Back to Top

 Skip navigation

Extra information
For more information on this release:
E-mail: transport@cso.ie Sandra O Riordan (+353) 21 453 5544 Noreen Leahy (+353) 21 453 5262
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 2009-5678

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 June 2021

CSO statistical release, , 11am

Vehicles licensed for the first time

June 2021

 June January - June
20202021Change 20202021Change
New private cars2,1894,9802,791 49,18459,82310,63921.6%
New goods vehicles9452,6641,719 9,77215,0055,23353.6%
New other vehicles533784251 5,3886,5511,16321.6%
Total new vehicles366784284761 64,34481,37917,03526.5%
         
Used private cars3,7385,9002,162 26,58139,96213,38150.3%
Used goods vehicles431905474 4,5165,9811,46532.4%
Used other vehicles4041,187783 4,0167,5523,53688.1%
Total used vehicles4,5737,9923,419 35,11353,49518,38252.4%

4,980 new private cars were licensed in June 2021

go to full release

In the first half of 2021, a total of 59,823 new private cars were licensed, an increase of 21.6% compared with the same period last year but still 22.9% lower than in 2019. The number of used (imported) private cars licensed increased by 50.3% compared with the same period in 2020 and is still 22.7% lower when compared to 2019.

Electric and hybrid cars continue to grow in popularity. 31.9% of all new cars licensed in the first half of 2021 are electric and hybrid cars, compared with 18.7% of new cars licensed in the first half of 2020. The combined number of new electric and hybrid cars licensed in the first half of 2021 was 107.9% greater than those licensed in the same period in 2020.

The above figures include both hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV). Looking solely at electric or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), these constitute 13.6% of all new cars licensed for the first time in the first half of 2021 compared to 6.0% in the first half 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.

Motor caravans (which includes campervans) grew in popularity. The number of motor caravans licensed in the first half of 2021 was 79.3% greater than those licensed in the same period in 2019. There were 753 motor caravans licensed in the first half of 2021, compared with 255 in the same period in 2020 and 420 in 2019.

The licensing figures also show that:

  • In June 2021, 4,980 new private cars were licensed in Ireland, compared with 2,189 in June 2020. The number of new cars licensed in June 2021 is 29.1% higher than June 2019 when 3,858 cars were licensed. See table 1.
  • The number of used (imported) private cars licensed rose from 3,738 in June 2020 to 5,900 in June 2021. However, the number of used (imported) private cars licensed is still 2,098 vehicles lower in June 2021 than in June 2019.
  • In June 2021, 2,664 new goods vehicles were licensed in Ireland, compared with 945 in June 2020 and 1,526 in June 2019.
  • In June 2021, Volkswagen (1,021) was the most popular make of new private car licensed followed by Skoda (533), Toyota (423), Hyundai (323) and Kia (283). Together these five makes represent 51.9% of all new private cars licensed in June 2021. See table 3.
  • In the first half of 2021, 36.2% of all new private cars licensed were diesel, compared with 44.0% in the same period for 2020. Of new private cars licensed in the same period, 80.3% were in the A/B CO2 emissions bands. See table 2B.
  • On a seasonally adjusted basis, new private cars licensed increased by 7.1% in June 2021 compared with May 2021. The number of seasonally adjusted used (imported) private cars licensed fell by 4.9% 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 figure 5.
  • There were 21,681 new diesel private cars licensed in the first half of 2021, compared with 21,637 in the same period in 2020. For used (imported) diesel private cars, the total licensed was 23,303 in the first half of 2021. This compares with 17,888 in the same period last year. See table 6.
  • In the first half of 2021, for electric vehicles, Dublin had the largest proportion of new private cars licensed in the first half of 2021 (45.4%). This was followed by Cork (10.3%) and Kildare (5.2%). For hybrid vehicles, Dublin also had the highest proportion (37.2%), followed by Cork (13.1%) and Kildare (5.1%). See table 8 and figure 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, January-June 2021
Toyota12.7
Volkswagen12
Hyundai9.5
Skoda8.8
Ford8.2
Other48.9
Most popular makes of new cars, January-June 2020
Toyota12.5
Volkswagen 11.9
Hyundai9.5
Skoda8
Ford7.1
Other51
Table 1: Number of vehicles licensed for the first time classified by taxation class
Taxation ClassJune January - June
201920202021 201920202021
New vehicles    
New Private Cars 3,8582,1894,980 77,63949,18459,823
New Goods Vehicles 1,5269452,664 14,3059,77215,005
New Tractors 155154180 1,3611,2421,465
New Motor Cycles 143135216 1,0627661,108
New Exempt Vehicles 208199235 3,4592,8013,129
New Other 18845153 1,143579849
Total New Vehicles 6,0783,6678,428 98,96964,34481,379
       
