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Extra information
For more information on this release:
E-mail: transport@cso.ie Noreen Leahy (+353) 21 453 5262 Esther Deane (+353) 21 453 5322
For general information on CSO statistics:
information@cso.ie (+353) 21 453 5000 On-line ISSN 2009-5678
CSO statistical release, , 11am

Vehicles licensed for the first time

September 2018

 September January - September
20172018Change 20172018Change
New private cars4,8284,397-431-8.9% 121,595115,858-5,737-4.7%
New goods vehicles1,6991,690-9-0.5% 20,87022,0441,1745.6%
Total new vehicles7,2196,809-410-5.7% 151,945147,915-4,030-2.7%
          
Used private cars8,3278,375480.6% 69,09075,4356,3459.2%
Used goods vehicles1,1411,077-64-5.6% 10,53711,2076706.4%
Total used vehicles10,38610,307-79-0.8% 88,52195,5397,0187.9%

Decrease of 8.9% in new private cars licensed in September 2018

Figure 1 VLFTM - New private cars licensed for the first time
go to full release

In the first nine months of 2018, a total of 115,858 new private cars were licensed for the first time, a decrease of 4.7% compared with the same period in 2017. The number of used (imported) private cars licensed increased by 9.2% when compared with the same period in 2017.  The total number of private cars (both new and used) licensed in the first nine months of 2018 was 191,293, a small increase of 608 when compared with the same period in 2017.

In September 2018, 4,397 new private cars were licensed for the first time, a decrease of 8.9% compared with September 2017. A total of 8,375 used (imported) private cars were licensed, a marginal rise of 0.6% on the same month last year.

The licensing figures also show that:

  • In the first nine months of 2018 Volkswagen (12,875) was the most popular make of new private car licensed, followed by Toyota (11,136), Hyundai (10,714), Ford (10,321) and Nissan (8,986).  Together these five makes represent almost half (46.6%) of all new private cars licensed to the end of Q3 2018. In September 2018, the five most popular makes were Ford (527), Volkswagen (526), Skoda (285), Renault (281) and Nissan (266). See table 3.
  • Up to end of the third quarter of 2018, 62,766 (54.2%) new private cars licensed were diesel, while 94.7% of new private cars licensed in the same period were in the A/B CO2 emissions bands. See table 2B.
  • The total number of vehicles licensed during September 2018 was 17,116 compared with 17,605 during the same month in 2017, a decrease of 2.8 %. See table 1.
  • There was a marginal decrease (0.5%) in the number of new goods vehicles licensed in September 2018, bringing the total to 1,690.
  • On a seasonally adjusted basis, new private cars licensed decreased by 0.6% in September 2018 compared with August 2018. The number of seasonally adjusted used (imported) private cars licensed increased by 2.9% over the same period. See table 4 and figure 4.
  • In the first nine months of 2018, just 1.1% of imported private cars licensed were less than one year old (vehicles previously registered abroad in 2018) while 22,461 (29.8%) were six years or older. See table 5 and figure 5.
  • There were 62,766 new diesel private cars licensed in the first nine months of 2018, compared with 78,951 in the same period in 2017. For used (imported) diesel private cars, the total licensed was 57,579 in the first nine months of 2018. This compares with 54,654 in the same period last year. See table 6.

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.

Most popular makes of new cars September 2018
Ford 12
Volkswagen12
Skoda6.5
Renault6.4
Nissan6
Other57.1
Most popular makes of new cars September 2017
Ford 6.8
Volkswagen14.1
Skoda9.6
Renault6.3
Nissan4.8
Other58.4
Table 1: Number of vehicles licensed for the first time classified by taxation class
Taxation ClassSeptember January - September
201620172018 201620172018
New vehicles       
New private cars 5,8424,8284,397 135,575121,595115,858
New goods vehicles 2,0421,6991,690 24,12920,87022,044
New tractors 85105111 1,7071,5681,730
New motor cycles 96104109 1,3441,2391,323
New exempt vehicles 430378364 5,6135,2975,421
New other 124105138 1,4071,3761,539
Total new vehicles 8,6197,2196,809 169,775151,945147,915
       
