Car statistics

Volvo 122 statistics

How many Volvo 122s 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.

Last updated
Records analysed
300 122 records (licensed and SORN)
Methodology
View methodology
  • Licensed in Great Britain 195 +1.0% on a year earlier
  • Declared SORN 105 Off the road, not taxed
  • Rank by number licensed No. 1,015 of 1,159 models we cover
  • Peak year 1996 279 licensed
  • Declared off the road 35.0% of those still registered are SORN
  • Most common fuel Petrol 99.5% of those licensed

How many Volvo 122s are left in Great Britain?

There were 195 Volvo 122s licensed in Great Britain at the end of March 2026, and a further 105 declared off the road (SORN). That is 30.1% fewer than the peak of 279 in 1996.

Volvo 122s licensed in Great Britain

The highest year-end count was 279 in 1996.

Volvo 122s licensed in Great Britain at the end of each year
Year Licensed
1994 274
1995 222
1996 279
1997 276
1998 275
1999 259
2000 250
2001 234
2002 234
2003 227
2004 226
2005 214
2006 204
2007 187
2008 171
2009 171
2010 164
2011 164
2012 160
2013 153
2014 155
2015 151
2016 147
2017 156
2018 176
2019 180
2020 185
2021 188
2022 196
2023 189
2024 195
2025 195
2026 195

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Fuel type

Source:DfT / DVLA End of March 2026 Updated

Volvo 122 MOT reliability

There were not enough MOT tests of Volvo 122s 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.

Volvo 122 engine sizes and fuel types

Of the 198 Volvo 122s licensed in the UK at the end of 2025, 77.8% have an engine of 1,701cc to 1,800cc, and 7.6% have an engine of 1,501cc to 1,600cc.

Engine sizes, end of 2025

DVLA records engine size in 100cc bands.

Volvo 122s licensed in the UK at the end of 2025, by engine size
Engine size Share of those licensed
1,701cc to 1,800cc 154 licensed 77.8%
1,501cc to 1,600cc 15 licensed 7.6%
1,901cc to 2,000cc 14 licensed 7.1%
1,801cc to 1,900cc 6 licensed 3.0%
2,001cc to 2,100cc 6 licensed 3.0%
Other sizes 3 licensed 1.5%

Source:DfT / DVLA End of 2014 to end of 2025 Updated

Engine size and fuel together, end of 2025
Engine size Fuel Licensed Share
1,701–1,800cc Petrol 154 77.8%
1,501–1,600cc Petrol 15 7.6%
1,901–2,000cc Petrol 13 6.6%
1,801–1,900cc Petrol 6 3.0%
2,001–2,100cc Petrol 6 3.0%
1,601–1,700cc Petrol 2 1.0%

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.

Volvo 122 safety recalls

We found no recalls for the Volvo 122 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 Volvo 122. 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 Volvo 122 with other Volvo models

Volvo 122 compared with other Volvo models
Model Licensed Change on a year SORN Rank Main fuel
Volvo 122 195 +1.0% 105 1015 Petrol
Volvo XC40 174,993 +19.6% 1,060 46 Hybrid
Volvo XC60 149,383 +7.1% 2,413 59 Diesel
Volvo XC90 91,505 +3.8% 6,477 104 Diesel
Volvo V40 91,276 −2.0% 4,457 105 Diesel

Data sources and methodology

Datasets used on this page
Figures Source Period Records Updated
Licensed and SORN counts Vehicle licensing statistics Department for Transport End of March 2026 300 122 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.