The Department for Transport publishes its Vehicle Licensing Statistics series quarterly, using data from the DVLA's vehicle registration database. The VEH0110 dataset provides the count of licensed cars by make and model, updated each quarter. Because every licensed car in the UK must also be insured (or declared SORN under the DVLA's CIE scheme), the most-licensed models are also, by definition, the most-insured models - making DfT fleet composition data the authoritative source for understanding which cars dominate the UK insurance market by volume. Fleet composition directly affects insurer risk pools. A model with 1 million licensed units generates far more claims data than one with 10,000 units - meaning insurers have deep actuarial confidence in pricing the former and may apply conservative (higher) loadings to novel or low-volume models. This is one reason why popular volume models in moderate insurance groups (such as groups 8-20) can attract competitive premiums from many insurers simultaneously, while lower-volume vehicles may have fewer competitive quotes. For group ratings, see our cheapest cars to insure guide and most expensive cars to insure guide. For full market overview, see the car insurance hub. UK licensed car fleet by manufacturer - DfT dataThe DfT VEH0110 table shows the count of licensed cars by make. The following manufacturers consistently hold the largest shares of the UK licensed car fleet based on DfT published data:
Source: DfT Vehicle Licensing Statistics VEH0110 Q3 2025. Rankings are by total licensed units across all fuel types and body styles within the manufacturer. Exact unit counts are available in the DfT published dataset at gov.uk/government/statistics/vehicle-licensing-statistics. Most licensed individual car models - DfT VEH0110The DfT publishes individual model counts within the VEH0110 table. The following models consistently appear among the most-licensed individual cars in the UK fleet based on published DfT data:
Note: The Ford Fiesta ceased production in 2023; its licensed fleet count is declining as cars are scrapped or exported but it remains one of the most-numerous models in the GB fleet due to its long production run. Insurance group ranges are indicative from Thatcham published data - always check the specific registered variant. EV and alternatively-fuelled vehicle adoption trendThe DfT publishes licensed vehicle counts by fuel type in its VEH0130 table, showing the share of the fleet that is battery electric (BEV), plug-in hybrid (PHEV), mild hybrid (MHEV) and conventional petrol/diesel. The trend shows rapid growth in BEV and PHEV registrations since 2020, driven by the government's Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate (which requires manufacturers to sell an increasing proportion of zero-emission vehicles annually) and the Plug-in Car Grant scheme (now closed to private buyers but previously administered by the DVLA and OZEV):
What this means for UK driversThe dominance of Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen in the licensed fleet means these models have the most extensive claims data histories with UK insurers. Very large actuarial datasets allow insurers to price these models with high confidence, which typically means competitive premiums relative to their Thatcham group. A Ford Fiesta in Group 12, for example, will have claims data from hundreds of thousands of policy years behind it - giving the insurer confidence to price that risk accurately rather than conservatively. The growing share of battery electric vehicles in the fleet is creating a new actuarial dynamic. BEV models have shorter data histories, higher repair costs (particularly for battery and high-voltage system damage), and in some cases restricted approved-repairer networks - all of which the ABI has noted as factors contributing to higher average premiums for EVs relative to comparable petrol models in the same Thatcham group. As the BEV fleet matures and repair infrastructure expands, this gap is expected to narrow. For insurance group information on specific models, see cheapest cars to insure UK 2026. For the fleet size and growth context, see our number of cars in the UK 2026 guide. For premium comparisons, see average UK car insurance cost 2026. Methodology - how we sourced this data
We refresh this article when the DfT publishes its next quarterly Vehicle Licensing Statistics bulletin (VEH0110 model breakdown). Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat is the most common car in the UK?Based on DfT Vehicle Licensing Statistics VEH0110, the Ford Fiesta has historically been one of the most-numerous individual car models in the GB licensed fleet by total unit count. The Vauxhall Corsa and Ford Focus also consistently appear among the most-licensed models. Ford, Vauxhall and Volkswagen are consistently the manufacturers with the largest total licensed fleet presence in DfT data. Exact current rankings are available at gov.uk/government/statistics/vehicle-licensing-statistics. How many electric cars are there in the UK?The DfT's VEH0130 fuel type breakdown shows that battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are approaching 5% of the total licensed car fleet in Great Britain as of Q3 2025, with significant growth since 2020 driven by the Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate and falling EV purchase prices. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) represent an additional share. Both categories are tracked in the DfT quarterly publication. Why are popular car models easier to insure?Insurers price motor risk using actuarial models that rely on historical claims data for each specific vehicle make, model and variant. Very high-volume models (such as those with hundreds of thousands of licensed units in DfT data) have large datasets that allow insurers to price with statistical confidence rather than applying conservative loadings for uncertainty. More competitive pricing across many insurers simultaneously tends to keep premiums lower for high-volume models, other things being equal. Is it more expensive to insure an electric car?ABI published commentary notes that electric vehicles have attracted higher average premiums than comparable petrol models, driven by higher repair costs (battery systems, specialist calibration), shorter actuarial data histories, and restricted approved-repairer networks in some cases. Thatcham Research assesses BEVs using the same criteria as petrol vehicles and some EV models attract elevated insurance groups as a result. As the BEV fleet grows and repair infrastructure matures, the premium differential relative to petrol equivalents is expected to narrow over time.
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Most Insured Car Models in the UK 2026: DVLA Vehicle Fleet Statistics
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