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VOLKSWAGEN · VOLKSWAGEN CALIFORNIA · Cars

VOLKSWAGEN CALIFORNIA Uncommon

As of 2026 Q2, 1,861 VOLKSWAGEN CALIFORNIAs remain registered in the UK — an increasingly uncommon sight on today's roads. Numbers are at their highest recorded level since the model first appeared in our data in 2014 Q3. Unusually, the numbers are actually rising — up 275 (17.3%) over the past year, as imports and barn-finds rejoin the register faster than cars leave it.

VOLKSWAGEN CALIFORNIA car — UK survivor photo
Photo: Vauxford / CC BY-SA 4.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
Surviving in the UK · 2026 Q2
1,861
1,843 licensed18 SORN
▲ 275 (+17.3%) yr/yr
Peak: 1,861 in 2026 Q2 · first seen 2014 Q3

Survivors over time

0 465 931 1,396 1,861 2014 Q32021 Q12026 Q2

How rare is it?

Uncommon — a few thousand still about (1,861).

Rarer than 29% of the 2,315 UK car models we track.

Fuel breakdown

Of the 1,861 on the road today
Diesel 84%Plug-in hybrid 16%

Trend

Numbers are broadly stable — no clear decline to project. Often a sign of a cherished, well-preserved model.
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About the CALIFORNIA

The Volkswagen Golf () is a compact car/small family car (C-segment) produced by the German automotive manufacturer Volkswagen since 1974, marketed worldwide across eight generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates – including as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada (Mk1 and Mk5), and as the Volkswagen Caribe in Mexico (Mk1). The Golf is Volkswagen's best-selling model and the third best-selling automobile of all time, with over 37 million units sold worldwide. The original Golf Mk1 was a front-engined, front-wheel drive replacement for the air-cooled...

Source: Wikipedia, text under CC BY-SA 4.0.

VOLKSWAGEN CALIFORNIA — questions & answers

How many VOLKSWAGEN CALIFORNIA are left in the UK?

As of 2026 Q2, 1,861 VOLKSWAGEN CALIFORNIA were still registered in the UK — 1,843 licensed and on the road, plus 18 declared SORN (off-road). The figures come from official DVLA vehicle licensing data.

Is the VOLKSWAGEN CALIFORNIA rare?

The VOLKSWAGEN CALIFORNIA is uncommon, with 1,861 still about, making it rarer than 29% of the 2,315 UK car models we track.

Is the VOLKSWAGEN CALIFORNIA increasing or decreasing?

Over the last year the number of VOLKSWAGEN CALIFORNIA on UK roads rose by 275 (17.3%).

What fuel do most VOLKSWAGEN CALIFORNIA use?

Most VOLKSWAGEN CALIFORNIA run on diesel — about 84% of those still registered, with the rest split across plug-in hybrid.

When did the VOLKSWAGEN CALIFORNIA peak?

The VOLKSWAGEN CALIFORNIA peaked at 1,861 registered in 2026 Q2, and was first recorded in the data in 2014 Q3.

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