VOLKSWAGEN · VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON · Cars
VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON Uncommon
As of 2026 Q1, 1,101 VOLKSWAGEN PHAETONs remain registered in the UK — an increasingly uncommon sight on today's roads. That's down from a peak of 1,994 in 2014 Q3 — only 55% of the high-water mark, a loss of about 893 cars. They're disappearing at roughly 82 a year (7.5% of what's left), a pace that would halve the survivors by around 2035 if it held — though in practice the last, most-cherished examples tend to linger far longer. Tellingly, 45% are declared SORN — kept off the road in garages and barns rather than driven, the signature of a car being looked after rather than used up.
Survivors over time
How rare is it?
Uncommon — a few thousand still about (1,101).
Rarer than 34% of the 2,429 UK car models we track.
Fuel breakdown
📉 Rate of decline
Disappearing at about 82 a year (7.5% of survivors). At that pace roughly 746 would remain in 5 years, and half the current fleet is gone by around ~2035.
About the PHAETON
The Volkswagen Phaeton ( FAY-tən) (Typ 3D) is a full-size sedan/saloon manufactured by the German automobile manufacturer Volkswagen, described by Volkswagen as their "premium class" vehicle. Introduced at the 2002 Geneva Motor Show, the Phaeton was marketed worldwide. Sales in North America ended in 2006 and global sales ended in 2016. The name Phaeton derives from Phaëton, the son of Phoebus (or Helios) in Greek mythology, by way of the phaeton auto body style and the type of horse-drawn carriage that preceded it. Production ended in March 2016 and an all-electric second generation was slated...
VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON — questions & answers
How many VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON are left in the UK?
As of 2026 Q1, 1,101 VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON were still registered in the UK — 611 licensed and on the road, plus 490 declared SORN (off-road). The figures come from official DVLA vehicle licensing data.
Is the VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON rare?
The VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON is uncommon, with 1,101 still about, making it rarer than 34% of the 2,429 UK car models we track.
Is the VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON increasing or decreasing?
Over the last year the number of VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON on UK roads fell by 74 (6.3%). At the current rate of decline, roughly 746 would remain in 5 years.
What fuel do most VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON use?
Most VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON run on diesel — about 88% of those still registered, with the rest split across petrol.
When did the VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON peak?
The VOLKSWAGEN PHAETON peaked at 1,994 registered in 2014 Q3, and was first recorded in the data in 2014 Q3.