Car statistics
Mercedes-Benz 500 SL statistics
How many Mercedes-Benz 500 SLs are still on the road in Great Britain, how many are declared off the road, and how the SL compares with other versions of the Mercedes-Benz 500. Built from DVLA licensing records.
- Licensed in Great Britain 640 +6.5% on a year earlier
- Declared SORN 586 Off the road, not taxed
- Still registered 82.8% Other Mercedes-Benz 500 versions 30.1%
- Licensed in 1994 1,306 when this data begins
- Share of Mercedes-Benz 500s 35.7% of those licensed or SORN
- Declared off the road 47.8% of those still registered are SORN
How many Mercedes-Benz 500 SLs are left in Great Britain?
There were 640 Mercedes-Benz 500 SLs licensed in Great Britain at the end of June 2026, and a further 586 declared off the road (SORN). The licensed count is 51.0% lower than the 1,306 in 1994, when this data begins.
Mercedes-Benz 500 SLs licensed and SORN in Great Britain
This data records SORN from 2007, so the SORN line starts there.
| Year | Licensed | Declared SORN |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 1,306 | – |
| 1995 | 1,263 | – |
| 1996 | 1,290 | – |
| 1997 | 1,292 | – |
| 1998 | 1,292 | – |
| 1999 | 1,288 | – |
| 2000 | 1,240 | – |
| 2001 | 1,205 | – |
| 2002 | 1,149 | – |
| 2003 | 1,182 | – |
| 2004 | 1,161 | – |
| 2005 | 1,113 | – |
| 2006 | 1,063 | – |
| 2007 | 992 | 321 |
| 2008 | 885 | 376 |
| 2009 | 903 | 385 |
| 2010 | 865 | 405 |
| 2011 | 810 | 418 |
| 2012 | 784 | 432 |
| 2013 | 748 | 515 |
| 2014 | 721 | 510 |
| 2015 | 703 | 529 |
| 2016 | 685 | 566 |
| 2017 | 630 | 634 |
| 2018 | 596 | 674 |
| 2019 | 577 | 697 |
| 2020 | 522 | 735 |
| 2021 | 529 | 715 |
| 2022 | 532 | 711 |
| 2023 | 513 | 709 |
| 2024 | 517 | 693 |
| 2025 | 542 | 676 |
| 2026 | 640 | 586 |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Fuel type
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
How many Mercedes-Benz 500 SLs have survived?
82.8% of Mercedes-Benz 500 SLs are still registered (licensed or SORN), measured against the most on the road at any year end since 1994. For other versions of the Mercedes-Benz 500 from the same era, the figure is 30.1%, so Mercedes-Benz 500 SLs are 2.8 times as likely to have survived.
Share still registered (licensed or SORN)
Compared with 4 other versions of the Mercedes-Benz 500 from the same era.
| Version | Share still registered |
|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz 500 SL | 82.8% |
| Other Mercedes-Benz 500 versions of the same age | 30.1% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of June 2026 Updated
Mercedes-Benz 500 SL engine sizes and fuel types
Of the 548 Mercedes-Benz 500 SLs licensed in the UK at the end of 2025, 97.8% have an engine of 4,901cc to 5,000cc, and 1.8% have an engine of 5,001cc to 5,100cc.
Engine sizes, end of 2025
DVLA records engine size in 100cc bands.
| Engine size | Share of those licensed |
|---|---|
| 4,901cc to 5,000cc 536 licensed | 97.8% |
| 5,001cc to 5,100cc 10 licensed | 1.8% |
| Other sizes 2 licensed | 0.4% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2014 to end of 2025 Updated
| Engine size | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4,901–5,000cc | Petrol | 536 | 97.8% |
| 5,001–5,100cc | Petrol | 10 | 1.8% |
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. This covers cars DVLA records under this version’s name only; the Mercedes-Benz 500 page covers every version. How we use engine sizes.
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. DVSA names the model, not the version, so no separate figures exist for the SL.
Other versions of the Mercedes-Benz 500
Versions of the Mercedes-Benz 500 with their own page. The Mercedes-Benz 500 page covers all 1,263 licensed, whatever the version.
| Version | Licensed | SORN | Still registered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes-Benz 500 SL | 640 | 586 | 82.8% |
| Mercedes-Benz 500 SL-32 | 237 | 508 | 57.6% |
Data stories to read next
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed and SORN counts | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of June 2026 | 1,226 Mercedes-Benz 500 SL records (licensed and SORN) | 2 October 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, from 2007.
- This version groups DVLA’s detailed model names “500 SL AUTO”. Engine size, gearbox, number of doors and fuel are ignored, so every engine and gearbox counts together.
- Survival compares the number still registered (licensed or SORN) with the most licensed at any year end since 1994, plus any first registered after that year. Other versions are those of the same model whose licensed count peaked in the same years, up to 2001.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.