Essential information for end of life vehicle dismantling, depollution and recycling

September 25, 2026

More Than Four Million UK Cars Now on SORN as Off-Road Total Rises 6.3%

More than four million cars were registered as SORN in the UK in Q1 2026, up 6.3% year on year. While not all will become ELVs, the rise points to a growing pool of inactive vehicles that could eventually enter salvage and recycling channels, providing opportunities for parts reuse and material recovery.

Grey car parked on a private driveway, representing vehicles registered as SORN in the UK. — Image credit: Envato Elements

More than four million cars were registered as being kept off the road in the UK during the first quarter of 2026, according to Department for Transport and DVLA data, raising questions over how many inactive vehicles could ultimately enter the salvage and vehicle recycling sector.

Analysis of the Department for Transport’s vehicle licensing statistics shows that 4,067,024 cars were recorded as SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) in Q1 2026, compared with 3,825,435 during the same period in 2025.

That represents a year-on-year increase of 6.3%. The figures come from the DfT’s VEH0101 dataset, which records vehicles by licence status and body type using information held on the DVLA vehicle database.

A SORN is required when a registered vehicle is being kept off the public road and is not taxed. Vehicles can subsequently be taxed and returned to the road, meaning the figures should not be interpreted as four million vehicles awaiting scrapping or dismantling.

However, the size and growth of the SORN population is relevant to the vehicle recycling sector. Within that total will be cars undergoing restoration, vehicles stored temporarily and cars that owners intend to return to use, but there will also be damaged, mechanically uneconomic or unwanted vehicles that may eventually enter the salvage or end-of-life vehicle stream.

National Scrap Car, which analysed the DfT figures, said its own customer data also indicates a sizeable difference between vehicles sold for salvage and those sold purely for scrap.

According to the company, vehicles sold for salvage over the last three years achieved an average value of £533, compared with £171 for vehicles scrapped, a difference of more than £360.

The figures highlight the potential value tied up in vehicles that may no longer be viable for their owners to repair but still contain reusable components.

National Scrap Car’s Saul Turner said damaged or non-running vehicles should not automatically be regarded as having only scrap value, with recoverable components potentially increasing their value through salvage.

For ATFs, the figures also reflect the continuing importance of identifying reusable parts before vehicles move further down the recycling process. Vehicles left standing for extended periods can deteriorate, potentially reducing the quantity and condition of components available for reuse.

The latest DfT vehicle licensing release, published on 23 September 2026, confirms that its statistics are derived from DVLA administrative records and describes the database as virtually complete for registered, licensed and SORN vehicles. The Department also confirmed that 42.9 million vehicles were licensed in the UK at the end of June 2026, up 1.5% year on year.

The detailed VEH0101 table, which contains the SORN data, was also updated as part of the latest quarterly release.