Car statistics
Mercedes-Benz 500 statistics
How many Mercedes-Benz 500s 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 1,204 +2.7% on a year earlier
- Declared SORN 2,807 Off the road, not taxed
- Rank by number licensed No. 648 of 1,159 models we cover
- Licensed in 1994 9,826 when this data begins
- New registrations in 2025 7 registered for the first time
- Most common fuel Petrol 99.7% of those licensed
How many Mercedes-Benz 500s are left in Great Britain?
There were 1,204 Mercedes-Benz 500s licensed in Great Britain at the end of March 2026, and a further 2,807 declared off the road (SORN). That is 87.7% fewer than the 9,826 licensed in 1994, when this data begins.
Mercedes-Benz 500s licensed in Great Britain
The count was highest in 1994, when this data begins.
| Year | Licensed |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 9,826 |
| 1995 | 9,398 |
| 1996 | 9,307 |
| 1997 | 9,095 |
| 1998 | 8,825 |
| 1999 | 8,579 |
| 2000 | 8,059 |
| 2001 | 7,727 |
| 2002 | 7,273 |
| 2003 | 6,924 |
| 2004 | 6,477 |
| 2005 | 5,825 |
| 2006 | 5,165 |
| 2007 | 4,567 |
| 2008 | 3,842 |
| 2009 | 3,576 |
| 2010 | 3,178 |
| 2011 | 2,839 |
| 2012 | 2,577 |
| 2013 | 2,329 |
| 2014 | 2,190 |
| 2015 | 2,078 |
| 2016 | 1,986 |
| 2017 | 1,804 |
| 2018 | 1,680 |
| 2019 | 1,598 |
| 2020 | 1,436 |
| 2021 | 1,406 |
| 2022 | 1,329 |
| 2023 | 1,239 |
| 2024 | 1,206 |
| 2025 | 1,226 |
| 2026 | 1,204 |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated
Fuel type
Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated
Mercedes-Benz 500 versions
2 versions of the Mercedes-Benz 500 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz 500 SL | 533 | 686 |
| Mercedes-Benz 500 SL-32 | 196 | 558 |
Mercedes-Benz 500 MOT reliability
There were not enough MOT tests of Mercedes-Benz 500s 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.
Mercedes-Benz 500 registrations over time
Registrations of Mercedes-Benz 500s for the first time in Great Britain peaked at 126 in 2002. In 2025, 7 were registered.
Registered for the first time, by year
| Year | First registrations |
|---|---|
| ’01 | 32 |
| ’02 | 126 |
| ’03 | 49 |
| ’04 | 47 |
| ’05 | 21 |
| ’06 | 14 |
| ’07 | 18 |
| ’08 | 13 |
| ’09 | 18 |
| ’10 | 10 |
| ’11 | 8 |
| ’12 | 10 |
| ’13 | 10 |
| ’14 | 0 |
| ’15 | 6 |
| ’16 | 14 |
| ’17 | 7 |
| ’18 | 10 |
| ’19 | 13 |
| ’20 | 6 |
| ’21 | 7 |
| ’22 | 4 |
| ’23 | 4 |
| ’24 | 3 |
| ’25 | 7 |
Source:DfT / DVLA 2001 to 2025 Updated
Mercedes-Benz 500 engine sizes and fuel types
Of the 1,241 Mercedes-Benz 500s licensed in the UK at the end of 2025, 87.4% have an engine of 4,901cc to 5,000cc, and 9.6% have an engine of 5,501cc to 5,600cc.
Engine sizes, end of 2025
DVLA records engine size in 100cc bands.
| Engine size | Share of those licensed |
|---|---|
| 4,901cc to 5,000cc 1,085 licensed | 87.4% |
| 5,501cc to 5,600cc 119 licensed | 9.6% |
| Other sizes 37 licensed | 3.0% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2014 to end of 2025 Updated
| Engine size | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4,901–5,000cc | Petrol | 1,082 | 87.2% |
| 5,501–5,600cc | Petrol | 117 | 9.4% |
| 5,001–5,100cc | Petrol | 21 | 1.7% |
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.
Mercedes-Benz 500 safety recalls
We found no recalls for the Mercedes-Benz 500 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 Mercedes-Benz 500. 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 Mercedes-Benz 500 with other Mercedes-Benz models
| Model | Licensed | Change on a year | SORN | Rank | Main fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz 500 | 1,204 | +2.7% | 2,807 | 648 | Petrol |
| Mercedes-Benz A-Class | 378,826 | +0.7% | 13,892 | 16 | Diesel |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class | 326,200 | −4.5% | 46,533 | 20 | Diesel |
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class | 203,182 | −4.2% | 40,576 | 39 | Diesel |
| Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class | 112,497 | +14.1% | 2,288 | 84 | Petrol |
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed and SORN counts | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of March 2026 | 4,011 500 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.