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Vehicle Licensing and Registrations

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  • There was a total of 2,624,958 vehicles under current licence in 2016, of which 2,026,977 (77.2%) were private cars.
  • Of the 2,026,977 private cars under licence, 141,931 were new cars licensed for the first time in 2016.
  • Almost two thirds (65.3%) of new private cars licensed for the first time in 2016 had an engine capacity of between 1401 and 2000cc, while 96.2% were in either the A or B CO2 emission bands.

For further information on vehicle make and models, please check out the CSO's new interactive tool for Ireland's Top Motors here.

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, 1997-2016
            Public service vehicles   
YearPrivate carsMotor cyclesGoods vehiclesTractors1, excavators, dumpers, etcSmallLargeExempt vehiclesOthers1Total
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
20151,985,13036,974330,54191,88221,9779,25928,93665,5952,570,294
20162,026,97738,023342,25989,48221,6759,84130,11266,5892,624,958
Source: Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
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.
Table 1.2 Number of mechanically propelled vehicles by taxation class and licensing authority on 31 December 2016
Licensing authorityPrivate cars   Motor cyclesGoods vehiclesTractors    PSV vehiclesExempt vehiclesOther classesTotal
Carlow27,2805376,1221,7702962841,61537,904
Cavan30,1993857,6342,8593363981,50443,315
Clare54,7159089,3613,2305847962,52072,114
Cork247,6975,15341,22010,3032,7223,70410,254321,053
Donegal62,62874014,4703,5669979724,33287,705
Dublin524,73312,04866,6211,34614,12710,1038,319637,297
Galway109,2711,38520,7565,6691,4782,0085,270145,837
Kerry68,3261,04612,0684,0839498534,05791,382
Kildare98,1322,02215,3322,2261,3219202,932122,885
Kilkenny42,5598478,0713,5135435352,06558,133
Laois32,7405035,9502,8023803581,45044,183
Leitrim13,7401613,3101,04716525998419,666
Limerick86,4621,41613,9533,5329831,1433,445110,934
Longford16,4672303,8041,34918323699623,265
Louth49,8797978,0831,1457737331,21262,622
Mayo56,54158012,9405,1426011,1782,30479,286
Meath82,0001,53014,3822,7681,3128072,394105,193
Monaghan24,5902927,5271,9333013161,20036,159
Offaly32,4716486,3742,5113543182,08344,759
Roscommon31,6772886,3242,6102464771,90843,530
Sligo27,8403975,7021,7312864871,56738,010
Tipperary75,2001,36513,7485,3956099923,413100,722
Waterford54,7381,2277,8052,1744315881,98368,946
Westmeath39,6565977,8352,2793883351,51952,609
Wexford71,5601,42813,6664,0495666893,58395,541
Wicklow65,8761,4939,2011,6635856232,46781,908
Total2,026,97738,023342,25980,69531,51630,11275,3762,624,958
Source: Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport

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Table 1.3 All vehicles licensed for the first time by taxation class, 2007 - 2016
             Number
Taxation class2007200820092010201120122013201420152016
New vehicles       
Private cars180,754146,47054,43284,90786,93276,25671,34892,361121,110141,931
Goods vehicles46,04331,45910,05110,51011,18810,85511,02416,25422,93928,051
Tractors4,4424,1541,8831,3591,7311,9964,4032,1861,9861,934
Motor cycles3,5223,1941,8791,3211,1029558789601,2441,546
Exempt vehicles7,4226,2863,6904,2074,0143,9303,9554,7625,2346,207
Public service vehicles1,9561,614493306297531378517761957
of which          
Small1,283893190193195275160237343500
Large673721303113102256218280418457
Machines or contrivances1,445906409222294409606399409444
Other classes862734288244203161295213167223
Total new vehicles246,446194,81773,125103,076105,76195,09392,887117,652153,850181,293
           
Used (Imported) vehicles          
Private cars58,71960,09149,46439,10341,14938,46949,76252,86347,21770,138
Goods vehicles14,78513,13313,7618,2075,2274,7317,5339,0748,35210,925
Tractors3,4923,4122,8452,1942,5371,7816,5982,3571,7871,908
Other classes10,55411,10410,1947,8386,1034,9597,2635,9745,3176,632
Total used (imported) vehicles87,55087,74076,26457,34255,01649,94071,15670,26862,67389,603
           
