Riley Elf statistics

• Licensed in Great Britain 408 −0.2% on a year earlier
• Declared SORN 322 Off the road, not taxed
• Rank by number licensed No. 862 of 1,159 models we cover
• Peak year 1997 738 licensed
• Declared off the road 44.1% of those still registered are SORN
• Most common fuel Petrol 100.0% of those licensed

How many Riley Elfs are left in Great Britain?

There were 408 Riley Elfs licensed in Great Britain at the end of March 2026, and a further 322 declared off the road (SORN). That is 44.7% fewer than the peak of 738 in 1997.

Riley Elf MOT reliability

There were not enough MOT tests of Riley Elfs 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.

Riley Elf engine sizes and fuel types

Of the 445 Riley Elfs licensed in the UK at the end of 2025, 86.7% have an engine of 901cc to 1,000cc, and 5.6% have an engine of 1,201cc to 1,300cc.

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.

Riley Elf safety recalls

We found no recalls for the Riley Elf 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 Riley Elf. 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 Riley Elf with other Riley models