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Extra information
For more information on this release:
E-mail: transport@cso.ie Noreen Dorgan (+353) 21 453 5260 Colm Hayes (+353) 21 453 5263
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 2009-5678

COVID-19 Release Information

This release has been compiled during the COVID-19 crisis. The results contained in this release reflect some of the economic impacts of the COVID-19 situation. For further information see Press Statement Vehicles licensed for the first time July 2021.

CSO statistical release, , 11am

Vehicles licensed for the first time

July 2021

 July January - July
20202021Change 20202021Change
New private cars15,32920,2324,903 64,51380,05515,54224.10%
New goods vehicles2,2982,707409 12,07017,7125,64246.70%
New other vehicles1,8261,703123 7,2148,2541,04014.4%
Total new vehicles19,45324,6425,189 83,797106,02122,22426.50%
         
Used private cars8,2755,5902,685 34,85645,55210,69630.7%
Used goods vehicles1,048819229 5,5646,8001,23622.2%
Used other vehicles1,1311,09833 5,1478,6503,50368.1%
Total used vehicles10,4547,5072,947 45,56761,00215,43533.9%

20,232 new private cars were licensed in July 2021

Figure 1 New private cars licensed for the first time
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In July 2021, 20,232 new private cars were licensed in Ireland, compared with 15,329 in July 2020 an increase of 32.0%. This compares with 18,741 new private cars licensed in July 2019.

In addition, the number of used (imported) private cars licensed fell from 8,275 in July 2020 to 5,590 in July 2021. The number of used (imported) private cars licensed is still 3,613 vehicles lower in July 2021 than in July 2019.

Looking at the first seven months of 2021, a total of 80,055 new private cars were licensed, an increase of 24.1% compared with the same period last year. The number of used (imported) private cars licensed increased by 30.7% compared with the same period in 2020.

Electric and hybrid cars continue to grow in popularity. 32.7% of all new cars licensed in the first seven months of 2021 are electric and hybrid cars, compared with 19.0% of new cars licensed in the first seven months of 2020. When referring to electric and hybrid cars that both plug-in and do not, the combined number of new electric and hybrid cars licensed in the first seven months of 2021 was 113.8% greater than those licensed in the same period in 2020.

Looking solely at electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), those constitute 14.3% of all new cars licensed for the first time in the first seven months of 2021 compared to 6.2% in the first seven months of 2020. This means that out of all new private cars, the share of new electric and plug-in-hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) has more than doubled.

The licensing figures also show that:

  • In July 2021, Toyota (2,629) was the most popular make of new private car licensed followed by Volkswagen (2,602), Hyundai (2,576), Skoda (1,751) and Kia (1,187). Together these five makes represent more than half (53.1%) of all new private cars licensed in July 2021. See table 3.
  • In the first seven months of 2021, 34.7% of all new private cars licensed were diesel, compared with 43.5% in the same period for 2020. Of new private cars licensed in the same period, 81.3% were in the A/B CO2 emissions bands. See table 2B.
  • In July 2021, 2,707 new goods vehicles were licensed in Ireland, an increase of 17.8% compared with July 2020 and 29 less vehicles than in July 2019 See table 1.
  • On a seasonally adjusted basis, new private cars licensed increased by 8.9% in July 2021 compared with June 2021. The number of seasonally adjusted used (imported) private cars licensed rose by 6.1% over the same period. See table 4 and figure 4.
  • In 2021 to date, 0.4% of imported private cars licensed were less than one year old (vehicles previously registered abroad in 2021) while 6.3% were ten years old or older. See table 5 and figure 5.
  • There were 27,754 new diesel private cars licensed in the first seven months of 2021, compared with 28,077 in the same period in 2020. For used (imported) diesel private cars, the total licensed was 26,282 in the first seven months of 2021. This compares with 23,267 in the same period last year. See table 6.

Registration and licensing figures may differ in a given month for a number of reasons, some of which are outlined below:

  • Vehicles registered in the latter part of a particular month may not be licensed until a later month because of the time lapse between registration and first licensing.
  • In some cases, a vehicle may be registered by a dealership in advance of a sale.
  • Registered vehicles which are not used in a public place (e.g. tractors for use exclusively on the land) may not need to be licensed.

