Car statistics
How many Smart Fortwos 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 and 50,178 DVSA MOT tests.
There were 52,344 Smart Fortwos licensed in Great Britain at the end of March 2026, and a further 4,845 declared off the road (SORN). That is 10.7% fewer than the peak of 58,589 in 2019.
The highest year-end count was 58,589 in 2019.
| Year | Licensed |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 1,451 |
| 2005 | 3,110 |
| 2006 | 4,700 |
| 2007 | 8,058 |
| 2008 | 14,976 |
| 2009 | 22,767 |
| 2010 | 29,432 |
| 2011 | 33,630 |
| 2012 | 38,398 |
| 2013 | 43,061 |
| 2014 | 45,252 |
| 2015 | 46,504 |
| 2016 | 51,895 |
| 2017 | 55,901 |
| 2018 | 57,896 |
| 2019 | 58,589 |
| 2020 | 57,334 |
| 2021 | 57,404 |
| 2022 | 57,158 |
| 2023 | 56,192 |
| 2024 | 54,771 |
| 2025 | 52,973 |
| 2026 | 52,344 |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated
Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated
In 2025, 71.2% of Smart Fortwo MOT tests were passed first time, against 72.8% for all cars. Cars of the same ages as the Smart Fortwos tested pass 67.3% of the time, so the Smart Fortwo does better than average for its age, by 3.9 points. In 2024 its pass rate was 71.4%.
Comparing like with like: each bar pair covers cars of the same age, so an older average age does not count against a model.
| Vehicle age | Smart Fortwo | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 6–7 years | 83.8% | 83.0% |
| 8–10 years | 78.2% | 75.7% |
| 11–14 years | 70.6% | 65.5% |
| 15–19 years | 63.5% | 58.0% |
| 20+ years | 59.6% | 61.0% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment is the most common reason a Smart Fortwo fails its MOT, appearing on 42.0% of failed tests. A failed test can have defects in more than one category, so shares add up to more than 100%. 5.8% of Smart Fortwo tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 7.3% for all cars.
| Defect category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 42.0% |
| Suspension | 27.9% |
| Brakes | 23.7% |
| Tyres | 18.3% |
| Visibility | 17.4% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 17.3% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 9.2% |
| Steering | 1.6% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
The single most common reason a Smart Fortwo failed its MOT in 2025 was “Coil spring: fractured or broken”, on 12.5% of 14,465 failed tests. 48.9% of tests ended with at least one advisory, a problem to watch that did not fail the test; the most common was “Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge”. The same fault on any wheel or side counts once.
Share of failed tests with each defect. A test can fail for more than one.
| Defect | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Coil spring: fractured or broken Suspension | 12.5% |
| Stop lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 10.8% |
| Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 9.1% |
| Service brake performance: excessively binding Brakes | 8.1% |
| Malfunction indicator lamp: inoperative or indicates a malfunction Noise, emissions and leaks | 8.0% |
| Headlamp: not working on dipped beam Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 7.3% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 7.3% |
| Tyres: tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm Tyres | 6.7% |
| Washers: provides insufficient washer liquid Visibility | 6.4% |
| Headlamp aim: projected beam image is obviously incorrect Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 5.7% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Share of all tests with each advisory: worth checking on a car you are buying.
| Advisory | Share of tests |
|---|---|
| Tread depth: worn close to legal limit or worn on edge Tyres | 12.9% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 12.8% |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material Brakes | 9.4% |
| Brake discs: worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened Brakes | 6.2% |
| Brake pads: wearing thin Brakes | 5.3% |
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 4.2% |
| Service brake performance: binding but not excessively Brakes | 3.2% |
| Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Identification of the vehicle | 3.0% |
| Coil spring: corroded Suspension | 2.7% |
| Suspension arms: pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement Suspension | 2.0% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
16 years of the Smart Fortwo, by year of first registration, have their own page with MOT results, common faults, mileage and how many are left. Against all cars of the same age, the 2012 cars did best at their 2025 MOT (71.5% passed first time) and the 2005 cars worst (58.5%).
