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New statistics published by the Department of Transport reveal the top selling cars of yesteryear which are now most likely to be up on bricks in the driveway, in pieces as a garage ‘project’, or perhaps just quietly rusting in the long grass of the front garden.
A closer look at the statistics of the UK’s National Car Parks shows that many models which were once the nation’s favourites are now among the 1.94 million cars registered as being off the road with the owner making a SORN declaration to the DVLA.
What does SORN mean?
SORN stands for Statutory Off Road Notification. When a vehicle owner makes a SORN it means they have registered the vehicle as being off-road with the DVLA, that is, the vehicle is not in use or parked on a public road. Declaring a vehicle as off-road also means that you won’t have to buy road tax for the vehicle and is ideal if you are keeping the car in a garage or driveway either because you simply can’t bear to part with it or you hope to one day bring it back to its former glory.
Once the vehicle returns to the road, is scrapped, sold, or taken abroad, the SORN no longer applies and it is no longer considered as off-road.
Down but not out
The Department of Transport statistics show that significant numbers of some of the most popular cars of previous generations are still in existence, but are no longer seen on the roads.
We analysed the data for all car models with at least 10,000 vehicles still registered in the UK, to find out which have the greatest proportion off road. While the Ford Sierra was one of the most popular cars of the 1980s (with over 1 million units sold) - 75% of the Sierra models remaining in the UK today are no longer being used on the road. Our study also found that two cars which are widely regarded as having changed everyday motoring now find themselves almost as widely neglected - 67% of Austin Minis and 63% of Peugeot 205s are registered as off road. 61% of Vauxhall Cavaliers are now off road, while the Rover version of the Mini completes the top five with 58% no longer in daily usage.
Perhaps it is our collective love for these models that stops them heading for the scrapyard.
Top car models with the highest
proportion registered as off the road
Make & Model
Total in the UK
Number Registered as SORN
% of Total Registered as SORN
Ford Sierra
13,651
10,277
75%
Austin Mini
23,166
15,416
67%
Peugeot 205
17,135
10,767
63%
Vauxhall Cavalier
10,449
6,357
61%
Rover Mini
28,813
16,810
58%
Ford Escort
58,085
33,651
58%
MG Midget
14,216
7,096
50%
MG MGF
21,655
10,227
47%
Mercedes 300
12,876
6,061
47%
MG MGB
36,046
16,512
46%
Mercedes 200
14,060
6,368
45%
Saab 900
10,273
4,287
42%
Table includes only models with more than 10,000 vehicles in the UK
Top 10 car models with the greatest number
registered off road
Make & Model
Number Registered as SORN
Total in the UK
% of Total Registered as SORN
Volkswagen Golf
60,875
1,102,638
6%
Ford Fiesta
57,612
1,523,111
4%
Vauxhall Corsa
53,873
1,244,538
4%
BMW 3 Series
50,447
705,022
7%
Vauxhall Astra
48,467
1,121,893
4%
Ford Focus
43,129
1,508,036
3%
Renault Clio
38,041
613,193
6%
Ford Escort
33,651
58,085
58%
Peugeot 206
32,769
405,686
8%
Ford Mondeo
32,715
477,127
7%
Sometimes all that’s keeping these cars from daily use are some new tyres and a valid MOT certificate. Kwik Fit offers fixed price servicing for most makes of car including many models now considered classics. If you have a vehicle that’s registered as off road, contact your local centre to see how much it would cost to get it back to being road legal and running well – it may be a lot less than you imagine and could be more cost effective than buying a new car.
Kwik Fit analysis of car statistics tables produced by the Department for Transport and published 14 April 2016 covering cars licensed and those registered with a SORN.
Driving in heavy rain can be tricky and bring extra risks. Check out our guide for top tips to stay safe and avoid breakdowns if travelling in wet conditions.
Is the UK on the verge of ‘the coldest winter for 50 years?’ Even if El Niño doesn't hit the UK this winter, reduce the risk of a winter breakdown by making sure your car battery is winter-ready.
Your tyre size can be found on the sidewall of your current tyre and is a sequence of numbers and letters. The most common tyre size in the UK is 205/55R16 but there are many variations so it’s important to check your existing tyre first before searching for tyres.
Tip: Take a photo of your existing tyre sidewall to make it easier to identify your tyre size using the guide below.
The first three digits. This displays the width of the tyre in millimetres. A tyre marked 225 will measure 225mm across the tread from sidewall to sidewall.
Aspect Ratio
The fourth and fifth digits of the tyre code that immediately follow the tyre width. The aspect ratio or profile height of the tyre sidewall is expressed as a percentage of the tyre width. So an aspect ratio of 55 for example means that the profile height of the tyre is 55% of its width.
Rim Diameter
The next two digits represent the size of the wheel rim that the tyre can be fitted to. It is also the diameter of the tyre from bead to bead. So a tyre marked 16 will fit on a 16-inch wheel rim.
Speed Rating
The speed rating of a tyre is represented by a letter of the alphabet at the end of the tyre size code and indicates the maximum speed capability of the tyre. Tyres receive a speed rating based on a series of tests which measure the tyres capability to handle a set speed for a prolonged period of time.
Select your tyre speed rating to find out the maximum speed your tyres can maintain.
If you are unsure what speed rating you need, be sure to check your vehicle handbook. Choosing a lower speed rating than that recommended by your vehicle manufacturer could potentially invalidate your insurance.
Load Rating
The load index provides information on the maximum weight capability for the tyre. The load index is a numerical code that can be located just after the tyre size marking and before the speed rating.
Select your load index to find out the maximum load capability for your tyres.
Although not illegal, it is not advisable to have tyres with a lower speed rating or load index than the manufacturer recommended tyre specification for your vehicle, or to have a combination of different tyre construction types. Consult your vehicle handbook to confirm your vehicle’s tyre speed rating and load index as well as any additional requirements.
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We endeavour to ensure we are displaying the correct tyres for your vehicle. However, we recommend all customers check the tyre size printed on the side wall of their tyres before proceeding with a tyre purchase as occasionally discrepancies do occur. By selecting the tyre sizes above and clicking 'Continue', you are indicating that you have checked your tyre sizes.
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