1 in 7 of the 172 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 527 generic-model group as diesel.

Before you buy

  • Budget for a shrinking fleet — Licensed numbers are down 28% from the 2022 Q2 peak of 204. Fewer cars on the road usually means fewer donor parts and fewer specialists.
  • Check the actual 527 — 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 Q114725
2025 Q415123
2025 Q314823
2025 Q215121
2025 Q116219
2024 Q416817
2024 Q317517
2024 Q217618
2024 Q117919
2023 Q418118
2023 Q318517
2023 Q219114
2023 Q119013
2022 Q419113
2022 Q319412
2022 Q220410
2022 Q120410
2021 Q42009
2021 Q320410
2021 Q22029
2021 Q119810
2020 Q41859
2020 Q31777
2020 Q21725
2020 Q11786
2019 Q41726
2019 Q31656
2019 Q21616
2019 Q11565
2018 Q41535
2018 Q31485
2018 Q21473
2018 Q11373
2017 Q41252
2017 Q31102
2017 Q21032
2017 Q1934
2016 Q4841
2016 Q3761
2016 Q2681
2016 Q1550
2015 Q4500
2015 Q3500
2015 Q2430
2015 Q1340
2014 Q4260
2014 Q3220

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 527 cars are left in the UK?

147 were licensed and 25 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, according to DfT and DVLA statistics for this generic-model group.

How many JCB 527 cars are SORN?

25 are declared SORN — 1 in 7 of the 172 still on the DVLA record at the end of 2026 Q1.

Is the 527 disappearing?

Licensed numbers peaked at 204 in 2022 Q2 and stand at 147 in 2026 Q1, down 28%. That is down 26% in the five years since 2021 Q1. A further 25 are declared SORN — 1 in 7 of the 172 still on the DVLA record is off the road, laid up, part-restored or waiting to be sold.

What fuel is the 527 coded as?

DfT codes every vehicle in the JCB 527 generic-model group as diesel.

Does this say whether one 527 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.