| Year | Registered | Left | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | – | 670 | 62.5% |
| 2005 | – | 738 | 58.5% |
| 2006 | – | 920 | 57.9% |
| 2007 | – | 2,219 | 61.0% |
| 2008 | – | 4,859 | 62.5% |
| 2009 | – | 5,996 | 63.3% |
| 2010 | – | 5,660 | 65.4% |
| 2011 | – | 4,035 | 68.3% |
| 2012 | – | 4,702 | 71.5% |
| 2013 | – | 4,532 | 70.7% |
| 2014 | 4,247 | 3,758 | 74.8% |
| 2015 | 2,441 | 2,193 | 75.8% |
| 2016 | 6,275 | 5,641 | 76.9% |
| 2017 | 5,069 | 4,747 | 80.2% |
| 2018 | 3,485 | 3,279 | 83.0% |
| 2019 | 1,927 | 1,839 | 85.9% |
Registered: cars on the DVLA record at the end of the year they were first registered (these counts start in 2014, so older years show a dash). Left: licensed or declared SORN at the end of 2025. Both cover the United Kingdom. Pass rate: first-time passes at normal MOT tests in Great Britain in 2025; all cars: every car first registered the same year.
The average Smart Fortwo covers 3,819 miles a year, worked out from odometer readings at consecutive MOT tests.
| Vehicle age | Miles a year |
|---|---|
| 6–7 years | 4,529 |
| 8–10 years | 4,405 |
| 11–14 years | 3,626 |
| 15–19 years | 3,369 |
| 20+ years | 2,732 |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Registrations of Smart Fortwos for the first time in Great Britain peaked at 8,122 in 2009. In 2025, 2 were registered. With almost none registered new, the number on the road is likely to keep falling.
| Year | First registrations |
|---|---|
| ’01 | 0 |
| ’02 | 0 |
| ’03 | 0 |
| ’04 | 1,640 |
| ’05 | 1,590 |
| ’06 | 1,646 |
| ’07 | 3,500 |
| ’08 | 7,177 |
| ’09 | 8,122 |
| ’10 | 7,432 |
| ’11 | 4,953 |
| ’12 | 5,543 |
| ’13 | 5,248 |
| ’14 | 4,257 |
| ’15 | 2,470 |
| ’16 | 6,315 |
| ’17 | 5,186 |
| ’18 | 3,556 |
| ’19 | 1,941 |
| ’20 | 617 |
| ’21 | 835 |
| ’22 | 563 |
| ’23 | 306 |
| ’24 | 197 |
| ’25 | 2 |
Source:DfT / DVLA 2001 to 2025 Updated
Of the 53,479 Smart Fortwos licensed in the UK at the end of 2025, 72.5% have an engine of 901cc to 1,000cc, and 10.9% have an engine of 801cc to 900cc. The share with an engine of 801cc to 900cc has grown from 0.0% in 2014 to 10.9%. Diesels made up 13.5% of those licensed in 2014 and 7.6% in 2025.
DVLA records engine size in 100cc bands.
| Engine size | Share of those licensed |
|---|---|
| 901cc to 1,000cc 38,778 licensed | 72.5% |
| 801cc to 900cc 5,824 licensed | 10.9% |
| 701cc to 800cc 4,083 licensed | 7.6% |
| No engine (electric) 3,024 licensed | 5.7% |
| 601cc to 700cc 1,766 licensed | 3.3% |
| Other sizes 4 licensed | 0.0% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2014 to end of 2025 Updated
| Engine size | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 901–1,000cc | Petrol | 38,771 | 72.5% |
| 801–900cc | Petrol | 5,824 | 10.9% |
| 701–800cc | Diesel | 4,082 | 7.6% |
| Electric | Electric | 3,024 | 5.7% |
| 601–700cc | Petrol | 1,762 | 3.3% |
Share of those licensed at the end of each year, for the most common sizes.
| Year | 901–1,000cc | 801–900cc | 701–800cc | 601–700cc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 75.5% | 0.0% | 13.5% | 10.4% |
| 2015 | 75.4% | 1.6% | 12.9% | 9.7% |
| 2016 | 74.7% | 5.3% | 11.3% | 8.3% |
| 2017 | 73.7% | 8.1% | 10.3% | 7.4% |
| 2018 | 73.0% | 9.8% | 9.7% | 6.5% |
| 2019 | 72.8% | 10.4% | 9.3% | 5.9% |
| 2020 | 72.6% | 10.2% | 9.1% | 5.5% |
| 2021 | 72.1% | 10.2% | 8.8% | 5.0% |
| 2022 | 71.7% | 10.3% | 8.6% | 4.7% |
| 2023 | 71.9% | 10.4% | 8.3% | 4.1% |
| 2024 | 72.1% | 10.6% | 8.0% | 3.7% |
| 2025 | 72.5% | 10.9% | 7.6% | 3.3% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2014 to end of 2025 Updated
Share of those licensed at the end of each year.