Total all classes333,996282,557149,389160,418160,777145,033164,043187,920216,523270,896
Source: CSO

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Table 1.4 Number of new vehicles licensed for the first time by taxation class and body type, 2016
Body typeTaxation classTotal
Private carsGoods vehiclesTractorsMotor cyclesPublic service vehiclesMachines or contrivancesExempt vehiclesOther classes
SmallLarge
Agricultural tractor001,8450000401,849
Ambulance00000001340134
Articulated tractor unit01,23830000001,241
Box van14400000010442
Bus15000042102135492
Chassis cab134000000035
Convertible (inc. sports cover)17800000020180
Crew cab1231,795000005101,969
Estate16,6942003900758017,493
Excavator/digger/trench digger000000682070
Fork lift000000521053
Hatchback39,8460002300795040,664
Jeep6,923100000023507,168
Loading shovel01000010800109
MPV35,197500179002,053037,434
Minibus24000136061380
Moped000810000081
Motor caravan300000019599
Motorcycle0001,2900006501,355
Pick up152660000060287
Recovery vehicle070000190026
Refuse collector062000000062
Rigid0300000003
Saloon30,452000230001,133031,815
Scooter00015400000154
Sports/coupe (non convertible)826000000140840
Station wagon/jeep10,1222002400557010,705
Telescopic handler013000012700158
Van1,41423,06100100260224,738
Other971,12456213070108781,557
Total141,93128,0511,9341,5465004574446,207223181,293
Source: CSO

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Table 1.5 Number of new vehicles licensed for the first time by taxation class and type of fuel, 2016
Taxation classType of fuelTotal
PetrolDieselElectricPetrol and electric hybridDiesel and electric hybridPetrol or Diesel plug-in hybrid electricOther
Private cars39,47299,3063922,47442830141,931
Goods vehicles428,03510002028,051
Tractors71,927000001,934
Motor cycles1,5391510001,546
Exempt vehicles1,0795,0353890106,207
Public service vehicles2192907000957
of which        
Small2147207000500
Large045700000457
Machines or contrivances044210001444
Other classes621700000223
Total new vehicles42,128135,8924112,57142861181,293
Source: CSO

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Table 1.6 Number of new private cars licensed for the first time by type of fuel, 2011 - 2016
Type of fuel201120122013201420152016
Petrol23,24617,78818,96423,41732,96339,472
Diesel61,73056,52051,77267,74086,10399,306
Electric4816351222476392
Petrol and electric hybrid5385915559531,3542,474
Diesel and electric hybrid0001864
Petrol or diesel plug-in hybrid electric0000119283
Petrol and Ethanol1,3701,1946200
Other0002690
Total86,93276,25671,34892,361121,110141,931
Source: CSO

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Table 1.7 Number of new private cars licensed for the first time by engine capacity (cc), 2007 - 2016
Engine cubic capacity2007200820092010201120122013201420152016
Up to 900 cc114103263482188170462726678
901-1000 cc6,2964,5942,0963,4353,2773,1324,0245,6288,97811,750
1001-1300 cc21,94116,9217,91117,39016,61512,31111,82314,46317,27018,244
1301-1400 cc48,52539,51210,10210,6009,5828,2897,3858,71511,15911,606
1401-1500 cc7,5918,6245,48210,8019,6486,3216,4779,94616,14524,981
1501-1600 cc37,05428,0457,47519,08622,51521,06618,88323,19930,83929,599
1601-2000 cc42,87838,02018,83819,37120,82820,22918,19323,80528,95438,167
2001-2400 cc6,0604,2721,7412,9953,2023,4923,3114,5675,1184,479
Over 2400 cc10,2956,3797611,1951,1831,2281,0821,5761,9212,427
Total180,754146,47054,43284,90786,93276,25671,34892,361121,110141,931
Source: CSO

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Table 1.8 Number of new private cars licensed for the first time by type of fuel and CO2 emission band, 2016
Type of fuelCO2 emission bandTotal
ABCDEFGNot available1
Petrol25,51012,887692209786826239,472
Diesel82,42012,5772,770578592313203699,306
Electric3920000000392
Petrol and electric hybrid2,21425010000002,474
Diesel and electric hybrid300100004
Petrol or diesel plug-in hybrid electric2830000000283
Total110,82225,7143,4727886703814638141,931
Source: CSO
1 CO2 emission bands are only available for vehicles registered under VAT category A.

