Car statistics

Daimler V8 statistics

How many Daimler V8s are still on the road in Great Britain, how many are declared off the road, how new registrations have changed and which fuels they use. Built from DVLA licensing records.

Last updated
Records analysed
1,547 V8 records (licensed and SORN)
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed in Great Britain 922 −5.1% on a year earlier
  • Declared SORN 625 Off the road, not taxed
  • Rank by number licensed No. 702 of 1,159 models we cover
  • Peak year 2002 1,609 licensed
  • Declared off the road 40.4% of those still registered are SORN
  • Most common fuel Petrol 99.7% of those licensed

How many Daimler V8s are left in Great Britain?

There were 922 Daimler V8s licensed in Great Britain at the end of March 2026, and a further 625 declared off the road (SORN). That is 42.7% fewer than the peak of 1,609 in 2002.

Daimler V8s licensed in Great Britain

The highest year-end count was 1,609 in 2002.

Daimler V8s licensed in Great Britain at the end of each year
Year Licensed
1994 537
1995 514
1996 787
1997 842
1998 1,233
1999 1,404
2000 1,460
2001 1,581
2002 1,609
2003 1,603
2004 1,590
2005 1,563
2006 1,505
2007 1,449
2008 1,430
2009 1,379
2010 1,314
2011 1,286
2012 1,259
2013 1,211
2014 1,180
2015 1,132
2016 1,090
2017 1,058
2018 1,095
2019 1,090
2020 1,043
2021 1,041
2022 1,039
2023 1,012
2024 984
2025 930
2026 922

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Fuel type

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Daimler V8 MOT reliability

There were not enough MOT tests of Daimler V8s in 2025 to publish reliable figures: we need at least 1,000 tests of cars aged three and over. Cars have their first MOT at three years old, so newer models appear once they reach that age. How we work out MOT figures.

Daimler V8 registrations over time

Registrations of Daimler V8s for the first time in Great Britain were highest at 128 in 2001, when this data begins. In 2025, 0 were registered. With almost none registered new, the number on the road is likely to keep falling.

Registered for the first time, by year

Daimler V8s registered for the first time in Great Britain, by year
Year First registrations
’01 128
’02 53
’03 3
’04 2
’05 1
’06 0
’07 0
’08 0
’09 1
’10 2
’11 1
’12 2
’13 0
’14 0
’15 4
’16 3
’17 2
’18 3
’19 2
’20 0
’21 3
’22 1
’23 1
’24 2
’25 0

Source:DfT / DVLA 2001 to 2025 Updated

Daimler V8 engine sizes and fuel types

Of the 937 Daimler V8s licensed in the UK at the end of 2025, 73.3% have an engine of 2,501cc to 2,600cc, and 23.8% have an engine of 3,901cc to 4,000cc. The share with an engine of 3,901cc to 4,000cc has fallen from 47.6% in 2014 to 23.8%.

Engine sizes, end of 2025

DVLA records engine size in 100cc bands.

Daimler V8s licensed in the UK at the end of 2025, by engine size
Engine size Share of those licensed
2,501cc to 2,600cc 687 licensed 73.3%
3,901cc to 4,000cc 223 licensed 23.8%
Other sizes 27 licensed 2.9%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2014 to end of 2025 Updated

Engine size and fuel together, end of 2025
Engine size Fuel Licensed Share
2,501–2,600cc Petrol 687 73.3%
3,901–4,000cc Petrol 220 23.5%
2,401–2,500cc Petrol 14 1.5%

Engine sizes, 2014 to 2025

Share of those licensed at the end of each year, for the most common sizes.

Daimler V8s licensed in the UK by engine size, share of each year’s total
Year 2,501–2,600cc3,901–4,000cc
2014 50.4%47.6%
2015 51.8%46.2%
2016 53.4%44.4%
2017 55.7%41.7%
2018 58.9%38.7%
2019 62.1%35.8%
2020 65.9%32.0%
2021 66.9%30.4%
2022 69.1%28.0%
2023 70.2%27.5%
2024 71.8%25.5%
2025 73.3%23.8%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2014 to end of 2025 Updated

United Kingdom figures from DfT table VEH0220 (licensed cars at the end of each year, SORN excluded), so they differ slightly from the Great Britain counts elsewhere on this page. How we use engine sizes.

Daimler V8 fuel economy and CO2

The Vehicle Certification Agency’s new car data lists the Daimler V8 from 2000, when the data begins, to 2002. On the NEDC test (listings 2000 to 2002), official combined fuel economy for its petrol versions ranges from 23.7 to 23.8 mpg, with CO2 of 285 to 287 g/km.

Official NEDC figures by engine and fuel, listed 2000 to 2002
Engine and fuel Combined mpg CO2 g/km Listed Euro standard Versions
4.0 petrol 23.7–23.8 285–287 2000–2002 Euro 2 to Euro 3 2

Source:VCA July 2000 to 15 September 2026 Updated

  • Official figures from laboratory type-approval tests. VCA says they may not be achieved in real-world driving, and should not be used to rank cars with similar figures.
  • Engine sizes are rounded to the nearest 0.1 litre. A version is one line in VCA’s data (description, gearbox, engine and fuel), counted once however many years it was listed. Matched from VCA’s model name “Daimler V8”. How we use VCA’s figures.

Daimler V8 safety recalls

We found no recalls for the Daimler V8 in DVSA’s records since 1992. That does not mean none apply: DVSA sometimes records a recall under a range or chassis name we cannot match to a model. Check a specific car on GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check.

A recall applies to cars built on particular dates or with particular VINs, not to every Daimler V8. The details come from manufacturers through DVSA, which says they may be delayed or incomplete. To check a specific car, use GOV.UK’s vehicle recall check or ask the manufacturer or a dealer. How we match recalls to models.

Compare the Daimler V8 with other Daimler models

Daimler V8 compared with other Daimler models
Model Licensed Change on a year SORN Rank Main fuel
Daimler V8 922 −5.1% 625 702 Petrol
Daimler SP 250 546 −0.7% 129 807 Petrol
Daimler Sovereign 479 −1.6% 511 831 Petrol
Daimler Double Six 222 +6.2% 527 990 Petrol
Daimler Conquest 209 −1.9% 96 1003 Petrol

Data sources and methodology

Datasets used on this page
Figures Source Period Records Updated
Licensed and SORN counts Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 1,547 V8 records (licensed and SORN) 15 September 2026
Registered for the first time Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport 2001 to 2025 15 September 2026
  • Figures cover Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Northern Ireland is not included.
  • Licensed counts are vehicles with a current tax or exemption at the end of each year (or the latest quarter). SORN counts are shown separately.
  • First registrations count vehicles registered in Great Britain for the first time, including used imports.
  • Models are grouped by DVLA’s generic model name, so every generation and trim counts together.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.