UK vehicle statistics / SMC
How many SMC cars are left?
At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 171 licensed and 1,403 SORN SMC vehicles in the UK, across 3 published model groups.
Looking at a SMC?
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 SMC fleet shrinking?
Adding up every published SMC model group: Licensed numbers peaked at 879 in 2014 Q3 and stand at 171 in 2026 Q1, down 81%. That is down 64% in the five years since 2021 Q1.
Before you buy
- Budget for a shrinking fleet — Licensed numbers are down 81% from the 2014 Q3 peak of 879. Fewer cars on the road usually means fewer donor parts and fewer specialists.
- Check the actual SMC — 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 SMC models
The published SMC model groups with the smallest surviving populations.
Every SMC model
| Model | Licensed | SORN |
|---|---|---|
| Quadzilla | 73 | 1,055 |
| CG 500 | 94 | 217 |
| RAM 250e | 4 | 131 |
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 SMC cars are left in the UK?
171 SMC vehicles were licensed and 1,403 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, across 3 published model groups, according to DfT and DVLA statistics.
Which SMC is rarest?
Of the published SMC model groups, the RAM 250e has the smallest surviving population at 4 licensed and 131 SORN.
Is the SMC fleet shrinking?
Licensed numbers peaked at 879 in 2014 Q3 and stand at 171 in 2026 Q1, down 81%. That is down 64% in the five years since 2021 Q1.
Does a SMC 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.