UK vehicle statistics / MGB
How many MGB cars are left?
At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 819 licensed and 371 SORN MGB vehicles in the UK, across 4 published model groups. That means 1 in 3 surviving MGB is currently off the road.
Looking at a MGB?
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 MGB fleet shrinking?
Adding up every published MGB model group: Licensed numbers peaked at 914 in 2025 Q2 and stand at 819 in 2026 Q1, down 10%. A further 371 are declared SORN — 1 in 3 of the 1,190 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 1,190 MGB vehicles still on the DVLA record, 1 in 3 is SORN (371 at 2026 Q1). A car that has been laid up needs a closer look at brakes, tyres and the MOT history.
- Check the actual MGB — 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 MGB models
The published MGB model groups with the smallest surviving populations.
- A9 — 126 licensed, 58 SORN
- ATX — 192 licensed, 78 SORN
- Fantasy — 202 licensed, 100 SORN
- R8 — 299 licensed, 135 SORN
Every MGB model
| Model | Licensed | SORN |
|---|---|---|
| R8 | 299 | 135 |
| Fantasy | 202 | 100 |
| ATX | 192 | 78 |
| A9 | 126 | 58 |
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 MGB cars are left in the UK?
819 MGB vehicles were licensed and 371 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, across 4 published model groups, according to DfT and DVLA statistics.
Which MGB is rarest?
Of the published MGB model groups, the A9 has the smallest surviving population at 126 licensed and 58 SORN.
Is the MGB fleet shrinking?
Licensed numbers peaked at 914 in 2025 Q2 and stand at 819 in 2026 Q1, down 10%. A further 371 are declared SORN — 1 in 3 of the 1,190 still on the DVLA record is off the road, laid up, part-restored or waiting to be sold.
Does a MGB 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.