UK vehicle statistics / Thwaites
How many Thwaites cars are left?
At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 921 licensed and 400 SORN Thwaites vehicles in the UK, across 3 published model groups. That means 1 in 3 surviving Thwaites is currently off the road.
Looking at a Thwaites?
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 Thwaites fleet shrinking?
Adding up every published Thwaites model group: 921 are licensed as of 2026 Q1 — the highest count in the published series, so the Thwaites range is still arriving on UK roads rather than leaving them. A further 400 are declared SORN — 1 in 3 of the 1,321 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 1,321 Thwaites vehicles still on the DVLA record, 1 in 3 is SORN (400 at 2026 Q1). A car that has been laid up needs a closer look at brakes, tyres and the MOT history.
- Check the actual Thwaites — 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 Thwaites models
The published Thwaites model groups with the smallest surviving populations.
- 6 Tonne F/T CAB Pshuttle — 87 licensed, 28 SORN
- 9tonne F/T CAB Hydro — 104 licensed, 13 SORN
- Mach — 730 licensed, 359 SORN
Every Thwaites model
| Model | Licensed | SORN |
|---|---|---|
| Mach | 730 | 359 |
| 9tonne F/T CAB Hydro | 104 | 13 |
| 6 Tonne F/T CAB Pshuttle | 87 | 28 |
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 Thwaites cars are left in the UK?
921 Thwaites vehicles were licensed and 400 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, across 3 published model groups, according to DfT and DVLA statistics.
Which Thwaites is rarest?
Of the published Thwaites model groups, the 6 Tonne F/T CAB Pshuttle has the smallest surviving population at 87 licensed and 28 SORN.
Is the Thwaites fleet shrinking?
921 are licensed as of 2026 Q1 — the highest count in the published series, so the Thwaites range is still arriving on UK roads rather than leaving them. A further 400 are declared SORN — 1 in 3 of the 1,321 still on the DVLA record is off the road, laid up, part-restored or waiting to be sold.
Does a Thwaites 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.