Car statistics
How many Toyota Starlets 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 2,894 DVSA MOT tests.
There were 2,276 Toyota Starlets licensed in Great Britain at the end of March 2026, and a further 2,660 declared off the road (SORN). That is 93.7% fewer than the peak of 36,083 in 1999.
Numbers peaked in 1999 and have fallen every year since, as older cars are scrapped faster than new ones are registered.
| Year | Licensed |
|---|---|
| 1994 | 18,524 |
| 1995 | 16,672 |
| 1996 | 19,156 |
| 1997 | 26,680 |
| 1998 | 34,052 |
| 1999 | 36,083 |
| 2000 | 34,668 |
| 2001 | 33,466 |
| 2002 | 32,473 |
| 2003 | 31,214 |
| 2004 | 30,304 |
| 2005 | 29,264 |
| 2006 | 27,962 |
| 2007 | 26,693 |
| 2008 | 25,406 |
| 2009 | 22,607 |
| 2010 | 20,747 |
| 2011 | 19,000 |
| 2012 | 17,069 |
| 2013 | 15,016 |
| 2014 | 12,980 |
| 2015 | 11,159 |
| 2016 | 9,464 |
| 2017 | 8,014 |
| 2018 | 6,697 |
| 2019 | 5,661 |
| 2020 | 4,796 |
| 2021 | 4,030 |
| 2022 | 3,545 |
| 2023 | 3,047 |
| 2024 | 2,642 |
| 2025 | 2,361 |
| 2026 | 2,276 |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated
Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated
The Toyota Starlet SR has its 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Toyota Starlet SR | 70 | 123 |
In 2025, 66.6% of Toyota Starlet MOT tests were passed first time, against 72.8% for all cars. Cars of the same ages as the Toyota Starlets tested pass 61.1% of the time, so the Toyota Starlet does better than average for its age, by 5.5 points. In 2024 its pass rate was 66.3%.
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 | Toyota Starlet | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 20+ years | 66.1% | 61.0% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment is the most common reason a Toyota Starlet fails its MOT, appearing on 38.6% of failed tests. A failed test can have defects in more than one category, so shares add up to more than 100%. 6.1% of Toyota Starlet tests found at least one dangerous defect, against 7.3% for all cars.
| Defect category | Share of failed tests |
|---|---|
| Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 38.6% |
| Suspension | 32.1% |
| Body, chassis, structure | 29.4% |
| Brakes | 27.8% |
| Noise, emissions and leaks | 23.2% |
| Visibility | 16.6% |
| Tyres | 15.7% |
| Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems | 3.8% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
The single most common reason a Toyota Starlet failed its MOT in 2025 was “Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt”, on 17.4% of 966 failed tests. 64.0% 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 |
|---|---|
| Drive shafts: constant velocity boot split or insecure, no longer prevents the ingress of dirt Body, chassis, structure | 17.4% |
| Shock absorbers: serious fluid leak Suspension | 13.3% |
| Service brake imbalance: across an axle Brakes | 11.5% |
| Catalyst emissions: lambda reading after 2nd fast idle outside specified limits Noise, emissions and leaks | 10.7% |
| Position lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 9.8% |
| Wipers: does not clear the windscreen effectively Visibility | 9.3% |
| Stop lamp: not working Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment | 8.4% |
| Component mounting prescribed area excessively corroded significantly reducing structural strength Suspension | 7.6% |
| Exhaust system: major leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 7.2% |
| Parking brake efficiency below requirements Brakes | 7.2% |
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 | 15.3% |
| Engine oil leak, but not excessive Noise, emissions and leaks | 13.9% |
| Wheel bearings: slight play Suspension | 12.4% |
| Tyres: slightly damaged or cracking or perishing Tyres | 12.0% |
| Shock absorbers: light misting of oil Suspension | 11.3% |
| Coil spring: corroded Suspension | 9.3% |
| Registration plates: deteriorated but not likely to be misread Identification of the vehicle | 8.9% |
| Exhaust system: minor leak of exhaust gases Body, chassis, structure | 8.5% |
| Rigid brake pipes: corroded, covered in grease or other material Brakes | 7.8% |
| Suspension arm: corroded but not seriously weakened Suspension | 6.0% |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
2 years of the Toyota Starlet, by year of first registration, have their own page with MOT results, common faults, mileage and how many are left.
| Year | Registered | Left | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | – | 1,339 | 64.0% |
| 1998 | – | 1,774 | 64.9% |
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 Toyota Starlet covers 3,493 miles a year, worked out from odometer readings at consecutive MOT tests.
| Vehicle age | Miles a year |
|---|---|
| 20+ years | 3,514 |
Source:DVSA,UK Motoring analysis 2025 Updated
Registrations of Toyota Starlets for the first time in Great Britain peaked at 219 in 2007. In 2025, 4 were registered. With almost none registered new, the number on the road is likely to keep falling.
| Year | First registrations |
|---|---|
| ’01 | 143 |
| ’02 | 140 |
| ’03 | 127 |
| ’04 | 84 |
| ’05 | 159 |
| ’06 | 178 |
| ’07 | 219 |
| ’08 | 154 |
| ’09 | 55 |
| ’10 | 36 |
| ’11 | 17 |
| ’12 | 7 |
| ’13 | 3 |
| ’14 | 5 |
| ’15 | 17 |
| ’16 | 23 |
| ’17 | 74 |
| ’18 | 7 |
| ’19 | 10 |
| ’20 | 6 |
| ’21 | 8 |
| ’22 | 3 |
| ’23 | 6 |
| ’24 | 3 |
| ’25 | 4 |
Source:DfT / DVLA 2001 to 2025 Updated
Of the 2,485 Toyota Starlets licensed in the UK at the end of 2025, 93.0% have an engine of 1,301cc to 1,400cc, and 3.1% have an engine of 1,201cc to 1,300cc.
DVLA records engine size in 100cc bands.
| Engine size | Share of those licensed |
|---|---|
| 1,301cc to 1,400cc 2,310 licensed | 93.0% |
| 1,201cc to 1,300cc 78 licensed | 3.1% |
| Other sizes 97 licensed | 3.9% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2014 to end of 2025 Updated
| Engine size | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1,301–1,400cc | Petrol | 2,308 | 92.9% |
| 1,201–1,300cc | Petrol | 78 | 3.1% |
| 901–1,000cc | Petrol | 47 | 1.9% |
| 1,401–1,500cc | Petrol | 29 | 1.2% |
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.
DVSA lists 1 safety recall for the Toyota Starlet, launched on 5 October 2020.
A recall applies to cars built on particular dates or with particular VINs, not to every Toyota Starlet. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Starlet | 2,276 | −11.9% | 2,660 | 535 | Petrol |
| Toyota Yaris | 575,454 | +3.1% | 26,019 | 7 | Petrol |
| Toyota Aygo | 298,338 | +0.8% | 6,527 | 23 | Petrol |
| Toyota Corolla | 150,981 | +3.3% | 21,670 | 57 | Hybrid |
| Toyota C-HR | 141,396 | +9.9% | 898 | 63 | Hybrid |
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed and SORN counts | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of March 2026 | 4,936 Starlet 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 | 2,894 MOT tests | 15 September 2026 |
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
