UK vehicle statistics / Volvo

How many Volvo 480 cars are left?

At the end of 2026 Q1, DfT recorded 121 licensed and 623 SORN vehicles in the UK within the Volvo 480 generic-model group.

Looking at a 480?

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

Is the 480 disappearing?

Licensed numbers peaked at 515 in 2014 Q3 and stand at 121 in 2026 Q1, down 77%. That is down 35% 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.

Before you buy

  • Budget for a shrinking fleet — Licensed numbers are down 77% from the 2014 Q3 peak of 515. Fewer cars on the road usually means fewer donor parts and fewer specialists.
  • Check the actual 480 — 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 Q1121623
2025 Q4118629
2025 Q3136615
2025 Q2138618
2025 Q1127630
2024 Q4132627
2024 Q3163619
2024 Q2173618
2024 Q1165624
2023 Q4157644
2023 Q3176627
2023 Q2177635
2023 Q1164641
2022 Q4160661
2022 Q3179640
2022 Q2192625
2022 Q1181633
2021 Q4171658
2021 Q3204633
2021 Q2210626
2021 Q1186649
2020 Q4196652
2020 Q3214635
2020 Q2210642
2020 Q1210653
2019 Q4219649
2019 Q3246635
2019 Q2252635
2019 Q1244647
2018 Q4253655
2018 Q3275634
2018 Q2293626
2018 Q1284641
2017 Q4293641
2017 Q3319621
2017 Q2333617
2017 Q1334598
2016 Q4355600
2016 Q3378579
2016 Q2403578
2016 Q1396606
2015 Q4408612
2015 Q3436587
2015 Q2453574
2015 Q1462583
2014 Q4478592
2014 Q3515575

Other Volvo models

See how many of every Volvo model are left

Common questions

How many Volvo 480 cars are left in the UK?

121 were licensed and 623 were SORN at the end of 2026 Q1, according to DfT and DVLA statistics for this generic-model group.

How many Volvo 480 cars are SORN?

623 are declared SORN, alongside 121 licensed, at the end of 2026 Q1.

Is the 480 disappearing?

Licensed numbers peaked at 515 in 2014 Q3 and stand at 121 in 2026 Q1, down 77%. That is down 35% in the five years since 2021 Q1.

Does this say whether one 480 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.