SIC code 5010 — Sale of motor vehicles — is a specialist classification with 68 active companies in the UK. Despite its small size, this category represents an important part of the wholesale and retail trade sector. It falls under Section G (Wholesale and retail trade) of the UK SIC 2007 classification system, which is used by Companies House to categorise all registered businesses.
See the full industry analysis on the Sale of motor vehicles industry page.
Of the 242 companies ever registered under SIC 5010, 15 have dissolved (72%). This is above the UK average and indicates moderate turnover within the sale of motor vehicles sector. With an average age of 56.9 years, companies in this sector tend to be well-established. This maturity reflects high barriers to entry and strong business continuity among surviving firms. This is a mature sector with deep roots: 90% of active companies were established before 1990. While 0% of companies formed since 2020, the sector's backbone consists of long-established businesses. The highest concentration of sale of motor vehicles companies is in MANCHESTER, with 7 active firms (10% of the sector).
SIC code 5010 stands for "Sale of motor vehicles" under the UK Standard Industrial Classification (SIC 2007) system. It belongs to Section G — Wholesale and retail trade. Companies use this code when registering with Companies House to indicate their primary business activity. The code is required for annual confirmation statements and is used by HMRC, ONS, and other government bodies for statistical and regulatory purposes.
There are currently 68 active companies registered under SIC code 5010 in the UK, out of 242 total registrations. This gives a survival rate of 28%, meaning 72% of companies registered under this code have since dissolved. These figures are based on Companies House data and updated regularly.
The top locations for sale of motor vehicles companies (SIC 5010) are: MANCHESTER (7). Geographic concentration can reflect local economic conditions, industry clusters, or proximity to key markets and supply chains.
Formation rates for SIC 5010 have been moderate: 0% of active companies formed since 2020, compared to 0% in the 2010s. The sector appears stable, with a balanced mix of established and newer businesses.
Companies classified under SIC 5010 have an average age of 56.9 years. This indicates a mature sector where businesses tend to operate long-term.
Related SIC codes within the same division include: 50200 (Sea and coastal freight water transport), 50100 (Sea and coastal passenger water transport), 50300 (Inland passenger water transport), 50400 (Inland freight water transport). Companies may use multiple SIC codes if they operate across several of these related activities. When registering with Companies House, businesses should select the code that best represents their primary activity.
You can search for companies with SIC code 5010 (Sale of motor vehicles) using UVAGATRON's company explorer, which allows filtering by SIC code, location, and company status. Alternatively, Companies House offers a basic search on their website. Our platform adds risk intelligence, director networks, and signals from 50+ government databases to each company record.
Search, filter, and analyse 68 companies classified under this SIC code with AI-powered risk intelligence.
Data sourced from Companies House, HM Land Registry, FCA Register, and 50+ government databases. SIC classification follows the UK Standard Industrial Classification of Economic Activities 2007 (SIC 2007). Last updated: 2026-04-17.