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Vehicle Licensing and Registrations

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  • There was a total of 2,515,322 vehicles under current licence in 2014, of which 1,943,868 were private cars.

  • Of the 1,943,868 private cars under licence, 92,361 were new cars licensed for the first time in 2014.

  • Half (50.9%) of new private cars licensed for the first time in 2014 had an engine capacity of between 1501 and 2000cc, while 94.6% were in either the A or B CO2 emission bands.

This map is © Ordnance Survey Ireland. All rights reserved. License number 01/05/001.
Table 1.1 Number of mechanically propelled vehicles under current licence by taxation class on 31 December, 1985-2014
         Number
YearPrivate carsMotor cyclesGoods vehiclesTractors1, excavators, dumpers, etc  Exempt vehiclesOthers1Total
       Public service vehicles
SmallLarge
          
1985709,54626,02593,36968,5524,3583,2956,9052,708914,758
1986711,08725,735101,47566,1494,7103,4227,1462,760922,484
1987736,59525,828111,02367,5974,8263,5217,5252,838959,753
1988749,45924,877118,76469,2194,9523,7017,5982,726981,296
1989773,39624,492130,02072,7075,0613,8347,2382,8121,019,560
1990796,40822,744143,16672,8144,9774,0477,2552,8481,054,259
1991836,58324,652148,33175,7425,3634,3887,1193,3671,105,545
1992858,49824,649144,79876,7845,7114,5577,5143,9621,126,473
1993891,02723,921135,22577,1156,1444,8357,8745,0971,151,238
1994939,02223,632135,80977,6806,9254,9858,0526,1681,202,273
1995990,38423,452141,78577,9258,0865,2828,3367,2531,262,503
19961,057,38323,847146,60178,6969,2195,5358,6618,6741,338,616
19971,134,42924,424158,15878,40510,3405,84510,33610,3931,432,330
19981,196,90124,398170,86678,04711,2496,09611,74811,5481,510,853
19991,269,24526,677188,81475,59113,0766,56412,24815,9411,608,156
20001,319,25030,638205,57573,80613,6376,95713,86418,4941,682,221
20011,384,70432,913219,51073,71916,5477,08414,96520,2421,769,684
20021,447,90833,147233,06973,95618,2527,09016,18620,4381,850,046
20031,507,10635,094251,13076,42519,8567,39217,18523,2411,937,429
20041,582,83334,854268,08276,69720,7447,43018,84726,8202,036,307
20051,662,15734,300286,54876,30721,8887,62520,32129,5342,138,680
20061,778,86134,927318,60478,52023,2847,99722,11732,0832,296,393
20071,882,90137,178345,87480,23926,6548,45124,76135,5062,441,564
20081,924,28139,409351,30779,61329,0538,91126,44138,5532,497,568
20091,902,42939,552343,94075,31828,2848,55626,95442,6272,467,660
20101,872,71538,145327,09671,45726,6808,24527,09244,9572,416,387
20111,887,81036,582320,96671,67725,1298,27627,76946,9472,425,156
20121,882,55035,106309,21969,96124,1808,26627,45546,4862,403,223
20131,910,16536,623317,84999,12222,9648,48827,68259,6642,482,557
20141,943,86836,573317,37894,66922,3738,80228,03363,6262,515,322
          
1 2013 data for these categories were inflated by the three month transition period for motor tax gapping provided for in the
   Non-Use of Motor Vehicles Act 2013.
Source: Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport     
Table 1.2 Number of mechanically propelled vehicles by taxation class and licensing authority on 31 December 2014
        Number
Licensing authorityPrivate carsGoods vehiclesTractors   Motor cyclesExempt vehicles    PSV vehiclesOther classesTotal
        