Seasonally adjusting the Vehicle Licensing series during the COVID-19 crisis period will be challenging until the scale and shape of its impact on the time series is better understood. The initial seasonally adjusted results might be revised for some months ahead as future observations become available. Users should be aware that there is increased uncertainty around the seasonally adjusted figures during this period.
Most popular makes of new cars, July 2021
Toyota13
Volkswagen12.9
Hyundai 12.7
Skoda8.7
Kia5.9
Other46.9
Most popular makes of new cars, July 2020
Toyota11.8
Volkswagen12.2
Hyundai 8.8
Skoda7.6
Kia5.7
Other53.8
Table 1: Number of vehicles licensed for the first time classified by taxation class
Taxation ClassJuly January - July
201920202021 201920202021
New vehicles    
New Private Cars 18,74115,32920,232 96,38064,51380,055
New Goods Vehicles 2,7362,2982,707 17,04112,07017,712
New Tractors 244236243 1,6051,4781,708
New Motor Cycles 222324344 1,2841,0901,452
New Exempt Vehicles 9151,129952 4,3743,9304,081
New Other 196137164 1,3397161,013
Total New Vehicles 23,05419,45324,642 122,02383,797106,021
       
Used (imported) vehicles       
Used private cars 9,2038,2755,590 60,89734,85645,552
Used goods vehicles 1,3391,048819 8,9805,5646,800
Used tractors 243236245 1,6471,2272,262
Used motorcycles 384415292 2,3451,5742,299
Used other vehicles 606480561 4,0182,3464,089
Total used vehicles 11,77510,4547,507 77,88745,56761,002
        