Used (imported) vehicles       
Used private cars 7,9983,7385,900 51,69426,58139,962
Used goods vehicles 1,187431905 7,6414,5165,981
Used tractors 22395274 1,4049912,017
Used motorcycles 363127330 1,9611,1592,007
Used other vehicles 622182583 3,4121,8663,528
Total used vehicles 10,3934,5737,992 66,11235,11353,495
        
Total all vehicles 16,4718,24016,420 165,08199,457134,874
Table 2A: Number of new private cars licensed for the first time by CO2 emission band and fuel type, June 2021
BandFuel Type Total
PetrolDieselElectricPetrol & electric hybridDiesel & electric hybridPetrol or Diesel plug-in electric hybrid Other
A 2802945073392331241,777
B 122576601955032,194
C 2344400410500783
D 4290012400148
E 11290400044
F 2200000022
G 15000006
Not available15000006
Total1,7961,649507554116331274,980
Table 2B: Number of new private cars licensed for the first time by CO2 emission band and fuel type, January-June 2021
BandFuel TypeTotal
PetrolDieselElectricPetrol & electric hybridDiesel & electric hybridPetrol or Diesel plug-in electric hybridOther
A 4,0863,5064,1855,775123,9227021,556
B 11,43810,97803,69832951526,463
C 2,5865,267028892408,777
D 6711,31301864002,174
E 118329039200488
F 2324407000274
G 44340000078
Not available3100000013
Total18,96921,6814,1859,7331,2393,9318559,823
Table 3: Number of new and used (imported) private cars licensed for the first time by make, June 2021
MakeJune January - June
NewUsed (imported)Total NewUsed (imported)Total
Audi 2515658162,3893,9296,318
BMW 2135757882,5024,1346,636
Citroen 46861325145631,077
Dacia 105151201,1531051,258
Fiat 117182136481617
Ford 2666098754,9043,8928,796
Honda 312602914061,3811,787
Hyundai 3233026255,6562,0797,735
Jaguar 133952107289396
Kia 2831544373,6851,1724,857
Land Rover 29981274956001,095
Lexus 167389232538770
Mazda 374784608348956
Mercedes Benz 1073684752,0092,6434,652
Mini 306494349389738
Mitsubishi 68389141596737
Nissan 1584285862,5362,8415,377
Opel 11901191,42721,429
Peugeot 1481422903,4201,0134,433
Renault 2221183402,4388363,274
Seat 249813302,2105382,748
Skoda 5331897225,2361,3086,544
Ssangyong 10144145
Subaru 2810164460
Suzuki 443478663257920
Tesla 173217556549614
Toyota 4233928157,5812,54810,129
Vauxhall 021021001,2471,247
Volkswagen 1,0217211,7427,1734,79911,972
Volvo 641111758409421,782
z. Other 5655111388398786
z. Total 4,9805,90010,880 59,82339,96299,785
The information in this table is available in much greater detail in Databases (see PxStat link below)
X-axis labelUnadjusted dataAdjusted dataTrend
June 201641431096211492
July 2016224621175211483
August 201697811171111514
September 201658421162111507
October 201638311160111432
November 201618461099111311
December 2016679932911166
January 2017266681123911010
February 2017169051075210853
March 2017171801088110685
April 2017134271062310524
May 201795811019110380
June 20173585965810248
July 2017213161089810116
August 2017810599919969
September 20174828100219840
October 2017325595239779
November 2017159494129791
December 201760181689878
January 201825813103099994
February 2018165011056010086
March 2018160881002810088
April 201811557968810012
May 20189362100309894
June 2018371694509773
July 201820743100859690
August 2018768195299644
September 2018439796229585
October 2018287478699507
November 2018164793179455
December 2018778100209466
January 20192227992229533
February 20191417890899598
March 201914404102099608
April 201913794105139548
May 2019912695239410
June 2019385889299231
July 20191874186209066
August 2019720294968950
September 2019410486778910
October 2019321488138899
November 2019167691898860
December 201972988368780
January 20202066585938696
February 20201326385168663
March 20201023969057042
April 2020133810781054
May 2020149016461670
June 2020218940813932
July 20201532972387232
August 202073601004510399
September 202057471169311723
October 202041891187311712
November 2020146877127637
December 20201032120587570
January 20211694875887490
February 20211167275457445
March 20211067266867487
April 202182147143
May 202173377923
June 202149808482
Table 4: Seasonally adjusted number of vehicles licensed for the first time classified by taxation class
Taxation classJune 2020May 2021June 2021Monthly % change
New vehicles    
New private cars 4,0817,9238,4827.1
New goods vehicles 1,1182,7033,12215.5
New tractors 153200188-6.0
New motor cycles 1302062081.0
New exempt vehicles 3994414563.4
New other 341161214.3
Total new vehicles 5,91511,58912,5778.5
    
