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Vehicle Licensing and Registrations

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  • There was a total of 2,717,722 vehicles under current licence in 2018, of which 2,106,369 (77.5%) were private cars.
  • Of the 2,106,369 private cars under licence, 121,157 were new cars licensed for the first time in 2018.
  • Of the new private cars licensed for the first time in 2018, 58.9% had an engine capacity of between 1401 and 2000cc, and 94.6% were in either the A or B CO2 emission bands.

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

Table 1.1 Number of mechanically propelled vehicles under current licence by taxation class on 31 December, 1998-2018
            Public service vehicles   
YearPrivate carsMotor cyclesGoods vehiclesTractors1, excavators, dumpers, etcSmallLargeExempt vehiclesOthers1Total
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
20172,066,11239,873349,14389,36621,34510,37130,84368,8262,675,879
20182,106,36940,198355,27384,40221,43310,94431,10667,9972,717,722
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 2018
Licensing authorityPrivate cars   Motor cyclesGoods vehiclesTractors    PSV vehiclesExempt vehiclesOther classesTotal
Carlow28,7825955,9971,6463152961,56639,197
Cavan32,0194318,4832,6793494111,55645,928
Clare56,8359629,3573,0965748142,58574,223
Cork256,9285,49442,02110,0352,6543,85710,445331,434
Donegal64,95774914,8783,1751,0009974,20289,958
Dublin535,46812,70572,6601,33314,70210,2808,627655,775
Galway113,6081,44920,3465,0571,5562,1135,237149,366
Kerry70,4971,05911,8083,8661,0078944,05193,182
Kildare104,0132,17916,6122,1571,2959373,120130,313
Kilkenny44,2818718,1943,4175674962,09859,924
Laois34,9064966,0702,6974073761,42746,379
Leitrim14,5041773,35295317427693420,370
Limerick89,0441,47914,6873,4211,0111,2883,482114,412
Longford17,2592204,0301,23019623096424,129
Louth52,3398698,1831,0108017411,21465,157
Mayo59,74461813,0134,7406071,2132,42482,359
Meath88,6101,73614,7112,6491,3438262,536112,411
Monaghan25,9443048,0731,7242883141,16437,811
Offaly33,9616786,5632,3133943412,09646,346
Roscommon33,6882966,6102,4032594991,89745,652
Sligo28,9624075,9881,5752935371,56939,331
Tipperary78,2681,43713,9575,1475919753,503103,878
Waterford57,2341,2917,9732,0064446432,01071,601
Westmeath40,9035968,0172,1454053591,51953,944
Wexford75,4481,51513,9743,8895577523,65799,792
Wicklow68,1671,5859,7161,5875886412,56684,850
Total2,106,36940,198355,27375,95032,37731,10676,4492,717,722
Source: Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport
Table 1.3 All vehicles licensed for the first time by taxation class, 2009 - 2018
             Number
Taxation class2009201020112012201320142015201620172018
New vehicles
Private cars54,43284,90786,93276,25671,34892,361121,110141,931127,045121,157
Goods vehicles10,05110,51011,18810,85511,02416,25422,93928,05124,10125,459
Tractors1,8831,3591,7311,9964,4032,1861,9861,9341,8102,043
Motor cycles1,8791,3211,1029558789601,2441,5461,4311,556
Exempt vehicles3,6904,2074,0143,9303,9554,7625,2346,2075,8545,910
Public service vehicles493306297531378517761957942976
of which          
Small190193195275160237343500505418
Large303113102256218280418457437558
Machines or contrivances409222294409606399409444424472
Other classes288244203161295213167223233292
Total new vehicles73,125103,076105,76195,09392,887117,652153,850181,293161,840157,865
           
Used (Imported) vehicles
Private cars49,46439,10341,14938,46949,76252,86347,21770,13892,50899,456
Goods vehicles13,7618,2075,2274,7317,5339,0748,35210,92514,16814,859
Tractors2,8452,1942,5371,7816,5982,3571,7871,9082,4532,198
