Collection

Vehicles statistics

Information and statistics on licensed, unlicensed vehicles and roadworthiness testing.

Published 7 January 2013
Last updated 12 April 2018 — see all updates

• From: Department for Transport

Department for Transport produces statistics relating to vehicles within the areas of:

• vehicle licensing
• vehicle excise duty evasion
• vehicle roadworthiness testing

See this index for a complete list of related data tables.

Vehicle licensing

Statistics on licensed road vehicles and new vehicle registrations derived from data held by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), which administers vehicle registration and licensing records in the UK.

Around 80 tables, updated annually in April, with an accompanying statistical release. A subset of key tables are also updated quarterly, with shorter statistical release summaries in June, September and December. Table VEH0150 is updated monthly, with the latest headline new registration figures.

Vehicle excise duty evasion

Statistics on the numbers of unlicensed vehicles ‘in traffic’ and ‘in stock’, as well as their characteristics and the revenues lost through vehicle excise duty evasion. Based on a roadside survey, which since 2011 has been carried out every 2 years.

Vehicle roadworthiness testing

Statistics relating to the roadworthiness testing system (including MOT tests), mainly derived from data held by the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), which administers the testing system in Great Britain. Mainly published as summary tables in Transport Statistics Great Britain. Also survey based estimates of MOT non-compliance published in 2009.

Technical information

Guide to vehicles statistics

Related information

• Road use statistics
• Driving tests and instructors statistics

New registrations of ultra low emission vehicles form part of DFT’s Single Departmental Plan.

User feedback

We continuously review the content of these statistics to ensure they are meeting users’ needs. We continue to welcome any feedback on these statistics.

Contact us

Vehicles statistics

Email vehicles.stats@dft.gov.uk

Public enquiries 020 7944 3077

National statistics

All of the statistics published are National Statistics. Vehicles statistics were assessed by the UK Statistics Authority and confirmed as National Statistics in April 2012.

Statistics relating to roadworthiness tests are official statistics. The department’s view is that all statistics which are not designated as National Statistics are robust and have been produced to a suitable standard. They are provided to give extra context.

Pre-release access list

The post holders given access to these statistics up to 24 hours prior to release are available in the vehicles series pre-release access list.

Published in 2018

1. Vehicle licensing statistics: 2017

   • 12 April 2018
   • National Statistics

Published in 2017

1. Vehicle licensing statistics: July to September 2017

   • 14 December 2017
   • National Statistics

2. Vehicle Excise Duty evasion statistics: 2017

   • 16 November 2017
   • National Statistics

3. Vehicle licensing statistics: April to June 2017

   • 14 September 2017
   • National Statistics

4. Vehicle licensing statistics: January to March 2017

   • 15 June 2017
   • National Statistics

5. Vehicle licensing statistics: 2016

   • 13 April 2017
   • National Statistics

Published in 2016

1. Vehicle licensing statistics: July to September 2016

   • 8 December 2016
   • National Statistics

2. Vehicle licensing statistics: April to June 2016

   • 8 September 2016
   • National Statistics

3. Vehicle licensing statistics: January to March 2016

   • 9 June 2016
   • National Statistics

4. Vehicle licensing statistics: 2015

   • 3 November 2016
   • National Statistics

Published in 2015

1. Vehicle licensing statistics: July to September 2015

   • 10 December 2015
   • National Statistics

2. Vehicle excise duty evasion statistics: 2015

   • 26 November 2015
   • National Statistics

3. Vehicle licensing statistics: April to June 2015

   • 10 September 2015
   • National Statistics

4. Vehicle licensing statistics: January to March 2015

   • 11 June 2015
   • National Statistics

5. Vehicle licensing statistics: 2014

   • 9 April 2015
   • National Statistics

Published in 2014

1. Vehicle licensing statistics: July to September 2014

   • 11 December 2014
   • National Statistics

2. Vehicle licensing statistics: April to June 2014

   • 11 September 2014
   • National Statistics

3. Vehicle licensing statistics: January to March 2014

   • 12 June 2014
   • National Statistics

4. Vehicle licensing statistics: 2013

   • 10 April 2014
   • National Statistics

Published in 2013

1. Vehicle licensing statistics: July to September 2013

   • 12 December 2013
   • National Statistics

2. Vehicle excise duty evasion estimates: 2013

   • 5 December 2013
   • National Statistics

3. Vehicle licensing statistics: April to June 2013

   • 12 September 2013
   • National Statistics

4. New car carbon dioxide emissions

   • 15 July 2015
   • Transparency data

5. Vehicle licensing statistics: January to March 2013

   • 13 June 2013
   • National Statistics

6. Experimental Statistics: Analysis of vehicle odometer readings recorded at MOT tests

   • 13 June 2013
   • Official Statistics

7. Vehicle licensing statistics: 2012

   • 11 April 2013
   • National Statistics

Published in 2012

1. Vehicle licensing statistics: July to September 2012

   • 13 December 2012
   • National Statistics

2. Vehicle licensing statistics: April to June 2012

   • 13 September 2012
   • National Statistics

3. Vehicle licensing statistics: 2011

   • 12 April 2012
   • National Statistics

Published in 2011

1. Vehicle Excise Duty evasion estimates: 2011

   • 15 December 2011
   • National Statistics

Published in 2009

1. Vehicle MOT non-compliance statistics 2007 and 2008

   • 3 December 2009
   • Official Statistics

Data tables

1. Vehicles and drivers tables index

   • 12 April 2018
   • Statistical data set

2. Unlicensed vehicles in traffic (VED01)

   • 16 November 2017
   • Statistical data set

3. Unlicensed vehicles in active stock (VED02)

   • 16 November 2017
   • Statistical data set

4. Lost revenue from unlicensed vehicles (VED03)

   • 16 November 2017
   • Statistical data set

5. Observed unlicensed vehicles (VED04)

   • 16 November 2017
   • Statistical data set

6. Tax value and mileage data (VED05)

   • 16 November 2017
   • Statistical data set

7. All vehicles (VEH01)

   • 10 May 2018
   • Statistical data set

8. Cars (VEH02)

   • 12 April 2018
   • Statistical data set

9. Motorcycles (VEH03)

   • 12 April 2018
   • Statistical data set

10. Light Goods Vehicles (VEH04)

    • 12 April 2018
    • Statistical data set

11. Heavy Goods Vehicles (VEH05)

    • 12 April 2018
    • Statistical data set

12. Buses and coaches (VEH06)

    • 12 April 2018
    • Statistical data set

13. Experimental statistics - MOT tests (VEH09)

    • 13 June 2013
    • Statistical data set

Published 7 January 2013
Last updated 12 April 2018 + show all updates

1. 12 April 2018 New release published.
2. 14 December 2017 New release published.
3. 16 November 2017 New release published.
4. 14 September 2017 New release published.
5. 13 April 2017 New release published and text updated.
6. 8 December 2016 New release published.
7. 3 November 2016 Note about Table 0209 added to vehicle licensing section.
8. 8 September 2016 New release published.
9. 9 June 2016 New release published.
10. 14 April 2016 New release published and update to page.
11. 7 January 2013 First published.