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Vehicle Licensing and Registrations

Vehicle Licensing and Registrations

New private cars licensed in 2021 increased by 21%

Online ISSN: 2009-5643
CSO statistical publication, , 11am
COVID-19 Release Information

This publication has been compiled during the COVID-19 crisis. The results contained in this publication reflect some of the impacts of the COVID-19 situation.

Main results

  • Overall 169,895 new and used private cars were licensed in 2021.
  • In 2021, 101,853 new private cars were licensed for the first time, an increase of 21% compared with the previous year. 
  • The number of used (imported) private cars licensed fell by 13% to 68,042 in 2021 compared with 78,541 in 2020.

Electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) continue to grow in popularity. Electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles constitute 16% of all new cars licensed for the first time in 2021 compared to 8% in the same period in 2020. This means that out of all new private cars, the share of new electric and plug-in-hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) has doubled. Looking exclusively at electric-only cars, the share of new electric cars licensed increased from 5% in 2020 to 8% in 2021.

Table 1.1 Number of new vehicles licensed for the first time by taxation class and type of fuel, 2021
Taxation classType of fuelTotal
PetrolDieselElectricPetrol and electric hybridDiesel and electric hybridPetrol or Diesel plug-in hybrid electricOther
Private cars32,95034,3968,55416,0272,0087,626292101,853
Goods vehicles2827,2588947157202328,387
Tractors632,428000002,491
Motor cycles2,26046600502,335
Exempt vehicles1,1633,0026091121924455,604
Public service vehicles131142311431002630
of which        
Small1794031500156
Large0232201381002474
Machines or contrivances057000000570
Other classes749900000506
Total new vehicles36,47268,4689,61616,9762,5277,995322142,376
Source: CSO

Additional data

More detailed statistics on Vehicle Licensing and Registrations can be found under “Data” and Vehicles licensed for the first time publications.