Car statistics
Volkswagen Phaeton statistics
How many Volkswagen Phaetons 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.
- Licensed in Great Britain 584 −14.0% on a year earlier
- Declared SORN 460 Off the road, not taxed
- Rank by number licensed No. 796 of 1,159 models we cover
- Peak year 2013 1,916 licensed
- Declared off the road 44.1% of those still registered are SORN
- Most common fuel Diesel 93.2% of those licensed
How many Volkswagen Phaetons are left in Great Britain?
There were 584 Volkswagen Phaetons licensed in Great Britain at the end of March 2026, and a further 460 declared off the road (SORN). That is 69.5% fewer than the peak of 1,916 in 2013.
Volkswagen Phaetons licensed in Great Britain
Numbers peaked in 2013 and have fallen every year since, as older cars are scrapped faster than new ones are registered.
| Year | Licensed |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 1 |
| 2003 | 92 |
| 2004 | 219 |
| 2005 | 559 |
| 2006 | 861 |
| 2007 | 1,152 |
| 2008 | 1,323 |
| 2009 | 1,555 |
| 2010 | 1,655 |
| 2011 | 1,788 |
| 2012 | 1,837 |
| 2013 | 1,916 |
| 2014 | 1,851 |
| 2015 | 1,778 |
| 2016 | 1,663 |
| 2017 | 1,542 |
| 2018 | 1,430 |
| 2019 | 1,282 |
| 2020 | 1,162 |
| 2021 | 1,064 |
| 2022 | 950 |
| 2023 | 832 |
| 2024 | 718 |
| 2025 | 620 |
| 2026 | 584 |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated
Fuel type
Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated
Volkswagen Phaeton MOT reliability
There were not enough MOT tests of Volkswagen Phaetons 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 Phaeton registrations over time
Registrations of Volkswagen Phaetons for the first time in Great Britain peaked at 396 in 2005. In 2025, 0 were registered. With almost none registered new, the number on the road is likely to keep falling.
Registered for the first time, by year
| Year | First registrations |
|---|---|
| ’01 | 0 |
| ’02 | 1 |
| ’03 | 95 |
| ’04 | 203 |
| ’05 | 396 |
| ’06 | 325 |
| ’07 | 322 |
| ’08 | 239 |
| ’09 | 200 |
| ’10 | 149 |
| ’11 | 195 |
| ’12 | 116 |
| ’13 | 106 |
| ’14 | 31 |
| ’15 | 8 |
| ’16 | 0 |
| ’17 | 1 |
| ’18 | 0 |
| ’19 | 0 |
| ’20 | 0 |
| ’21 | 0 |
| ’22 | 1 |
| ’23 | 1 |
| ’24 | 0 |
| ’25 | 0 |
Source:DfT / DVLA 2001 to 2025 Updated
Volkswagen Phaeton engine sizes and fuel types
Of the 645 Volkswagen Phaetons licensed in the UK at the end of 2025, 80.0% have an engine of 2,901cc to 3,000cc, and 9.0% have an engine of 2,601cc to 2,700cc. The share with an engine of 2,901cc to 3,000cc has grown from 56.8% in 2014 to 80.0%. Diesels made up 87.7% of those licensed in 2014 and 93.3% in 2025.
Engine sizes, end of 2025
DVLA records engine size in 100cc bands.
| Engine size | Share of those licensed |
|---|---|
| 2,901cc to 3,000cc 516 licensed | 80.0% |
| 2,601cc to 2,700cc 58 licensed | 9.0% |
| 3,101cc to 3,200cc 30 licensed | 4.7% |
| 4,901cc to 5,000cc 25 licensed | 3.9% |
| 5,901cc to 6,000cc 11 licensed | 1.7% |
| Other sizes 5 licensed | 0.8% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2014 to end of 2025 Updated
| Engine size | Fuel | Licensed | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2,901–3,000cc | Diesel | 516 | 80.0% |
| 2,601–2,700cc | Diesel | 58 | 9.0% |
| 3,101–3,200cc | Petrol | 29 | 4.5% |
| 4,901–5,000cc | Diesel | 25 | 3.9% |
| 5,901–6,000cc | Petrol | 10 | 1.6% |
Engine sizes, 2014 to 2025
Share of those licensed at the end of each year, for the most common sizes.
