How many on the road

FordEscort GL

152 Ford Escort GL cars are licensed in the UK, and another 227 are declared off the road (SORN). Licensed numbers peaked at 94,551 at or before the end of 1994, when these records start; less than 1% of that peak is still licensed. Over the last five years the number on the register has risen by 15%. One of 213 versions DVLA records under the Ford Escort.

Licensed
152taxed for the road
SORN
227declared off the road
On the register
379licensed + SORN
1-year change
+2.7%vs June 2025
5-year change
+15.2%on the register
Peak licensed
94,5511994 or earlier
United Kingdom · DfT VEH0120 · 1994 to 2026 Q2

Cars on the register over time

LicensedSORN (stacked on top)

Yearly figures to 2007, then every quarter. Figures cover Great Britain until June 2014 and the whole UK from September 2014, marked on the chart, when Northern Ireland records were added. SORN was only recorded from the end of 2007, so earlier totals show licensed cars only. Small dips at each year end are usually seasonal: some owners SORN their cars for winter.

United Kingdom · DfT VEH0124 · end of 2025

Which years have survived

Cars still registered at the end of 2025, by the year they were made.

LicensedSORN

Year of manufacture, or year of first registration where DVLA has no manufacture year.

United Kingdom · DfT VEH0160 + VEH0124 · 2001 onwards

New each year, and how many are still here

First registeredStill registered at end of 2025

2026* covers January to June only. First registrations cover Great Britain up to mid-2014 and the whole UK after. Imports and cars first registered elsewhere can push a year above 100%. Years with fewer than 20 new registrations are left out.

United Kingdom · VEH0120 · 2026 Q2

Fuel type

LicensedSORN
  • Petrol370
  • Diesel9

As recorded by DVLA, including some likely recording errors.

United Kingdom · VEH0220 · end of 2025

Engine size

LicensedSORN
  • 1101cc to 1200cc5
  • 1201cc to 1300cc158
  • 1301cc to 1400cc40
  • 1501cc to 1600cc100
  • 1601cc to 1700cc31
  • 1901cc to 2000cc18
  • 2001cc to 2100cc12
  • 6 other bands, each under 1%9

Small bands are grouped because most are DVLA recording errors, such as cars listed with engines under 100cc.

United Kingdom · VEH0120 · 2026 Q2

All Ford Escort versions

DVLA's detailed model names. Choose one to see its own figures.

VersionLicensedSORNOn the register, 2008–2025
Escort RS Turbo9913,553
Escort1,5881,933
Escort L9151,803
Escort 1.6I Cabriolet6281,985
Escort XR3 INJ5351,779
Escort RS 2000 also “Escort RS2000”7381,203
Escort Ghia5681,048
Escort LX2121,370
Escort Finesse1981,099
Escort RS Cosworth384868

UK figures to the end of June 2026, and to the end of 2025 for year built and engine size. Updated 7 November 2026.

Figures cover the United Kingdom. Quarterly history before 2014 Q3 covers Great Britain only, because the UK figures start then; Northern Ireland adds a few percent from that point. SORN (off-road) counts are only available from the end of 2007. Older vehicles often have no model recorded by DVLA, so counts for classic models are likely to be low.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: Department for Transport and DVLA, Vehicle licensing statistics.