Other classes10,1947,8386,1034,9597,2635,9745,3176,6328,8899,361
Total used (imported) vehicles76,26457,34255,01649,94071,15670,26862,67389,603118,018125,874
           
Total all classes149,389160,418160,777145,033164,043187,920216,523270,896279,858283,739
Source: CSO
Table 1.4 Number of new vehicles licensed for the first time by taxation class and body type, 2018
Body typeTaxation classTotal
Private carsGoods vehiclesTractorsMotor cyclesPublic service vehiclesMachines or contrivancesExempt vehiclesOther classes
SmallLarge
Agricultural tractor001,94900002001,969
Ambulance00000001020102
Articulated tractor unit09780000010979
Box van04730000000473
Bus12000052302417576
Chassis cab0800000008
Convertible (inc. sports cover)16300000030166
Crew cab1852,608000005302,846
Estate10,6741005100376011,102
Excavator/digger/trench digger100000820083
Fire Engine000000010010
Fork lift010000520053
Hatchback36,1910002400763036,978
Jeep5,09550090025305,362
Loading shovel00000014600146
MPV33,842400193002,2702136,330
Minibus35000035031386
Moped000490000049
Motor caravan30000002159164
Motorcycle0001,339000501,344
Pick up451,020000001501,080
Recovery vehicle060000160022
Refuse collector0930000070100
Rigid0300000003
Saloon18,60000011400757019,471
Scooter00015700000157
Security van/truck0200000002
Sports/coupe (non convertible)642000000110653
Station wagon/jeep14,6753002200924115,625
Telescopic handler004300012400167
Van95319,05300002120120,129
Other411,20151115050191801,630
Total121,15725,4592,0431,5564185584725,910292157,865
Source: CSO
Table 1.5 Number of new vehicles licensed for the first time by taxation class and type of fuel, 2018
Taxation classType of fuelTotal
PetrolDieselElectricPetrol and electric hybridDiesel and electric hybridPetrol or Diesel plug-in hybrid electricOther
Private cars46,77665,8141,2226,62917150121,157
Goods vehicles825,372670021025,459
Tractors52,038000002,043
Motor cycles1,5490700001,556
Exempt vehicles1,4164,1971127601005,910
Public service vehicles209222014000976
of which        
Small203642014000418
Large055800000558
Machines or contrivances047110000472
Other classes428602000292
Total new vehicles49,77899,1001,3286,921172710157,865
Source: CSO
Table 1.6 Number of new private cars licensed for the first time by type of fuel, 2013 - 2018
Type of fuel201320142015201620172018
Petrol18,96423,41732,96339,47239,39146,776
Diesel51,77267,74086,10399,30682,49265,814
Electric512224763926231,222
Petrol and electric hybrid5559531,3542,4744,2796,629
Diesel and electric hybrid0186411
Petrol or diesel plug-in hybrid electric00122283259715
Petrol and Ethanol620000
Other0266000
Total71,34892,361121,110141,931127,045121,157
Source: CSO
Table 1.7 Number of new private cars licensed for the first time by engine capacity (cc), 2009 - 2018
Engine cubic capacity2009201020112012201320142015201620172018
Up to 900 cc2634821881704627266781,2402,439
901-1000 cc2,0963,4353,2773,1324,0245,6288,97811,75013,66620,545
1001-1300 cc7,91117,39016,61512,31111,82314,46317,27018,24416,11513,872
1301-1400 cc10,10210,6009,5828,2897,3858,71511,15911,6068,8207,002
1401-1500 cc5,48210,8019,6486,3216,4779,94616,14524,98122,75020,335
1501-1600 cc7,47519,08622,51521,06618,88323,19930,83929,59924,23120,414
1601-2000 cc18,83819,37120,82820,22918,19323,80528,95438,16734,05730,556
2001-2400 cc1,7412,9953,2023,4923,3114,5675,1184,4794,1833,420
Over 2400 cc7611,1951,1831,2281,0821,5761,9212,4271,9832,574
Total54,43284,90786,93276,25671,34892,361121,110141,931127,045121,157
Source: CSO
Table 1.8 Number of new private cars licensed for the first time by type of fuel and CO2 emission band, 2018