Carlow26,4285,6811,8225252702631,57536,564
Cavan28,9807,2253,1643863723261,52241,975
Clare52,8059,4573,4388597686302,39870,355
Cork239,74339,04810,6664,9363,3392,87510,022310,629
Donegal61,35213,2753,9728009479404,29485,580
Dublin503,72657,7661,34611,4539,27213,9698,014605,546
Galway104,38019,7226,1291,3221,9031,4335,054139,943
Kerry65,47812,0224,3421,0048349263,98188,587
Kildare93,01413,4092,1921,8578901,2662,807115,435
Kilkenny41,1087,5433,6848405265331,92356,157
Laois30,7435,2872,9224853253431,42441,529
Leitrim13,4583,1121,2421582371711,01419,392
Limerick84,34413,2273,6671,4021,1179883,390108,135
Longford16,0933,4521,51222922616798422,663
Louth47,3007,4181,2127236807111,14659,190
Mayo54,53112,6515,5025901,0186092,04176,942
Meath77,13713,3102,8781,5387381,2872,22899,116
Monaghan23,8847,1972,2122863112751,17535,340
Offaly30,3976,2302,6895912913411,92142,460
Roscommon30,4545,9092,8863244112541,85842,096
Sligo27,3945,4621,8754124202991,53937,401
Tipperary72,85612,9555,7631,3529346043,27397,737
Waterford52,1467,6002,2311,1556074141,84866,001
Westmeath37,2206,9082,4645743374381,45549,396
Wexford66,17313,1524,2871,3116595033,30489,389
Wicklow62,7248,3601,7261,4616016102,28277,764
         
Total1,943,868317,37885,82336,57328,03331,17572,4722,515,322
         
Source: Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport    

View Statbank Table

Table 1.3 All vehicles licensed for the first time by taxation class, 2004 - 2014
           Number
Taxation class20042005200620072008200920102011201220132014
           
New vehicles          
Private cars149,635166,270173,273180,754146,47054,43284,90786,93276,25671,34892,361
Goods vehicles31,16538,39643,61946,04331,45910,05110,51011,18810,85511,02416,254
Tractors2,8813,1683,6874,4424,1541,8831,3591,7311,9964,4032,186
Motor cycles3,8333,2403,2063,5223,1941,8791,3211,102955878960
Exempt vehicles5,0994,8516,1697,4226,2863,6904,2074,0143,9303,9554,762
Public service vehicles1,1811,4001,7321,9561,614493306297531378517
of which          
Small6529021,0331,283893190193195275160237
Large529498699673721303113102256218280
Machines or contrivances1,2411,3591,3271,445906409222294409606399
Other classes472600714862734288244203161295213
      
Total new vehicles195,507219,284233,727246,446194,81773,125103,076105,76195,09392,887117,652
       
Used (Imported) vehicles      
Private cars21,39138,20754,24458,71960,09149,46439,10341,14938,46949,76252,863
Goods vehicles7,94811,59015,22814,78513,13313,7618,2075,2274,7317,5339,074
Tractors3,0213,3273,6013,4923,4122,8452,1942,5371,7816,5982,357
Other classes6,9928,1769,34010,55411,10410,1947,8386,1034,9597,2635,974
     
Total used (imported) vehicles39,35261,30082,41387,55087,74076,26457,34255,01649,94071,15670,268
     
Total all classes234,859280,584316,140333,996282,557149,389160,418160,777145,033164,043187,920
            
Source: CSO          

View Statbank Table

Table 1.4 Number of new vehicles licensed for the first time by taxation class and body type, 2014
 Number
Body typeTaxation classTotal
Private carsGoods vehiclesTractorsMotor cyclesPublic service vehiclesMachines or contrivancesExempt vehiclesOther classes
SmallLarge
           
Agricultural tractor002,0610000502,066
Ambulance000000071071
Articulated tractor unit09170000000917
Box van02700000010271
Bus1110002600717296
Chassis cab0400000004
Convertible (inc. sports cover)11900000010120
Crew cab5572500000180798
Estate11,1671001200784011,964
Excavator/digger/trench digger000000863089
Fire engine0000000303
Fork lift000000520052
Hatchback24,584000900577025,170
Jeep3,947150000015614,119
Loading shovel00000012010121
MPV21,97550083001,5661523,644
Minibus1000011900535
Moped000670000067
Motor caravan100000014749
Motorcycle000754000210775
Pick up0550000011066
Recovery vehicle020000140016
Refuse collector049000000049
Rigid0400000004
Saloon23,63000011900952024,701
Scooter00012800000128
Sports/coupe (non convertible)668000000110679
Station wagon/jeep5,08830090039205,492
Telescopic handler00290007900108
Van1,05313,4770000376614,615
Other53726961141451051221,163
           
