Scores of well-known cars seen on UK roads for years could no longer be around by 2029, according to a surprising new forecast. Almost 60 car models, including vehicles from Ford, Kia and Vauxhall, are set to be gone in that timescale according to predictions that looked at the falling number of registrations for specific cars in the UK.
Many could actually be gone before then, according to the predictions, which say several could go by as soon as next year. The forecast has been made by car insurance specialists who have analysed UK data to assess the declining popularity of many models.
Among the vehicles set to vanish, according to insurers at Tempcover, are the Citroën Saxo, the Nissan Primera, and the Vauxhall Vectra. These three vehicles alone are predicted to go by next year, according to their own workings out.
The outlook has been set out after analysis of 10 years of official vehicle registration data, say the insurers. Quarterly registration numbers for every model over the past decade have been tracked in order to predict an ‘extinction date’ for every model, the firm says.
It is all based on its current rate of decline, according to the insurer - with the models falling in popularity from their heyday to a point where they expect new registrations to hit zero. The insurer does emphasise that these are just a prediction - so they can't be taken as a guarantee, and more of a guide to changing tastes. And it should be stressed that the manufacturers themselves are not saying this.
Claire Wills-McKissick, temporary car insurance expert at Tempcover, said: “For many drivers, iconic models like the Citroën Saxo, Vauxhall Vectra, or Peugeot 307 are more than just vehicles, they’re part of our memories, from first drives to family holidays and countless everyday journeys. To think these models are gradually disappearing from our roads is a reminder of evolving times, but for anyone hoping to secure one of the last remaining examples, temporary car insurance is a way to easily test drive them first.
“However, it’s important to be aware that older cars naturally require more dedicated care; parts may be harder to source, and they often need greater attention during MOT inspections, for example. While owning one requires investment in time and resources, it also offers a unique opportunity to preserve a piece of motoring history for years to come.”
The firm says that as older cars age, fewer of them take to the roads. They rack up higher maintenance costs and repair bills rise.
In addition, more Brits are moving to electronic vehicles as the government prepares to phase out high-emission cars. The UK government says it "remains committed to delivering the manifesto commitment to phase out the sale of new internal combustion engine (ICE) cars by 2030 in a sustainable manner, with all new cars and vans being fully zero emission by 2035."
The full list of cars the insurer thinks could be gone by 2029