Type of fuelCO2 emission bandTotal
ABCDEFGNot available1
Petrol31,01413,8381,526219816035346,776
Diesel49,80611,4172,827943602149125865,814
Electric1,22200000001,222
Petrol and electric hybrid6,35424231200006,629
Diesel and electric hybrid100000001
Petrol or diesel plug-in hybrid electric7140100000715
Total89,11125,4974,3851,1646832094761121,157
Source: CSO
1 CO2 emission bands are only available for vehicles registered under VAT category A.
Table 1.9 Number of new private cars licensed for the first time by most popular make, 2018
RankingNew Used (imported)
MakeNumber MakeNumber
1Volkswagen 13,496 Volkswagen 12,424
2Toyota 11,484 Ford 11,686
3Hyundai 10,950 Audi 8,604
4Ford 10,746 BMW 7,596
5Nissan 9,277 Hyundai 6,970
6Skoda 8,668 Toyota 6,856
7Renault 7,075 Nissan 6,006
8Kia 7,005 Mercedes Benz 5,735
9Peugeot 5,374 Vauxhall 4,855
10Opel 4,893 Kia 3,331
11Audi 4,806 Peugeot 2,911
12BMW 4,128 Skoda 2,867
13Mercedes Benz 3,953 Honda 2,658
14Seat 3,600 Volvo 2,325
15Dacia 3,411 Citroen 2,297
16Mazda 2,162 Renault 2,021
17Volvo 1,690 Mazda 1,562
18Honda 1,260 Lexus 1,553
19Suzuki 1,229 Seat 1,212
20Citroen 1,186 Mitsubishi 1,132
Other makes4,764 Other makes4,855
Total121,157 Total99,456
Source: CSO
Table 1.10 Number of new motor cycles licensed for the first time by engine capacity (cc) and make, 2018
MakeEngine capacity (cc)Total
Up to 5051 - 125126 - 250251 - 500501 - 750751 - 1000Over 1000
Aprilia10000225
BMW0001334798161
Ducati00010171937
Harley Davidson00003145875
Honda441131568573912348
Hyosung00600006
Kawasaki0141440121485
Keeway28292000059
KTM0600031726
Piaggio551600017
Suzuki011516233816190
Triumph00000323062
Vespa60000006
Yamaha3245629496713241
All other makes89729388715238
Total205386591711932482941,556
Source: CSO
Table 1.11 Number of used (imported) motor cycles licensed for the first time by engine capacity (cc) and make, 2018
MakeEngine capacity (cc)Total
Up to 5051 - 125126 - 250251 - 500501 - 750751 - 1000Over 1000
Aprilia25219151044
BMW02112387188302
Ducati00003342663
Gilera3712300025
Harley Davidson000037109119
Honda461384985287215129949
Kawasaki04312113550126367
KTM06327142445119
Moto Guzzi0000531321
Peugeot431200010
Piaggio341341800069
Suzuki71817492636966489
Triumph0000185879155
Vespa50400009
Yamaha943151218112298480
All other makes1731161915722127
Total1272701552389566919113,348
Source: CSO
Table 1.12 Number of new vehicles licensed for the first time in each licensing authority, 2009 - 2018
Licensing authority2009201020112012201320142015201620172018
Carlow 9591,3711,3571,1491,1521,4611,8282,2121,9252,011
Cavan9291,2851,3151,1531,1121,4051,9272,2962,4071,881
Clare1,4512,3562,3771,8691,7952,4313,3053,7303,2983,302
Cork10,03114,54414,38511,14110,70613,79418,96422,57119,50919,006
Donegal1,8282,9092,5152,1932,0512,7233,6434,2823,4993,249
Dublin24,07030,99734,50134,26833,66842,04854,02162,87058,26557,418
Galway2,9404,5604,5713,7013,6704,4936,4817,2986,2736,117
Kerry1,6942,7052,5082,1931,9532,5543,4204,2183,6513,536
Kildare2,9024,1524,2673,6933,7674,9276,5037,8076,8606,974
Kilkenny1,4172,0722,1431,8641,8252,2132,9233,4952,8692,931
Laois9741,4081,4161,1311,1921,3991,8262,1932,0091,950
Leitrim355529542450445521740893729701
Limerick3,4574,4954,8733,7133,3714,4965,6636,9445,9275,555
Longford5196777236025526558581,031908837
Louth1,8182,5622,4692,0671,8242,5683,3933,9323,3683,441
Mayo1,5862,2932,1951,9611,9292,3113,0853,6593,1062,943
Meath2,5533,5843,3982,9332,8543,6825,0066,2905,2395,157
Monaghan7191,1381,1109799471,1161,5251,8381,5491,479
Offaly9521,4171,3031,2231,2271,4851,9392,4002,0072,055