Total92,36116,2542,1869602372803994,762213117,652
           
Source: CSO

View Statbank Table

Table 1.5 Number of new vehicles licensed for the first time by taxation class and type of fuel, 2014
       Number
Taxation classType of fuelTotal
PetrolDieselElectricPetrol and electricPetrol and ethanolOther
  
Private cars23,41767,74022295322792,361
Goods vehicles216,241800316,254
Tractors32,18300002,186
Motor cycles95316000960
Exempt vehicles7843,936240004,762
Public service vehicles15140200517
of which       
Small12350100237
Large02790100280
Machines or contrivances02110000399
Other classes200000213
     
Total new vehicles25,16291,225238995230117,652
        
Source: CSO

View Statbank Table

Table 1.6 Number of new private cars licensed for the first time by type of fuel, 2009 - 2014
      Number
Type of fuel200920102011201220132014
     
Petrol22,80227,12423,24617,78818,96423,417
Diesel30,64553,99861,73056,52051,77267,740
Electric9234816351222
Petrol and Electric280713538591555953
Petrol and Ethanol6963,0491,3701,19462
Other0000027
  
Total54,43284,90786,93276,25671,34892,361
       
Source: CSO

View Statbank Table

Table 1.7 Number of new private cars licensed for the first time by engine capacity (cc), 2004 - 2014
           Number
Engine cubic capacity20042005200620072008200920102011201220132014
           
Up to 900 cc145159125114103263482188170462
901-1000 cc8,4688,2379,0716,2964,5942,0963,4353,2773,1324,0245,628
1001-1300 cc22,43320,42521,50821,94116,9217,91117,39016,61512,31111,82314,463
1301-1400 cc38,53444,54544,85448,52539,51210,10210,6009,5828,2897,3858,715
1401-1500 cc6,5818,4267,3067,5918,6245,48210,8019,6486,3216,4779,946
1501-1600 cc25,86732,60234,18337,05428,0457,47519,08622,51521,06618,88323,199
1601-2000 cc37,67440,49541,85942,87838,02018,83819,37120,82820,22918,19323,805
2001-2400 cc3,3322,8473,8486,0604,2721,7412,9953,2023,4923,3114,567
Over 2400 cc6,6018,53410,51910,2956,3797611,1951,1831,2281,0821,576
 
Total149,635166,270173,273180,754146,47054,43284,90786,93276,25671,34892,361
            
Source: CSO

View Statbank Table

Table 1.8 Number of new private cars licensed for the first time by type of fuel and CO2 emission band1, 2014
      Number
Type of fuelCO2 emission bandTotal
ABCDEFGNot available1
     
Petrol13,9298,97040849301613223,417
Diesel47,55915,7712,3437323748321012867,740
Electric2220000000222
Petrol and electric877502600000953
Petrol and ethanol020000002
Other27000000027
     
Total62,61424,7932,7777814048481143092,361
          
1 CO2 emission bands are only available for vehicles registered under VAT category A.    
Source: CSO

View Statbank Table

Table 1.9 Number of private cars licensed for the first time by most popular make, 2014
    
RankingNew Used (imported)
MakeNumber MakeNumber
1Volkswagen11,329 Ford7,730
2Toyota9,658 Volkswagen6,688
3Ford9,040 Vauxhall5,183
4Hyundai7,410 Toyota4,540
5Nissan6,691 Audi4,478
6Opel6,156 BMW3,609
7Skoda6,005 Peugeot2,821
8Renault4,821 Citroen2,524
9Audi4,157 Nissan2,129
10Kia4,062 Renault1,736
11BMW3,859 Hyundai1,688
12Peugeot2,804 Mercedes Benz1,416
13Dacia2,536 Skoda1,231
14Seat2,334 Honda1,216
15Mercedes Benz1,963 Kia883
16Mazda1,764 Mazda833
17Citroen1,330 Volvo831
18Honda1,287 Seat572
19Volvo1,175 Mini558
20Landrover 770 Saab424
 Other makes3,210 Other makes1,773
   
