UK vehicle statistics / LML
How many LML cars are left?
At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 1,278 licensed and 2,345 SORN LML vehicles in the UK, across 1 published model group. That means 1 in 2 surviving LML is currently off the road.
Looking at a LML?
Population figures describe a model group, not the car in front of you.
Check its registration free for the official tax, MOT and mileage record. Before buying, the optional £9.99 full history check adds outstanding-finance, stolen and insurance write-off checks.
Is the LML fleet shrinking?
Adding up every published LML model group: Licensed numbers peaked at 2,871 in 2017 Q2 and stand at 1,278 in 2026 Q1, down 55%. That is down 38% in the five years since 2021 Q1. A further 2,345 are declared SORN — 1 in 2 of the 3,623 still on the DVLA record is off the road, laid up, part-restored or waiting to be sold.
Before you buy
- Ask why it was off the road — Of the 3,623 LML vehicles still on the DVLA record, 1 in 2 is SORN (2,345 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 55% from the 2017 Q2 peak of 2,871. Fewer cars on the road usually means fewer donor parts and fewer specialists.
- Check the actual LML — These figures describe the model group. Enter the registration for that vehicle's free MOT, tax and mileage record before you pay a deposit.
Rarest LML models
The published LML model groups with the smallest surviving populations.
- Star — 1,278 licensed, 2,345 SORN
Every LML model
| Model | Licensed | SORN |
|---|---|---|
| Star | 1,278 | 2,345 |
How to read these numbers
Licensed means taxed and legal to use on the road at the end of the quarter. SORN means the keeper has declared it off the road — it still exists, but it is not in use. A model group's total is the best available proxy for how many survive, and a shrinking one means fewer donor cars, fewer specialists and slower parts supply.
Common questions
How many LML cars are left in the UK?
1,278 LML vehicles were licensed and 2,345 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, across 1 published model group, according to DfT and DVLA statistics.
Which LML is rarest?
Of the published LML model groups, the Star has the smallest surviving population at 1,278 licensed and 2,345 SORN.
Is the LML fleet shrinking?
Licensed numbers peaked at 2,871 in 2017 Q2 and stand at 1,278 in 2026 Q1, down 55%. That is down 38% in the five years since 2021 Q1. A further 2,345 are declared SORN — 1 in 2 of the 3,623 still on the DVLA record is off the road, laid up, part-restored or waiting to be sold.
Does a LML population figure describe the car I am looking at?
No. It describes the model group. Enter the registration for that car's 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.