How many Smart Roadster cars are left?
At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 1,826 licensed and 2,237 SORN vehicles in the UK within the Smart Roadster generic-model group.
Looking at a Roadster?
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 Roadster is off the road? A free SORN check shows whether it is currently SORN, taxed or untaxed.
Is the Roadster disappearing?
Licensed numbers peaked at 4,965 in 2014 Q3 and stand at 1,826 in 2026 Q1, down 63%. That is down 34% in the five years since 2021 Q1. A further 2,237 are declared SORN — 1 in 2 of the 4,063 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 Smart Roadster generic-model group as petrol.
Before you buy
- Ask why it was off the road — Of the 4,063 Roadster vehicles still on the DVLA record, 1 in 2 is SORN (2,237 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 63% from the 2014 Q3 peak of 4,965. Fewer cars on the road usually means fewer donor parts and fewer specialists.
- Check the actual Roadster — 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.
| Quarter | Licensed | SORN |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Q1 | 1,826 | 2,237 |
| 2025 Q4 | 1,898 | 2,172 |
| 2025 Q3 | 2,041 | 2,045 |
| 2025 Q2 | 2,087 | 2,015 |
| 2025 Q1 | 1,983 | 2,134 |
| 2024 Q4 | 2,015 | 2,127 |
| 2024 Q3 | 2,185 | 2,021 |
| 2024 Q2 | 2,253 | 1,986 |
| 2024 Q1 | 2,229 | 2,014 |
| 2023 Q4 | 2,270 | 2,038 |
| 2023 Q3 | 2,463 | 1,868 |
| 2023 Q2 | 2,530 | 1,808 |
| 2023 Q1 | 2,464 | 1,868 |
| 2022 Q4 | 2,510 | 1,891 |
| 2022 Q3 | 2,698 | 1,735 |
| 2022 Q2 | 2,711 | 1,720 |
| 2022 Q1 | 2,620 | 1,793 |
| 2021 Q4 | 2,668 | 1,839 |
| 2021 Q3 | 2,855 | 1,683 |
| 2021 Q2 | 2,871 | 1,669 |
| 2021 Q1 | 2,786 | 1,748 |
| 2020 Q4 | 2,906 | 1,759 |
| 2020 Q3 | 3,088 | 1,601 |
| 2020 Q2 | 3,070 | 1,586 |
| 2020 Q1 | 3,065 | 1,646 |
| 2019 Q4 | 3,214 | 1,565 |
| 2019 Q3 | 3,385 | 1,412 |
| 2019 Q2 | 3,419 | 1,343 |
| 2019 Q1 | 3,385 | 1,391 |
| 2018 Q4 | 3,487 | 1,401 |
| 2018 Q3 | 3,659 | 1,247 |
| 2018 Q2 | 3,703 | 1,201 |
| 2018 Q1 | 3,661 | 1,255 |
| 2017 Q4 | 3,755 | 1,269 |
| 2017 Q3 | 3,946 | 1,109 |
| 2017 Q2 | 3,973 | 1,093 |
| 2017 Q1 | 3,952 | 1,099 |
| 2016 Q4 | 4,043 | 1,117 |
| 2016 Q3 | 4,218 | 938 |
| 2016 Q2 | 4,278 | 883 |
| 2016 Q1 | 4,273 | 930 |
| 2015 Q4 | 4,391 | 877 |
| 2015 Q3 | 4,549 | 716 |
| 2015 Q2 | 4,595 | 675 |
| 2015 Q1 | 4,551 | 698 |
| 2014 Q4 | 4,699 | 660 |
| 2014 Q3 | 4,965 | 508 |
Other Smart models
- Fortwo — 52,846 licensed. MOT pass rate
- Forfour — 23,700 licensed. MOT pass rate
- City — 3,440 licensed
- 1 PRO — 1,208 licensed
- 1 Premium — 1,107 licensed
- 1 Brabus — 821 licensed
See how many of every Smart model are left
Common questions
How many Smart Roadster cars are left in the UK?
1,826 were licensed and 2,237 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, according to DfT and DVLA statistics for this generic-model group.
How many Smart Roadster cars are SORN?
2,237 are declared SORN — 1 in 2 of the 4,063 still on the DVLA record at the end of 2026 Q1.
Is the Roadster disappearing?
Licensed numbers peaked at 4,965 in 2014 Q3 and stand at 1,826 in 2026 Q1, down 63%. That is down 34% in the five years since 2021 Q1. A further 2,237 are declared SORN — 1 in 2 of the 4,063 still on the DVLA record is off the road, laid up, part-restored or waiting to be sold.
What fuel is the Roadster coded as?
DfT codes every vehicle in the Smart Roadster generic-model group as petrol.
Does this say whether one Roadster 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.