Total92,361 Total52,863
      
Source: CSO 

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Table 1.10 Number of new motor cycles licensed for the first time by engine capacity (cc) and make, 2014
        Number
MakeEngine capacity (cc)Total
Up to 5051 - 125126 - 250251 - 500501 - 750751 - 1000Over 1000
 
Aprilia21010105
BMW2000647120175
Ducati0000181625
Gilera00000000
Harley Davidson00000104959
Honda277292327811177
Hyosung11102005
Kawasaki00312681443
Keeway11151000027
KTM0003001215
Peugeot50000005
Piaggio1460600026
Suzuki074663037126
Triumph00001201132
Yamaha3922134131011112
All other makes773067530128
 
Total178221396291118251960
         
Source: CSO

View Statbank Table

Table 1.11 Number of used (imported) motor cycles licensed for the first time by engine capacity (cc) and make, 2014
        Number
MakeEngine capacity (cc)Total
Up to 5051 - 125126 - 250251 - 500501 - 750751 - 1000Over 1000
 
Aprilia1512511025
BMW0200844106160
Ducati000010101636
Harley Davidson00000105969
Honda1144152414411670424
Kawasaki01913553948165
KTM00451628659
Moto Guzzi000123612
Peugeot11000002
Piaggio19113800041
Suzuki01111161266251277
Triumph00003241744
Vespa32010006
Yamaha1129141114746240
All other makes15257121351895
 
Total5111459964933994431,655
         
Source: CSO

View Statbank Table

Table 1.12 Number of new vehicles licensed in each licensing authority, 2005 - 2014
          Number
Licensing authority2005200620072008200920102011201220132014
          
Carlow 2,5232,9193,2682,6199591,3711,3571,1491,1521,461
Cavan2,9893,2413,4652,6769291,2851,3151,1531,1121,405
Clare4,7835,1195,5264,4701,4512,3562,3771,8691,7952,431
Cork28,56830,11431,76725,02610,03114,54414,38511,14110,70613,794
Donegal5,0245,4466,0144,4651,8282,9092,5152,1932,0512,723
Dublin70,49272,99776,71660,15924,07030,99734,50134,26833,66842,048
Galway9,46310,26510,8398,4032,9404,5604,5713,7013,6704,493
Kerry4,8655,4125,6514,5131,6942,7052,5082,1931,9532,554
Kildare10,00410,65111,1308,6972,9024,1524,2673,6933,7674,927
Kilkenny4,0534,4154,9963,9101,4172,0722,1431,8641,8252,213
Laois3,0283,1343,5093,0349741,4081,4161,1311,1921,399
Leitrim9941,1821,223940355529542450445521
Limerick9,1479,54710,1338,5773,4574,4954,8733,7133,3714,496
Longford1,4941,5231,7761,381519677723602552655
Louth5,1505,6476,0184,7251,8182,5622,4692,0671,8242,568
Mayo5,4585,9625,7804,3141,5862,2932,1951,9611,9292,311
Meath8,9339,4569,9967,6412,5533,5843,3982,9332,8543,682
Monaghan2,3812,7262,7052,0717191,1381,1109799471,116
Offaly3,2443,5163,7513,0389521,4171,3031,2231,2271,485
Roscommon3,6703,5334,1543,2771,4492,1422,3693,2033,7174,253
Sligo2,6572,8352,9182,3599071,2801,2461,0639841,220
Tipperary North 3,1763,9824,2953,5741,2611,9582,1051,8841,6922,350
Tipperary South3,6853,5113,7532,9921,0151,4301,2291,1191,0901,131
Waterford6,6387,2417,2916,4041,9252,9853,0292,8012,5303,636
Westmeath 3,5374,0284,2013,1471,1402,0411,8421,6891,7292,084
Wexford 7,5168,9278,7897,1212,4813,6363,6573,0313,1724,133
Wicklow 5,8126,3986,7825,2841,7932,5502,3162,0201,9332,563
          