Total all vehicles 34,82929,90732,149 199,910129,364167,023
Open in Excel: Vehicles licensed for the first time July 2021 Table 1 (XLS 32KB)
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Table 2A: Number of new private cars licensed for the first time by CO2 emission band and fuel type, July 2021
BandFuel Type Total
PetrolDieselElectricPetrol & electric hybridDiesel & electric hybridPetrol or Diesel plug-in electric hybrid Other
A 1,4711,0881,4642,12261,8661308,147
B 4,3813,30701,226101288,944
C 8721269014311002,466
D 137214045100397
E 54119015000188
F 3540000057
G 1170000018
Not available0150000015
Total6,9296,0731,4643,4223281,87813820,232
Open in Excel: Vehicles licensed for the first time July 2021 Table 2A (XLS 33KB)
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Table 2B: Number of new private cars licensed for the first time by CO2 emission band and fuel type, January-July 2021
BandFuel TypeTotal
PetrolDieselElectricPetrol & electric hybridDiesel & electric hybridPetrol or Diesel plug-in electric hybridOther
A 5,5574,5945,6497,897185,78820029,703
B 15,81914,28504,924339172335,407
C 3,4586,5360421,2034011,243
D 8081,52702315002,571
E 172448054200676
F 2629807000331
G 55410000096
Not available3250000028
Total25,89827,7545,64913,1551,5675,80922380,055
Open in Excel: Vehicles licensed for the first time July 2021 Table 2B (XLS 33KB)
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Table 3: Number of new and used (imported) private cars licensed for the first time by make, July 2021
MakeJuly January - July
NewUsed (imported)Total NewUsed (imported)Total
Audi 7535111,2643,1424,4407,582
BMW 8005471,3473,3024,6817,983
Citroen 144792236586421,300
Dacia 496225181,6491271,776
Fiat 5066116186547733
Ford 1,1494691,6186,0534,36110,414
Honda 1452073525511,5882,139
Hyundai 2,5763032,8798,2322,38210,614
Jaguar 414081148329477
Kia 1,1871541,3414,8721,3266,198
Land Rover 126591856216591,280
Lexus 8759146319597916
Mazda 251583098594061,265
Mercedes Benz 4683448122,4772,9875,464
Mini 9964163448453901
Mitsubishi 11772189258668926
Nissan 8034171,2203,3393,2586,597
Opel 79107912,21822,220
Peugeot 1,0261591,1854,4461,1725,618
Renault 6481307783,0869664,052
Seat 779768552,9896143,603
Skoda 1,7511741,9256,9871,4828,469
Ssangyong 2212366268
Subaru 8715245175
Suzuki 262503129253071,232
Tesla 38104860359662
Toyota 2,6294203,04910,2102,96813,178
Vauxhall 018518501,4321,432
Volkswagen 2,6027533,3559,7755,55215,327
Volvo 1871042911,0271,0462,073
z. Other 197502475854481,033
z. Total 20,2325,59025,822 80,05545,552125,607
The information in this table is available in much greater detail in Databases (see PxStat link below)
Open in Excel: Vehicles licensed for the first time July 2021 Table 3 (XLS 33KB)
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County breakdown Table : New private cars licensed for the first time with possible misscoded Landrover model codes 2021M07 These records have been excluded as no mod_combine code exists - fix and run again                                                                                                                                       RegNo=211WW1782 Make=GAI Model=003 description=GAIA OG                                                                                                                                                                                                                    RegNo=212KE593 Make=LVG Model=002 description=LV TONG GRAF CARELLO                                                                                                                                                                                                        RegNo=212D3730 Make=BMW Model=183 description=430i M SPORT ED 4CEC 2DR AUTO                                                                                                                                                                                               RegNo=212D974 Make=MER Model=183 description=S 400 S 400 D 4MATIC AMG LINE                                                                                                                                                                                                RegNo=212D1942 Make=MER Model=183 description=S 400 D 4MATIC AMG LINE 4DR A                                                                                                                                                                                               RegNo=212D2071 Make=LAR Model=052 description=RANGE ROVER VELAR 2.0 TD4 R DY                                                                                                                                                                                              RegNo=212C2502 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212C2504 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212C2512 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212C2516 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212C2523 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212C2922 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212CW271 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212CW327 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                    County breakdown Table : New private cars licensed for the first time with possible misscoded Landrover model codes 2021M07 These records have been excluded as no mod_combine code exists - fix and run again  RegNo=212D10863 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                        RegNo=212D11731 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                        RegNo=212D3178 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D6718 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D7610 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D8363 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D8364 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D8365 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D8366 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D8369 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D8370 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D8371 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D8372 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D8374 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                    County breakdown Table : New private cars licensed for the first time with possible misscoded Landrover model codes 2021M07 These records have been excluded as no mod_combine code exists - fix and run again  RegNo=212D8375 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D8376 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D8377 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D8378 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D8379 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D8380 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D8382 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D8383 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D8384 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D8385 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D8387 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D8403 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D9722 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D9815 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                    County breakdown Table : New private cars licensed for the first time with possible misscoded Landrover model codes 2021M07 These records have been excluded as no mod_combine code exists - fix and run again  RegNo=212G579 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                          RegNo=212KE1130 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                        RegNo=212KE1167 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                        RegNo=212MH1029 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                        RegNo=212MN239 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212MO455 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212SO260 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212W667 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                          RegNo=212WW558 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                         RegNo=212D14099 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON COMFORT PLUS 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                     RegNo=212D9817 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON COMFORT PLUS 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                      RegNo=212KY539 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON COMFORT PLUS 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                      RegNo=212W672 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON COMFORT PLUS 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                       RegNo=212C2518 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 2 TONE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                  RegNo=212C2851 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 2 TONE 5DR                                                             County breakdown Table : New private cars licensed for the first time with possible misscoded Landrover model codes 2021M07 These records have been excluded as no mod_combine code exists - fix and run again                                                                                                                                       RegNo=212D12194 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 2 TONE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                 RegNo=212D7597 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 2 TONE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                  RegNo=212D7601 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 2 TONE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                  RegNo=212D8389 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 2 TONE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                  RegNo=212D8390 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 2 TONE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                  RegNo=212D8391 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 2 TONE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                  RegNo=212D8392 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 2 TONE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                  RegNo=212D8393 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 2 TONE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                  RegNo=212D8507 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 2 TONE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                  RegNo=212D9819 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 2 TONE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                  RegNo=212KK456 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 2 TONE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                  RegNo=212L732 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 2 TONE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                   RegNo=212L833 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 2 TONE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                   RegNo=212MO475 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 2 TONE 5DR                                                             County breakdown Table : New private cars licensed for the first time with possible misscoded Landrover model codes 2021M07 These records have been excluded as no mod_combine code exists - fix and run again  RegNo=212OY305 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 2 TONE 5DR                                                                                                                                                                                                  RegNo=212WX633 Make=HYU Model=058 description=BAYON EXECUTIVE 2 TONE 5DR                                                            
X-axis labelUnadjusted dataAdjusted dataTrend
July 2016224621184411533
August 201697811172611535
September 201658421160811493
October 201638311155511391
November 201618461093611255
December 2016679909011111
January 2017266681120910976
February 2017169051074810848
March 2017171801093510699
April 2017134271062910538
May 201795811023210374
June 20173585966610213
July 2017213161088310053
August 2017810599379895
September 2017482899739772
October 2017325594869731
November 2017159493969764
December 201760181139866
January 201825813103349991
February 2018165011063910088
March 2018160881007910095
April 201811557961910021
May 20189362100899897
June 2018371695289765
July 20182074399699665
August 2018768194949600
September 2018439795519524
October 2018287478509439
November 2018164793009399
December 2018778100459450
January 20192227992539581
February 20191417892149725
March 201914404103459809
April 201913794102939790
May 2019912697519643
June 2019385891729409
July 20191874184069161
August 2019720293748968
September 2019410486248878
October 2019321487688870
November 2019167691818863
December 201972988848813
January 20202066586968748
February 20201326386588719
March 20201023970247066
April 2020133810451071
May 2020149017111708
June 2020218942903907
July 20201532969637081
August 20207360986710156
September 202057471157511531
October 202041891179711623
November 2020146877237634
December 20201032121357633
January 20211694876927620
February 20211167277087660
March 20211067268387817
April 2021821468578102
May 202173378380
June 202149809128
July 2021202329562