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Table 1.9 Number of private cars licensed for the first time by most popular make, 2016
RankingNew Used (imported)
MakeNumber MakeNumber
1Volkswagen15,094 Ford9,894
2Toyota14,728 Volkswagen9,503
3Hyundai14,630 Audi5,871
4Ford14,092 Vauxhall5,712
5Nissan11,503 Toyota5,629
6Skoda9,067 BMW4,042
7Renault8,371 Nissan3,359
8Opel7,883 Hyundai3,309
9Kia6,425 Peugeot3,303
10Audi5,841 Mercedes Benz2,608
11BMW5,280 Citroen2,359
12Dacia4,326 Honda2,071
13Peugeot4,053 Kia1,824
14Mercedes Benz3,622 Renault1,708
15Mazda2,911 Skoda1,596
16Seat2,622 Volvo1,276
17Volvo1,921 Mazda1,128
18Honda1,496 Seat850
19Citroen1,437 Lexus536
20Land Rover1,276 Fiat504
Other makes5,353 Other makes3,056
Total141,931 Total70,138
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, 2016
MakeEngine capacity (cc)Total
Up to 5051 - 125126 - 250251 - 500501 - 750751 - 1000Over 1000
Aprilia10000023
BMW000012111172295
CPI2020000022
Ducati00010192848
Gilera00000000
Harley Davidson00003105265
Honda35871529363110243
Hyosung01202005
Kawasaki0121619123181
Keeway16337000056
KTM0016201322
Lexmoto5190000024
Neco1640000020
Peugeot10000001
Piaggio2164700038
Suzuki0111133331612188
Triumph00003171737
Xingyue0012000012
Yamaha7051921416030282
All other makes4630610507104
Total23134571931562763741,546
Source: CSO

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Table 1.11 Number of used (imported) motor cycles licensed for the first time by engine capacity (cc) and make, 2016
MakeEngine capacity (cc)Total
Up to 5051 - 125126 - 250251 - 500501 - 750751 - 1000Over 1000
Aprilia3532416437
BMW00111650144212
Ducati000014211954
Harley Davidson000101193105
Honda646243118719083567
Kawasaki038181004063232
KTM013816171055
Moto Guzzi00000099
Peugeot25000007
Piaggio23124700046
Suzuki367311974568357
Triumph000018323585
Vespa13200006
Yamaha3221081437475335
All other makes19296711121397
Total60132681147065086162,204
Source: CSO

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Table 1.12 Number of new vehicles licensed for the first time in each licensing authority, 2007 - 2016
Licensing authority2007200820092010201120122013201420152016
Carlow 3,2682,6199591,3711,3571,1491,1521,4611,8282,212
Cavan3,4652,6769291,2851,3151,1531,1121,4051,9272,296
Clare5,5264,4701,4512,3562,3771,8691,7952,4313,3053,730
Cork31,76725,02610,03114,54414,38511,14110,70613,79418,96422,571
Donegal6,0144,4651,8282,9092,5152,1932,0512,7233,6434,282
Dublin76,71660,15924,07030,99734,50134,26833,66842,04854,02162,870
Galway10,8398,4032,9404,5604,5713,7013,6704,4936,4817,298
Kerry5,6514,5131,6942,7052,5082,1931,9532,5543,4204,218
Kildare11,1308,6972,9024,1524,2673,6933,7674,9276,5037,807
Kilkenny4,9963,9101,4172,0722,1431,8641,8252,2132,9233,495
Laois3,5093,0349741,4081,4161,1311,1921,3991,8262,193
Leitrim1,223940355529542450445521740893
Limerick10,1338,5773,4574,4954,8733,7133,3714,4965,6636,944
Longford1,7761,3815196777236025526558581,031
Louth6,0184,7251,8182,5622,4692,0671,8242,5683,3933,932
Mayo5,7804,3141,5862,2932,1951,9611,9292,3113,0853,659
Meath9,9967,6412,5533,5843,3982,9332,8543,6825,0066,290
Monaghan2,7052,0717191,1381,1109799471,1161,5251,838
Offaly3,7513,0389521,4171,3031,2231,2271,4851,9392,400
Roscommon4,1543,2771,4492,1422,3693,2033,7174,2534,8775,039
Sligo2,9182,3599071,2801,2461,0639841,2201,5721,825
Tipperary8,0486,5662,2763,3883,3343,0032,7823,4814,4075,217
Waterford7,2916,4041,9252,9853,0292,8012,5303,6364,4575,231
Westmeath 4,2013,1471,1402,0411,8421,6891,7292,0842,5953,771
Wexford 8,7897,1212,4813,6363,6573,0313,1724,1335,3796,130
Wicklow 6,7825,2841,7932,5502,3162,0201,9332,5633,5134,121
Total246,446194,81773,125103,076105,76195,09392,887117,652153,850181,293
Source:CSO

