UK vehicle statistics / JCB

How many JCB 531 vans are left?

At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 2,003 licensed and 1,706 SORN vehicles in the UK within the JCB 531 generic-model group.

Looking at a 531?

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

Is the 531 disappearing?

Licensed numbers peaked at 2,022 in 2022 Q3 and stand at 2,003 in 2026 Q1, down 1%. That is up 19% in the five years since 2021 Q1. A further 1,706 are declared SORN — 1 in 2 of the 3,709 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.

Before you buy

  • Ask why it was off the road — Of the 3,709 531 vehicles still on the DVLA record, 1 in 2 is SORN (1,706 at 2026 Q1). A car that has been laid up needs a closer look at brakes, tyres and the MOT history.
  • Check the actual 531 — 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 Q12,0031,706
2025 Q42,0141,657
2025 Q32,0101,612
2025 Q21,9451,579
2025 Q11,9421,564
2024 Q41,9391,567
2024 Q31,9141,590
2024 Q21,9161,621
2024 Q11,9051,604
2023 Q41,9021,583
2023 Q31,9081,510
2023 Q21,9401,457
2023 Q11,9451,406
2022 Q41,9801,357
2022 Q32,0221,295
2022 Q21,9941,242
2022 Q11,9591,164
2021 Q41,9861,087
2021 Q31,9311,033
2021 Q21,812981
2021 Q11,680980
2020 Q41,617943
2020 Q31,597940
2020 Q21,620908
2020 Q11,687858
2019 Q41,703803
2019 Q31,670798
2019 Q21,608756
2019 Q11,565710
2018 Q41,519654
2018 Q31,500587
2018 Q21,463551
2018 Q11,354494
2017 Q41,306455
2017 Q31,250428
2017 Q21,127403
2017 Q11,062351
2016 Q41,044310
2016 Q31,048259
2016 Q2928257
2016 Q1854240
2015 Q4822207
2015 Q3797131
2015 Q2696112
2015 Q155264
2014 Q445430
2014 Q336020

Other JCB models

  • 540 — 6,880 licensed
  • 535 — 3,283 licensed
  • 3CX — 2,418 licensed
  • 525 — 1,820 licensed
  • Tm320 — 2,380 licensed
  • 542 — 2,415 licensed

See how many of every JCB model are left

Common questions

How many JCB 531 vans are left in the UK?

2,003 were licensed and 1,706 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, according to DfT and DVLA statistics for this generic-model group.

How many JCB 531 vans are SORN?

1,706 are declared SORN — 1 in 2 of the 3,709 still on the DVLA record at the end of 2026 Q1.

Is the 531 disappearing?

Licensed numbers peaked at 2,022 in 2022 Q3 and stand at 2,003 in 2026 Q1, down 1%. That is up 19% in the five years since 2021 Q1. A further 1,706 are declared SORN — 1 in 2 of the 3,709 still on the DVLA record is off the road, laid up, part-restored or waiting to be sold.

Does this say whether one 531 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.