Roscommon1,4492,1422,3693,2033,7174,2534,8775,0395,1004,420
Sligo9071,2801,2461,0639841,2201,5721,8251,5811,556
Tipperary2,2763,3883,3343,0032,7823,4814,4075,2174,4954,432
Waterford1,9252,9853,0292,8012,5303,6364,4575,2315,2834,650
Westmeath 1,1402,0411,8421,6891,7292,0842,5953,7712,6542,551
Wexford 2,4813,6363,6573,0313,1724,1335,3796,1305,7066,100
Wicklow 1,7932,5502,3162,0201,9332,5633,5134,1213,6233,613
Total73,125103,076105,76195,09392,887117,652153,850181,293161,840157,865
Source:CSO
Table 1.13 Number of new tractors licensed for the first time by licensing authority and make, 20171
Licensing authorityMakeTotal
CLAASCase/IHDeutzFendt   John DeereKubotaLandiniMassey- FergusonNew HollandSDFTumosanValtraZetorOther
Carlow82631520730010148
Cavan23006301641050242
Clare6211214431100203186
Cork141738515344570411222241
Donegal000160231632101145
Dublin323213531760030360
Galway85942113192502456112
Kerry370217411751194576
Kildare5414141013140020462
Kilkenny51222223018170040590
Laois521012222091002359
Leitrim0000302222020114
Limerick630228431390032679
Longford1000200520021013
Louth25008001210002333
Mayo0206279512171037190
Meath12533232312900501390
Monaghan0100902720000223
Offaly482112135250212470
Roscommon6222711881424250
Sligo0120001630023119
Tipperary17150338061634243011149
Waterford2172013131160110764
Westmeath91218311060100143
Wexford487625262622003010119
Wicklow2212500930301533
Total12414453493865354359315122676391201,810
Source: CSO
1 Detailed information on agricultural vehicles is published for 2017 in this publication in accordance with Commission Decision 92/157/EEC as upheld on 28 May 1998.
Table 1.14 Value profile of new cars registered, 2018
ValueGross registrationsExempt registrationsNet registrationsNet registrations
NumberNumberNumber%
0-70000000.0
7,001 - 8,0001100.0
8,001 - 13,0002,859172,8422.3
13,001 - 14,0001,897151,8821.6
14,001 - 15,0002,521382,4832.1
15,001 - 20,00020,36440519,95916.5
20,001 - 25,00025,21886624,35220.1
25,001 - 30,00030,8371,33729,50024.4
30,001 - 40,00027,0481,70825,34020.9
40,001 - 50,0008,3375627,7756.4
50,001 - 60,0004,0171723,8453.2
60,001 - 70,0001,078361,0420.9
70,001 - 80,000892208720.7
80,001 - 90,00041954140.3
90,001 - 100,00023712360.2
100,001 - 150.00046044560.4
150,001 - 200,000720720.1
200,001 - 250,000140140.0
Over 250,0009180.0
Total1126,2805,188121,092100.0
Source: Revenue Commissioners
1 Licensing and registration are different processes. A vehicle is licensed when a valid motor tax disc is issued for the first time whereas registration occurs when a vehicle gets its licence plate (registration number) for the first time.
Table 1.15 Age profile of used (imported) cars registered, 2018
AgeGross registrationsExempt registrationsNet registrationsNet registrations
YearsNumberNumberNumber%
12,113812,0322.1
28,1432737,8708.0
310,50934710,16210.3
420,31237719,93520.3
518,72842618,30218.6
612,46639612,07012.3
79,0063168,6908.8
86,6572586,3996.5
95,1132044,9095.0
103,3551793,1763.2
111,8331651,6681.7
127301076230.6
13 years and over2,9143352,5792.6
Total1101,8793,46498,415100.0
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.
Table 1.16 Country of last registration of used (imported) cars, 2017 - 2018
CountryNet registrations 2017 Net registrations 2018
Number% Number%
UK88,49397.2 94,49596.0
Japan2,2622.5 3,6443.7
USA320.0 350.0
Germany410.1 330.0
Others2050.2 2080.2
Total191,033100.0 98,415100.0
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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