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Table 1.13 New tractors licensed for the first time by licensing authority and make, 20151
            Number
Licensing authorityMakeTotal
CLAASCase/IHDeutzFendt   John DeereLandiniMassey- FergusonNew HollandSDFZetorOther
Carlow702211058001045
Cavan201111215521848
Clare6030202285091285
Cork191612730246721058272
Donegal010272414311953
Dublin4130310149012891
Galway100641401617052193
Kerry3001131916511362
Kildare1123011081802863
Kilkenny605621017110346115
Laois901173151500657
Leitrim0000222211414
Limerick5150252912012282
Longford1000903401523
Louth6200100122021347
Mayo113028118272871
Meath15143250146021787
Monaghan000260128031142
Offaly50201326440326101
Roscommon9160847305548
Sligo00315351042942
Tipperary1406343523422128167
Waterford4040821012032063
Westmeath12123644923854
Wexford81131122524151126127
Wicklow2022309404834
Total1591380544064730636624724591,986
Source: CSO
1 Detailed information on agricultural vehicles is published for 2015 in this publication in accordance with Commission Decision 92/157/EEC as upheld on 28 May 1998.

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Table 1.14 Value profile of new cars registered, 2016
ValueGross registrationsExempt registrationsNet registrationsNet registrations
NumberNumberNumber%
0-70000000.0
7,001 - 8,0000000.0
8,001 - 13,0003,992213,9712.8
13,001 - 14,0001,435101,4251.0
14,001 - 15,0005,025724,9533.5
15,001 - 20,00025,81354025,27317.8
20,001 - 25,00036,7491,07235,67725.2
25,001 - 30,00037,2511,51535,73625.2
30,001 - 40,00021,8271,31420,51314.5
40,001 - 50,0008,7324378,2955.9
50,001 - 60,0003,2981143,1842.2
60,001 - 70,000924278970.6
70,001 - 80,000692106820.5
80,001 - 90,00031263060.2
90,001 - 100,00029912980.2
100,001 - 150.00041564090.3
150,001 - 200,000310310.0
200,001 - 250,0003030.0
Over 250,0008170.0
Total1146,8065,146141,660100.0
Source: Revenue Commissioners
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.

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Table 1.15 Age profile of used (imported) cars registered, 2016
AgeGross registrationsExempt registrationsNet registrationsNet registrations
YearsNumberNumberNumber%
11,605631,5422.2
23,8752163,6595.3
35,7132785,4357.8
412,88234012,54218.1
512,65735312,30417.8
69,0653908,67512.5
77,2483346,91410.0
86,1082725,8368.4
95,6982725,4267.8
102,0552171,8382.7
111,4671701,2971.9
121,2311471,0841.6
13 years and over3,1143652,7494.0
Total172,7183,41769,301100.0
Source: Revenue Commissioners
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.

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Table 1.16 Country of last registration of used (imported) cars, 2015 - 2016
CountryNet registrations 2015Net registrations 2016
Number%Number%
UK42,82694.366,48795.9
Japan2,3115.12,5593.7
Australia190.0370.1
USA310.1340.0
Others2390.51840.3
Total145,426100.069,301100.0
Source: Revenue Commissioners
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.
 

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