New car registrations in the UK slumped 39.5 percent from a year earlier to 90,249 units in January 2021, as showrooms across the country remained shut, leading to the worst start to the year since 1970. Demand remained depressed for both private buyers (-38.5 percent) and large fleets (-39.7 percent). Declines were also recorded in both petrol and diesel cars registrations, which fell by 62.1 percent and 50.6 percent respectively. On a positive, however, battery electric vehicle (BEV) uptake grew by 54.4 percent to take 6.9 percent of the market. The SMMT has downgraded its forecast for 2021, saying it expects less than 1.9 million cars to be registered this year, compared with more than 2 million previously estimated, given the more severe negative impact on first quarter performance and March in particular. source: The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders Limited (SMMT)

Car Registrations in the United Kingdom averaged 153930.56 from 1962 until 2021, reaching an all time high of 562337 in March of 2017 and a record low of 4321 in April of 2020. This page provides the latest reported value for - United Kingdom Car Registrations - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. United Kingdom Car Registrations - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on February of 2021.

Car Registrations in the United Kingdom is expected to be 264000.00 by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Car Registrations in the United Kingdom to stand at 136000.00 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the United Kingdom Car Registrations is projected to trend around 169000.00 in 2022, according to our econometric models.

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United Kingdom Car Registrations

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
90249.00 132682.00 562337.00 4321.00 1962 - 2021 Monthly
Volume, NSA


Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2020-11-05 09:00 AM Oct -1.6% -4.4% -7.6%
2020-12-04 09:00 AM Nov -27.4% -1.6% -24%
2021-01-06 09:00 AM Dec -10.9% -27.4% -23%
2021-02-04 09:00 AM Jan -39.5% -10.9% -34%
Go to our Calendar for more events. Or learn more about the Calendar API for direct access.


News Stream
UK Car Sales Suffer Worst Start to a Year Since 1970
New car registrations in the UK slumped 39.5 percent from a year earlier to 90,249 units in January 2021, as showrooms across the country remained shut, leading to the worst start to the year since 1970. Demand remained depressed for both private buyers (-38.5 percent) and large fleets (-39.7 percent). Declines were also recorded in both petrol and diesel cars registrations, which fell by 62.1 percent and 50.6 percent respectively. On a positive, however, battery electric vehicle (BEV) uptake grew by 54.4 percent to take 6.9 percent of the market. The SMMT has downgraded its forecast for 2021, saying it expects less than 1.9 million cars to be registered this year, compared with more than 2 million previously estimated, given the more severe negative impact on first quarter performance and March in particular.
2021-02-04
UK New Car Registrations Drop 10.9% in December
UK new car registrations declined 10.9 percent year-on-year to 132,682 units in December of 2020. Demand fell across all segments: private (-13.9 percent), fleet (-8.3 percent) and business (-25.7 percent). Considering 2020 full year, new car registrations tumbled 29.4 percent to 1.63 million units, the lowest level of registrations since 1992. Private vehicle demand fell by 26.6 percent and registrations by large fleets saw a decline of 31.1 percent.
2021-01-06
UK New Car Registrations Decline 27.4% in November
UK new car registrations tumbled 27.4 percent year-on-year to 113,781 units in November 2020, taking trade back to levels last seen during the 2008 recession. The decline was less severe than that seen during the first lockdown largely because this time around, retailers and manufacturers were able to be better prepared to fulfil orders via delivery or click and collect. Despite these innovations, private demand still fell by 32.2 percent while registrations by large fleets saw a decline of 22.1 percent. Considering January to November, new car sales slumped 30.7 percent to 1.50 million units.
2020-12-04
UK Car Sales Suffer Worst October Since 2011
UK new car registrations declined 1.6 percent year-on-year to 140,945 units in October 2020, making it the weakest October since 2011 and -10.1% lower than the average recorded over the last decade. The arrival of new models and ongoing financial incentives helped initially to sustain UK demand in the month, but the introduction of a ‘firebreak’ lockdown in Wales on October 23rd contributed to the nation recording 25.5 percent fewer registrations by the end of the month, which accounted for more than half of the overall UK decline. With England entering a second lockdown in November, which will see the closure of vehicle showrooms, the 2020 forecast for total sales has been downgraded by a further 100,000 units to 1.56 million. This equates to a total year-on-year decline of around 750,000 registrations and a £22.5 billion loss in turnover, with 2020 now likely to be the weakest year since 1982.
2020-11-05

United Kingdom Car Registrations
In the United Kingdom, Car Registrations refers to total registration of new passenger cars.