View Table in PxStat

Table 4: Seasonally adjusted number of vehicles licensed for the first time classified by taxation class
Taxation classJuly 2020June 2021July 2021Monthly % change
New vehicles    
New private cars 6,9639,1289,5624.8
New goods vehicles 1,7683,2612,112-35.2
New tractors 1841881922.1
New motor cycles 1982112110.0
New exempt vehicles 5674614763.3
New other 1081211307.4
Total new vehicles 9,78813,37012,683-5.1
    
Used (imported) vehicles    
Used private cars 8,3856,0995,905-3.2
Used goods vehicles 992861813-5.6
Used tractors 220243228-6.2
Used motorcycles 359255251-1.6
Used other vehicles 4715265474.0
Total used vehicles 10,4277,9847,744-3.0
    
Total all vehicles 20,21521,35420,427-4.3
Open in Excel: Vehicles licensed for the first time July 2021 Table 4 (XLS 31KB)
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X-axis label20172018201920202021 to date
<1 year old1.91.91.71.60.4
1-2 years old16.718.317.617.711.7
3-5 years old49.250.850.356.359.4
6-9 years old27.324.425.619.822.2
Over 10 years old4.84.64.84.76.3

Footnote: For the purpose of the analysis of the age profile of used (imported) private cars, calendar years were used to band the age groups. For example, a private car defined as less than one year old is an imported vehicle which has previously been registered abroad for the first time in the current calendar year.

Table 5: Number of new and used (imported) private cars licensed for the first time
Private cars20172018201920202021 Jan-July
New127,045121,157113,30584,30980,055
Used (imported) 92,50899,456108,89578,54145,552
Total219,553220,613222,200162,850125,607
% used (imported)42.1%45.1%49.0%48.2%36.3%
Open in Excel: Vehicles licensed for the first time July 2021 Table 5 (XLS 30KB)
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Table 6: Number of new and used (imported) private cars licensed for the first time by fuel type
Fuel typeNewUsed (imported)
July January - JulyJuly January - July
20202021 20202021 20202021 20202021
Petrol5,8296,929 24,19325,8981,9671,679 8,00712,468
Diesel6,4406,073 28,07727,7545,3792,979 23,26726,282
Electric5201,464 2,3605,6494043 192306
Hybrid2,5405,628 9,88320,531889889 3,3886,496
Other0138 022300 20
Total15,32920,232 64,51380,055 8,2755,590 34,85645,552
Open in Excel: Vehicles licensed for the first time July 2021 Table 6 (XLS 32KB)
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Background Notes

Source

The vehicle licensing figures are compiled from data supplied by the Driver and Vehicle Computer Services Division of the Department of Transport. The data provide details on the number of private cars, goods vehicles, motor cycles and other vehicles licensed for the first time in each city and county council, classified by make and size, during a given month.

