Car statistics
Ford Dorchester statistics
How many Ford Dorchesters 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 152 −14.6% on a year earlier
- Declared SORN 196 Off the road, not taxed
- Rank by number licensed No. 1,072 of 1,159 models we cover
- Peak year 1996 1,344 licensed
- Declared off the road 56.3% of those still registered are SORN
- Most common fuel Petrol 100.0% of those licensed
How many Ford Dorchesters are left in Great Britain?
There were 152 Ford Dorchesters licensed in Great Britain at the end of March 2026, and a further 196 declared off the road (SORN). That is 88.7% fewer than the peak of 1,344 in 1996.
Ford Dorchesters licensed in Great Britain
The highest year-end count was 1,344 in 1996.
| Year | Licensed |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 1,291 |
| 1995 | 1,287 |
| 1996 | 1,344 |
| 1997 | 1,334 |
| 1998 | 1,294 |
| 1999 | 1,235 |
| 2000 | 1,165 |
| 2001 | 1,069 |
| 2002 | 1,023 |
| 2003 | 943 |
| 2004 | 898 |
| 2005 | 777 |
| 2006 | 689 |
| 2007 | 659 |
| 2008 | 595 |
| 2009 | 519 |
| 2010 | 523 |
| 2011 | 491 |
| 2012 | 453 |
| 2013 | 413 |
| 2014 | 395 |
| 2015 | 381 |
| 2016 | 333 |
| 2017 | 304 |
| 2018 | 291 |
| 2019 | 267 |
| 2020 | 255 |
| 2021 | 237 |
| 2022 | 217 |
| 2023 | 205 |
| 2024 | 181 |
| 2025 | 155 |
| 2026 | 152 |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated
Fuel type
Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated
Ford Dorchester MOT reliability
There were not enough MOT tests of Ford Dorchesters 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 Dorchester engine sizes and fuel types
Of the 156 Ford Dorchesters licensed in the UK at the end of 2025, 74.4% have an engine of 3,901cc to 4,000cc, and 21.8% have an engine of 1,901cc to 2,000cc. The share with an engine of 3,901cc to 4,000cc has grown from 58.0% in 2014 to 74.4%.
Engine sizes, end of 2025
DVLA records engine size in 100cc bands.
| Engine size | Share of those licensed |
|---|---|
| 3,901cc to 4,000cc 116 licensed | 74.4% |
| 1,901cc to 2,000cc 34 licensed | 21.8% |
| 2,701cc to 2,800cc 3 licensed | 1.9% |
| 2,901cc to 3,000cc 3 licensed | 1.9% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2014 to end of 2025 Updated
| Engine size | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3,901–4,000cc | Petrol | 116 | 74.4% |
| 1,901–2,000cc | Petrol | 34 | 21.8% |
| 2,701–2,800cc | Petrol | 3 | 1.9% |
| 2,901–3,000cc | Petrol | 3 | 1.9% |
Engine sizes, 2014 to 2025
Share of those licensed at the end of each year, for the most common sizes.
| Year | 3,901–4,000cc | 1,901–2,000cc | 2,701–2,800cc | 2,901–3,000cc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 58.0% | 8.3% | 2.0% | 17.0% |
| 2015 | 61.6% | 9.9% | 2.3% | 14.3% |
| 2016 | 67.4% | 11.6% | 1.8% | 9.8% |
| 2017 | 70.4% | 13.0% | 1.0% | 8.1% |
| 2018 | 70.0% | 13.3% | 2.0% | 8.5% |
| 2019 | 71.4% | 14.5% | 2.2% | 6.3% |
| 2020 | 73.8% | 14.8% | 3.1% | 5.5% |
| 2021 | 74.4% | 16.4% | 2.9% | 3.4% |
| 2022 | 78.0% | 17.4% | 0.9% | 1.8% |
| 2023 | 76.7% | 17.5% | 1.0% | 3.4% |
| 2024 | 76.4% | 18.7% | 1.6% | 2.2% |
| 2025 | 74.4% | 21.8% | 1.9% | 1.9% |
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.
Ford Dorchester safety recalls
We found no recalls for the Ford Dorchester 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 Dorchester. 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 Dorchester with other Ford models
| Model | Licensed | Change on a year | SORN | Rank | Main fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Dorchester | 152 | −14.6% | 196 | 1072 | 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 | 348 Dorchester 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.