Car statistics
Ford Cortina statistics
How many Ford Cortinas 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.
- Licensed in Great Britain 4,762 −0.1% on a year earlier
- Declared SORN 3,425 Off the road, not taxed
- Rank by number licensed No. 441 of 1,159 models we cover
- Licensed in 1994 119,778 when this data begins
- Declared off the road 41.8% of those still registered are SORN
- Most common fuel Petrol 99.9% of those licensed
How many Ford Cortinas are left in Great Britain?
There were 4,762 Ford Cortinas licensed in Great Britain at the end of March 2026, and a further 3,425 declared off the road (SORN). That is 96.0% fewer than the 119,778 licensed in 1994, when this data begins.
Ford Cortinas licensed in Great Britain
The count was highest in 1994, when this data begins.
| Year | Licensed |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 119,778 |
| 1995 | 75,197 |
| 1996 | 53,418 |
| 1997 | 36,418 |
| 1998 | 24,019 |
| 1999 | 16,620 |
| 2000 | 11,833 |
| 2001 | 9,003 |
| 2002 | 7,351 |
| 2003 | 6,193 |
| 2004 | 5,558 |
| 2005 | 4,923 |
| 2006 | 4,347 |
| 2007 | 4,022 |
| 2008 | 3,807 |
| 2009 | 3,674 |
| 2010 | 3,628 |
| 2011 | 3,600 |
| 2012 | 3,556 |
| 2013 | 3,482 |
| 2014 | 3,444 |
| 2015 | 3,483 |
| 2016 | 3,479 |
| 2017 | 3,426 |
| 2018 | 3,799 |
| 2019 | 3,983 |
| 2020 | 4,132 |
| 2021 | 4,266 |
| 2022 | 4,467 |
| 2023 | 4,627 |
| 2024 | 4,764 |
| 2025 | 4,756 |
| 2026 | 4,762 |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated
Fuel type
Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated
Ford Cortina versions
10 versions of the Ford Cortina have their own page. The figures above include every version; each version page covers only the cars DVLA records under that version’s name.
| Version | Licensed | SORN |
|---|---|---|
| Ford Cortina DE Luxe | 444 | 288 |
| Ford Cortina MK2 1600E | 302 | 176 |
| Ford Cortina Super | 211 | 176 |
| Ford Cortina 1600 L | 127 | 117 |
| Ford Cortina 1600 GT | 105 | 68 |
| Ford Cortina 1600 XL | 94 | 78 |
| Ford Cortina 2000E | 95 | 77 |
| Ford Cortina 1600 Base | 67 | 71 |
| Ford Cortina 2000 GXL | 75 | 56 |
| Ford Cortina MK1 GT | 74 | 26 |
Ford Cortina MOT reliability
There were not enough MOT tests of Ford Cortinas 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.
Ford Cortina engine sizes and fuel types
Of the 4,882 Ford Cortinas licensed in the UK at the end of 2025, 38.0% have an engine of 1,501cc to 1,600cc, and 13.4% have an engine of 1,401cc to 1,500cc.
Engine sizes, end of 2025
DVLA records engine size in 100cc bands.
| Engine size | Share of those licensed |
|---|---|
| 1,501cc to 1,600cc 1,853 licensed | 38.0% |
| 1,401cc to 1,500cc 656 licensed | 13.4% |
| 1,901cc to 2,000cc 533 licensed | 10.9% |
| 1,601cc to 1,700cc 487 licensed | 10.0% |
| 1,101cc to 1,200cc 374 licensed | 7.7% |
| 2,001cc to 2,100cc 278 licensed | 5.7% |
| 1,201cc to 1,300cc 251 licensed | 5.1% |
| Other sizes 450 licensed | 9.2% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2014 to end of 2025 Updated
| Engine size | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,501–1,600cc | Petrol | 1,852 | 37.9% |
| 1,401–1,500cc | Petrol | 656 | 13.4% |
| 1,901–2,000cc | Petrol | 532 | 10.9% |
| 1,601–1,700cc | Petrol | 487 | 10.0% |
| 1,101–1,200cc | Petrol | 374 | 7.7% |
| 2,001–2,100cc | Petrol | 277 | 5.7% |
| 1,201–1,300cc | Petrol | 251 | 5.1% |
| 1,301–1,400cc | Petrol | 88 | 1.8% |
| 2,201–2,300cc | Petrol | 80 | 1.6% |
| 2,901–3,000cc | Petrol | 68 | 1.4% |
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.
Ford Cortina safety recalls
We found no recalls for the Ford Cortina 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 Ford Cortina. 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 Ford Cortina with other Ford models
| Model | Licensed | Change on a year | SORN | Rank | Main fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Cortina | 4,762 | −0.1% | 3,425 | 441 | Petrol |
| Ford Fiesta | 1,249,904 | −5.2% | 111,058 | 1 | Petrol |
| Ford Focus | 857,445 | −6.6% | 100,497 | 4 | Petrol |
| Ford Kuga | 367,678 | +3.9% | 7,528 | 17 | Diesel |
| Ford Puma | 244,729 | +27.6% | 6,445 | 30 | Hybrid |
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed and SORN counts | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of March 2026 | 8,187 Cortina 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.