Volkswagen 1500 statistics

• Licensed in Great Britain 471 −6.2% on a year earlier
• Declared SORN 487 Off the road, not taxed
• Rank by number licensed No. 837 of 1,159 models we cover
• Peak year 1996 1,162 licensed
• Declared off the road 50.8% of those still registered are SORN
• Most common fuel Petrol 99.6% of those licensed

How many Volkswagen 1500s are left in Great Britain?

There were 471 Volkswagen 1500s licensed in Great Britain at the end of March 2026, and a further 487 declared off the road (SORN). That is 59.5% fewer than the peak of 1,162 in 1996.

Volkswagen 1500 MOT reliability

There were not enough MOT tests of Volkswagen 1500s 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.

Volkswagen 1500 engine sizes and fuel types

Of the 484 Volkswagen 1500s licensed in the UK at the end of 2025, 72.9% have an engine of 1,401cc to 1,500cc, and 9.5% have an engine of 1,501cc to 1,600cc.

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.

Volkswagen 1500 safety recalls

We found no recalls for the Volkswagen 1500 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 Volkswagen 1500. 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 Volkswagen 1500 with other Volkswagen models