Used (imported) vehicles    
Used private cars 3,9446,6126,287-4.9
Used goods vehicles 413914862-5.7
Used tractors 82280242-13.6
Used motorcycles 95265258-2.6
Used other vehicles 160564527-6.6
Total used vehicles 4,6948,6358,176-5.3
    
Total all vehicles 10,60920,22420,7532.6
X-axis label20172018201920202021 to date
<1 year old1.91.91.71.60.4
1-2 years old16.718.317.617.711.4
3-5 years old49.250.850.356.359.7
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-Jun
New127,045121,157113,30584,30959,823
Used (imported) 92,50899,456108,89578,54139,962
Total219,553220,613222,200162,85099,785
% used (imported)42.1%45.1%49.0%48.2%40.0%
Table 6: Number of new and used (imported) private cars licensed for the first time by fuel type
Fuel typeNewUsed (imported)
June January - JuneJune January - June
20202021 20202021 20202021 20202021
Petrol8361,796 18,36418,9698711,652 6,04010,789
Diesel1,0441,649 21,63721,6812,3893,246 17,88823,303
Electric98507 1,8404,1851237 152263
Hybrid2111,001 7,34314,903466965 2,4995,607
Other027 08500 20
Total2,1894,980 49,18459,823 3,7385,900 26,58139,962
Table 7: Number of new electric and hybrid cars licensed for the first time by county
2017201820192020Jan-Jun 2021
 ElectricHybrid ElectricHybrid ElectricHybrid ElectricHybrid ElectricHybrid
Carlow742 1569 39111 33123 54157
Cavan852 1168 37138 28153 39148
Clare1578 25125 55175 59258 89319
Cork74517 114919 3951,441 3881,655 4251,958
Donegal5113 12184 29252 54287 64356
Dublin2261,962 5483,009 1,5334,494 1,9124,788 1,9015,539
Galway35218 46351 120493 126590 178590
Kerry688 23160 48198 56279 58300
Kildare38198 63319 188455 224591 219763
Kilkenny680 1591 54155 55243 57277
Laois449 1475 32111 30146 30185
Leitrim311 220 1133 1045 1054
Limerick23123 30220 89341 94421 118534
Longford423 850 2079 2378 1594
Louth1283 36170 81237 68297 91318
Mayo1272 16118 36181 39224 58219
Meath23155 41280 133390 171509 161621
Monaghan431 739 2088 1685 11100
Offaly354 6105 30156 34177 28199
Roscommon635 988 15171 20134 28158
Sligo147 765 25100 34136 51155
Tipperary2288 24172 57253 74340 86437
Waterford1273 2199 74184 67218 67343
Westmeath15111 27142 85213 59217 77275
Wexford2378 41204 94222 103297 113446
Wicklow36158 61203 143229 163363 157358
Total6234,539 1,2227,345 3,44310,900 3,94012,654 4,18514,903
x-axis labelMake
Volkswagen1342
Tesla565
Nissan477
Kia434
Hyundai329
Peugeot200
Renault169
Audi114
Other555
Table 8: Number of new private cars licensed for the first time by fuel type and county, January to June 2021
 PetrolDiesel ElectricHybridTotal
Carlow22032454157755
Cavan17340639148766
Clare397529893191,334
Cork2,4152,5304251,9587,328
Donegal422609643561,451
Dublin6,7225,9791,9015,53920,141
Galway5959921785902,355
Kerry413636583001,407
Kildare9249642197632,870
Kilkenny359517572771,210
Laoighis21740730185839
Leitrim551471054266
Limerick7268861185342,264
Longford821891594380
Louth501496913181,406
Mayo280521582191,078
Meath6558181616212,255
Monaghan14934611100606
Offaly19537628199798
Roscommon527419281581,132
Sligo21828151155705
Tipperary453804864371,780
Waterford821641673431,872
Westmeath237520772751,109
Wexford6779071134462,143
Wicklow5364371573581,488
Total18,96921,6814,18514,90359,738

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.

upArrowHide Background Notes