| Year | 2,901–3,000cc | 2,601–2,700cc | 3,101–3,200cc | 4,901–5,000cc |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 56.8% | 24.7% | 9.2% | 5.2% |
| 2015 | 58.2% | 24.3% | 8.9% | 4.9% |
| 2016 | 60.3% | 24.0% | 7.9% | 4.6% |
| 2017 | 62.6% | 22.0% | 7.7% | 4.1% |
| 2018 | 65.2% | 19.4% | 7.5% | 4.2% |
| 2019 | 67.2% | 18.4% | 6.8% | 4.2% |
| 2020 | 69.4% | 15.8% | 6.8% | 4.1% |
| 2021 | 72.3% | 15.0% | 5.8% | 3.8% |
| 2022 | 74.3% | 12.7% | 5.9% | 4.0% |
| 2023 | 76.1% | 11.8% | 5.0% | 3.8% |
| 2024 | 77.2% | 11.1% | 5.4% | 3.5% |
| 2025 | 80.0% | 9.0% | 4.7% | 3.9% |
Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2014 to end of 2025 Updated
Fuel type, 2014 to 2025
Share of those licensed at the end of each year.
| Year | Diesel | Petrol |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 87.7% | 11.6% |
| 2015 | 88.2% | 11.2% |
| 2016 | 89.6% | 10.0% |
| 2017 | 89.7% | 9.8% |
| 2018 | 89.6% | 10.0% |
| 2019 | 90.6% | 9.1% |
| 2020 | 90.2% | 9.6% |
| 2021 | 91.8% | 8.0% |
| 2022 | 91.8% | 7.9% |
| 2023 | 92.7% | 7.1% |
| 2024 | 92.2% | 7.7% |
| 2025 | 93.3% | 6.5% |
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.
Volkswagen Phaeton fuel economy and CO2
The Vehicle Certification Agency’s new car data lists the Volkswagen Phaeton from 2002 to 2014. On the NEDC test (listings 2002 to 2014), official combined fuel economy for its petrol and diesel versions ranges from 18.1 to 33.2 mpg, with CO2 of 224 to 374 g/km.
| Engine and fuel | Combined mpg | CO2 g/km | Listed | Euro standard | Versions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.2 petrol | 23.2–23.3 | 288–293 | 2003–2008 | Euro 4 | 4 |
| 4.2 petrol | 21.6–21.7 | 310–314 | 2004–2009 | Euro 4 | 5 |
| 6.0 petrol | 18.1–19.5 | 348–374 | 2002–2014 | Euro 4 to Euro 5 | 8 |
| 2.7 diesel | 29.4 | 259 | 2007–2008 | Euro 4 | 2 |
| 3.0 diesel | 29.4–33.2 | 224–259 | 2005–2014 | Euro 4 to Euro 5 | 10 |
| 4.9 diesel | 24.8 | 308 | 2003–2006 | Euro 3 | 3 |
Source:VCA July 2000 to 15 September 2026 Updated
- 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.
- 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 “Phaeton”, “Phaeton (from NOV 06 Wk 45 >)”. How we use VCA’s figures.
Volkswagen Phaeton safety recalls
We found no recalls for the Volkswagen Phaeton 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 Phaeton. 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 Phaeton with other Volkswagen models
| Model | Licensed | Change on a year | SORN | Rank | Main fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Phaeton | 584 | −14.0% | 460 | 796 | Diesel |
| Volkswagen Golf | 900,884 | −2.1% | 122,944 | 3 | Petrol |
| Volkswagen Polo | 663,686 | −0.3% | 49,229 | 6 | Petrol |
| Volkswagen Tiguan | 331,220 | +6.5% | 4,557 | 19 | Diesel |
| Volkswagen T-Roc | 164,314 | +16.3% | 684 | 49 | Petrol |
Data sources and methodology
| Figures | Source | Period | Records | Updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed and SORN counts | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | End of March 2026 | 1,044 Phaeton records (licensed and SORN) | 15 September 2026 |
| Registered for the first time | Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport | 2001 to 2025 | – | 15 September 2026 |
- Figures cover Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales). Northern Ireland is not included.
- Licensed counts are vehicles with a current tax or exemption at the end of each year (or the latest quarter). SORN counts are shown separately.
- First registrations count vehicles registered in Great Britain for the first time, including used imports.
- Models are grouped by DVLA’s generic model name, so every generation and trim counts together.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.