Volkswagen California statistics

• Licensed in Great Britain 1,724 +14.0% on a year earlier
• Declared SORN 24 Off the road, not taxed
• Rank by number licensed No. 581 of 1,159 models we cover
• Licensed count At its peak highest since 2017
• New registrations in 2025 151 registered for the first time
• Most common fuel Diesel 87.8% of those licensed

How many Volkswagen Californias are left in Great Britain?

There were 1,724 Volkswagen Californias licensed in Great Britain at the end of March 2026, and a further 24 declared off the road (SORN). That is the most on the road at any year end since 2017.

Volkswagen California MOT reliability

We do not show MOT figures for the Volkswagen California. 89% of those on the DVLA record are vans, and DVSA’s MOT results do not separate car and van tests of the same model, so the figures would not describe the car. How we work out MOT figures.

Volkswagen California engine sizes and fuel types

Of the 1,677 Volkswagen Californias licensed in the UK at the end of 2025, 91.7% have an engine of 1,901cc to 2,000cc, and 8.3% have an engine of 1,401cc to 1,500cc. The share with an engine of 1,901cc to 2,000cc has fallen from 100.0% in 2019 to 91.7%. Diesels made up 100.0% of those licensed in 2019 and 91.7% in 2025.

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 California fuel economy and CO2

The Vehicle Certification Agency’s new car data lists the Volkswagen California from 2016 to 2018. On the NEDC test (listings 2016 to 2018), official combined fuel economy for its diesel versions ranges from 36.2 to 45.6 mpg, with CO2 of 162 to 205 g/km.

Source:VCA July 2000 to 15 September 2026 Updated 15 Sept 2026

• Official figures from laboratory type-approval tests. VCA says they may not be achieved in real-world driving, and should not be used to rank cars with similar figures.
• VCA’s data has no Volkswagen versions for 2019 to 2024, so the years listed may leave out years the Volkswagen California was on sale.
• Engine sizes are rounded to the nearest 0.1 litre. A version is one line in VCA’s data (description, gearbox, engine and fuel), counted once however many years it was listed. Matched from VCA’s model names “California Ocean”, “California Beach”. How we use VCA’s figures.

Volkswagen California safety recalls

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