UK vehicle statistics / TVR

How many TVR 290 cars are left?

At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 159 licensed and 431 SORN vehicles in the UK within the TVR 290 generic-model group.

Looking at a 290?

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 290 is off the road? A free SORN check shows whether it is currently SORN, taxed or untaxed.

Is the 290 disappearing?

Licensed numbers peaked at 354 in 2014 Q3 and stand at 159 in 2026 Q1, down 55%. That is down 19% in the five years since 2021 Q1.

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 TVR 290 generic-model group as petrol.

Before you buy

  • Budget for a shrinking fleet — Licensed numbers are down 55% from the 2014 Q3 peak of 354. Fewer cars on the road usually means fewer donor parts and fewer specialists.
  • Check the actual 290 — 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.

QuarterLicensedSORN
2026 Q1159431
2025 Q4163430
2025 Q3245349
2025 Q2248347
2025 Q1162433
2024 Q4157432
2024 Q3241352
2024 Q2248344
2024 Q1171378
2023 Q4170428
2023 Q3263341
2023 Q2265332
2023 Q1194366
2022 Q4189412
2022 Q3267336
2022 Q2274315
2022 Q1214358
2021 Q4212395
2021 Q3282324
2021 Q2273319
2021 Q1196369
2020 Q4199411
2020 Q3260343
2020 Q2236347
2020 Q1191409
2019 Q4209401
2019 Q3294320
2019 Q2298299
2019 Q1231324
2018 Q4226383
2018 Q3309309
2018 Q2313289
2018 Q1240326
2017 Q4241372
2017 Q3330282
2017 Q2336272
2017 Q1257308
2016 Q4251357
2016 Q3333273
2016 Q2332274
2016 Q1256333
2015 Q4261359
2015 Q3332275
2015 Q2336268
2015 Q1239314
2014 Q4241379
2014 Q3354264

Other TVR models

See how many of every TVR model are left

Common questions

How many TVR 290 cars are left in the UK?

159 were licensed and 431 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, according to DfT and DVLA statistics for this generic-model group.

How many TVR 290 cars are SORN?

431 are declared SORN, alongside 159 licensed, at the end of 2026 Q1.

Is the 290 disappearing?

Licensed numbers peaked at 354 in 2014 Q3 and stand at 159 in 2026 Q1, down 55%. That is down 19% in the five years since 2021 Q1.

What fuel is the 290 coded as?

DfT codes every vehicle in the TVR 290 generic-model group as petrol.

Does this say whether one 290 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.