Total219,284233,727246,446194,81773,125103,076105,76195,09392,887117,652
           
Source:CSO         

View Statbank Table

Table 1.13 New tractors licensed for the first time by licensing authority and make, 20131
            Number
Licensing authorityMakeTotal
CLAASCase/IHDeutzFendt   John DeereLandiniMassey-FergusonNew HollandSDFZetorOther
             
Carlow521415113130101983
Cavan02203220602817833202
Clare3423426541333140201
Cork1610458914459622594400
Donegal05001917233461034148
Dublin232631713230023110
Galway25261065014413283742291
Kerry2201182151510934108
Kildare1762625411361425137
Kilkenny222132219243241130
Laois750022531507826161
Leitrim0710141415101051490
Limerick6480497241121724152
Longford14112281622221695
Louth5101225516151528113
Mayo132332522202672248209
Meath13147161641317955245
Monaghan6634142336414918164
Offaly1080022523202951150
Roscommon914802030142652268216
Sligo13101037147132382
Tipperary North11423441120316543180
Tipperary South13413418182421022146
Waterford7112016718131936120
Westmeath1541032810393091350211
Wexford51010361344451845208
Wicklow311194137001251
 
Total18519474638112686897301233029644,403
             
1 Detailed information on agricultural vehicles is published for 2013 in this publication in accordance with Commission Decision 92/157/EEC as upheld on 28 May 1998.
Source: CSO

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Table 1.14 Value profile of new cars registered, 2014
     
ValueGross registrationsExempt registrationsNet registrationsNet registrations
     
NumberNumberNumber%
0-70000000.0
7,001 - 8,0000000.0
8,001 - 13,0003,376203,3563.6
13,001 - 14,0002,887312,8563.1
14,001 - 15,0003,837693,7684.1
15,001 - 20,00018,17355717,61619.0
20,001 - 25,00029,094103328,06130.3
25,001 - 30,00021,284122320,06121.7
30,001 - 40,00010,2787659,51310.3
40,001 - 50,0004,9522564,6965.1
50,001 - 60,0001,545421,5031.6
60,001 - 70,000346113350.4
70,001 - 80,00028342790.3
80,001 - 90,00015341490.2
90,001 - 100,00018311820.2
100,001 - 150.00021802180.2
150,001 - 200,000180180.0
200,001 - 250,0003120.0
Over 250,0000000.0
     
Total196,6304,01792,613100.0
     
1 Licensing differs from registration in that a vehicle is licensed when a valid motor tax disc is issued for the first
   time. Registration occurs when a vehicle gets its licence plate (registration number) for the first time.
Source: Revenue Commissioners

View Statbank table

Table 1.15 Age profile of used (imported) cars registered, 2014
     
AgeGross registrationsExempt registrationsNet registrationsNet registrations
     
YearsNumberNumberNumber%
1956678891.7
23,9811823,7997.4
34,4712314,2408.2
411,23624510,99121.3
59,9713269,64518.7
65,4902875,20310.1
75,9262735,65310.9
82,3332502,0834.0
92,2691682,1014.1
102,3721762,1964.3
111,6081281,4802.9
121,1251309951.9
13 years and over2,7333452,3884.6
     
Total154,4712,80851,663100.0
     
1 Licensing differs from registration in that a vehicle is licensed when a valid motor tax disc is issued for the first
   time. Registration occurs when a vehicle gets its licence plate (registration number) for the first time.
Source: Revenue Commissioners

View Statbank table

Table 1.16 Country of last registration of used (imported) cars, 2013 - 2014
CountryNet registrations 2013 Net registrations 2014
Number% Number%
     
UK47,42898.5 49,94596.7
Japan4711.0 1,4622.8
Germany460.1 370.1
France210.0 240.0
Others1800.4 1950.4
     
Total148,146100 51,663100
      
1 Licensing differs from registration in that a vehicle is licensed when a valid motor tax disc is issued
   for the first time. Registration occurs when a vehicle gets its licence plate (registration number) for
   the first time.
Source: Revenue Commissioners

  

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