History

The release titled 'Vehicles Licensed for the First Time' commenced in January 1993. It replaced the series previously published as 'Particulars of Vehicles Registered and Licensed for the First Time'.

In January 1993, separate systems for vehicle registration and licensing were introduced. The Office of the Revenue Commissioners became responsible for the compilation of vehicle registrations while the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government retained responsibility for vehicle licensing. In January 2008, responsibility for vehicle licensing was transferred to the Department of Transport.

Motor tax charges are determined on the basis of CO2 emission level (using seven CO2 bands) for all new cars registered from 1 July 2008.

The licensing process where applicable follows the registration process.

Vehicle Licensing versus Vehicle Registration

The CSO produces vehicle licensing statistics on a monthly basis. Vehicle registration data has not been published on the CSO PxStat since June 2010.

Registration and licensing figures may differ in a given month for a number of reasons, some of which are outlined below:

  • Vehicles which under the previous system would have been licensed in the latter part of a particular month may not now be licensed until a later month because of the time lapse between registration and first licensing.
  • Registered vehicles which are not used in a public place (e.g. tractors for use exclusively on the land) may not need to be licensed.

The question is often asked, which reflects better vehicle sales, licensing figures or registration figures?

In practice, on a monthly basis, the licensing data is probably a better reflection of sales. In some cases, a vehicle may be registered by a dealership in advance of a sale. Whereas, typically, vehicles are only licensed at the point of sale. However, if a vehicle is purchased towards the end of a month, the buyer may wish to defer collecting and licensing it until the start of the following month. So the issue is not clear-cut.

From 31 October 1999, detailed information on agricultural vehicles is no longer published in accordance with Commission Decision 92/157/EEC as upheld on 28 May 1998.

Seasonal adjustment

Seasonal adjustment for each taxation class is conducted using a direct seasonal adjustment approach. However, the overall vehicle totals are estimated using the indirect approach, i.e. the ‘Total new vehicles’ is derived by adding all the seasonally adjusted new vehicles taxation classes. The main reason for adopting the indirect approach is to attribute the monthly and annual changes in vehicle licensing to each of its taxation classes. Seasonal adjustment models are developed for each series based on unadjusted data spanning from July 1996 to the current period. These models are reviewed on an annual basis; however seasonal factors are updated each month.

The adjustments are completed by applying the X-13-ARIMA model, developed by the U.S. Census Bureau to the unadjusted data.  This methodology estimates seasonal factors while also taking into consideration factors that impact on the quality of the seasonal adjustment such as:

• Calendar effects, e.g. the timing of Easter,

• Outliers, temporary changes and level shifts in the series. 

For additional information on the use of X-13-ARIMA see https://www.census.gov/srd/www/winx13/

Definitions

Private cars:  The term 'private cars' in this release, refers to privately licensed vehicles which include hire, fleet and certain commercial vehicles.

New and used vehicles:  The term 'new vehicles' refers to new vehicles which are licensed for use in a public place, in this country, for the first time. 'Used vehicles' refers to used vehicles which are licensed for use in a public place, in this country, for the first time. In the main used vehicles are imported.

Exempt:  The term 'exempt vehicles' in this release, refers to vehicles which are licensed for the first time but are exempt from liability to pay road tax.

Exempt vehicles can be divided into four main categories:

  • State-owned
  • Diplomatic
  • Fire services
  • Disabled Drivers

Electric hybrid:  means a vehicle that derives its motive power from a combination of an electric motor and an internal combustion engine and is capable of being driven on electric propulsion alone for a material part of its normal driving cycle.

Plug-in electric hybrid:  means a vehicle that derives its motive power from a combination of an electric motor and an internal combustion engine, where the electric motor derives its power from a battery that may be charged from the internal combustion engine and an alternating current (AC) electric mains supply and is capable of being driven on electric propulsion alone for a material part of its normal driving cycle.

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