| Year | Petrol | Diesel | Electric |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 85.9% | 13.5% | 0.6% |
| 2015 | 86.6% | 12.9% | 0.5% |
| 2016 | 88.3% | 11.3% | 0.4% |
| 2017 | 89.1% | 10.3% | 0.6% |
| 2018 | 89.3% | 9.7% | 1.0% |
| 2019 | 89.1% | 9.3% | 1.6% |
| 2020 | 88.3% | 9.1% | 2.6% |
| 2021 | 87.2% | 8.8% | 3.9% |
| 2022 | 86.6% | 8.6% | 4.8% |
| 2023 | 86.4% | 8.3% | 5.3% |
| 2024 | 86.3% | 8.0% | 5.7% |
| 2025 | 86.7% | 7.6% | 5.7% |
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.
The Vehicle Certification Agency’s new car data lists the Smart Fortwo from 2006 to 2021. On the WLTP test (listings 2020 to 2021), its electric versions have an official range of 73 to 84 miles. On the older NEDC test (listings 2006 to 2018), official combined fuel economy for its petrol and diesel versions ranges from 49.6 to 85.6 mpg, with CO2 of 86 to 136 g/km; electric versions have an official range of 90 to 98 miles.
| Engine and fuel | Combined mpg | CO2 g/km | Range, miles | Miles per kWh | Listed | Euro standard | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electric | – | 0 | 73–84 | 3.0–4.0 | 2020–2021 | – | 4 |
| Engine and fuel | Combined mpg | CO2 g/km | Range, miles | Miles per kWh | Listed | Euro standard | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.6 petrol | 49.6 | 136 | – | – | 2006 | Euro 3 | 1 |
| 0.7 petrol | 53.3–60.1 | 113–127 | – | – | 2006–2008 | Euro 4 | 20 |
| 0.8 petrol | 64.2–65.7 | 103–105 | – | – | 2009–2010 | Euro 4 | 4 |
| 0.9 petrol | 52.3–70.9 | 96–123 | – | – | 2015–2018 | Euro 6 to Euro 6c | 25 |
| 1.0 petrol | 54.3–68.9 | 93–124 | – | – | 2008–2018 | Euro 4 to Euro 6c | 100 |
| 0.8 diesel | 85.6 | 86–88 | – | – | 2009–2014 | Euro 4 to Euro 5 | 22 |
| Electric | – | 0 | 90–98 | 4.1–4.8 | 2013–2018 | – | 8 |
Source:VCA July 2000 to 15 September 2026 Updated
DVSA lists 13 safety recalls for the Smart Fortwo since 1992, the first in 2006. The most recent was launched on 13 September 2021.
All 13 Smart Fortwo recalls, with defects, remedies and build dates
A recall applies to cars built on particular dates or with particular VINs, not to every Smart Fortwo. 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.
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis January 1992 to September 2026 Updated
| Model | Licensed | Change on a year | SORN | Rank | Main fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smart Fortwo | 52,344 | −3.2% | 4,845 | 144 | Petrol |
| Smart Forfour | 23,516 | −2.9% | 1,333 | 220 | Petrol |
| Smart City | 3,402 | −15.3% | 2,463 | 486 | Petrol |
| Smart #1 | 3,245 | +45.5% | 20 | 491 | Electric |
| Smart Roadster | 1,796 | −7.9% | 2,160 | 574 | Petrol |
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed and SORN counts | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of March 2026 | 57,189 Fortwo records (licensed and SORN) | 15 September 2026 |
| Registered for the first time | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | 2001 to 2025 | – | 15 September 2026 |
| MOT results and mileage | Anonymised MOT tests and results Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency Derived statistics UK Motoring | 2025 | 50,178 MOT tests | 15 September 2026 |
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