Used (imported) vehicles       
Used private cars 6,6238,3278,375 49,16969,09075,435
Used goods vehicles 9501,1411,077 7,65610,53711,207
Used tractors 148171137 1,4201,9201,692
Used motorcycles 193256251 1,6792,5592,638
Used other vehicles 382491467 3,2064,4154,567
Total used vehicles 8,29610,38610,307 63,13088,52195,539
       
Total all vehicles 16,91517,60517,116 232,905240,466243,454
Table 2A: Number of new private cars licensed for the first time by CO2 emission band and fuel type, September 2018
BandFuel TypeTotal
PetrolDieselElectricPetrol & electric hybridDiesel & electric hybridPetrol or Diesel plug-in electric hybrid
A 1,0261,8631191220533,183
B 44142701100879
C 641470000211
D 1259000071
E 527000032
F 312000015
G 3100004
Not available0200002
Total1,5542,5381191330534,397
Table 2B: Number of new private cars licensed for the first time by CO2 emission band and fuel type, January-September 2018
BandFuel TypeTotal
PetrolDieselElectricPetrol & electric hybridDiesel & electric hybridPetrol or Diesel plug-in electric hybrid
A 29,84847,6171,1286,191165285,437
B 13,17610,83702350024,248
C 1,4542,675030014,160
D 20587002001,077
E 775690000646
F 561330000189
G 3312000045
Not available353000056
Total44,85262,7661,1286,4581653115,858
Table 3: Number of new and used (imported) private cars licensed for the first time by make, September 2018
MakeSeptember January - September
NewUsed (imported)Total NewUsed (imported)Total
Audi 2437169594,5966,61011,206
BMW 1936258183,8695,7319,600
Citroen 481772251,0901,7802,870
Dacia 168221903,0782313,309
Fiat 38881266435901,233
Ford 5279531,48010,3218,81319,134
Honda 671822491,2112,0423,253
Hyundai 22955478310,7145,36616,080
Jaguar 3244765724561,028
Kia 2043035076,8152,5129,327
Land Rover 3857959424301,372
Lexus 171341514571,1971,654
Mazda 841262102,0951,2123,307
Mercedes Benz 1284816093,8024,0667,868
Mini 1877955137171,230
Mitsubishi 281121406898041,493
Nissan 2664987648,9864,64213,628
Opel 16321654,63874,645
Peugeot 2292464755,1222,1977,319
Renault 2811594406,6031,5328,135
Seat 1531182713,4939064,399
Skoda 2852655508,2842,16810,452
Ssangyong 505721284
Subaru 1372017162233
Suzuki 85431281,1064121,518
Toyota 22464486811,1365,17616,312
Vauxhall 040040003,7523,752
Volkswagen 5261,0921,61812,8759,49622,371
Volvo 801872671,5791,8043,383
Other2563883867121,098
Total4,3978,37512,772 115,85875,435191,293
The information in this table is available in much greater detail in Databases (see StatBank link below)
X-axis labelUnadjusted dataAdjusted dataTrend
September 2013325761517405
October 2013283269477672
November 2013130772667868
December 201363977717982
January 20141597577618013
February 20141190674917969
March 20141148574517879
April 20141175782107793
May 2014776777397729
June 2014339075477703
July 20141403771957741
August 2014620179477857
September 2014437681828062
October 2014308280648363
November 2014146588508724
December 2014920115469085
January 20152010593529399
February 20151538496079637
March 201517054102239806
April 20151316698439946
May 20159027994910114
June 20153924947510348
July 2015212901063710622
August 201585721117710908
September 201559241144211203
October 201539431134511472
November 201518741146511700
December 20158471163211890
January 2016271061228212003
February 2016211731253612008
March 2016200961154911910
April 2016148471209611749
May 2016101251127711608
June 201641431100911566
July 2016224621177511605
August 201697811199811664
September 201658421160311647
October 201638311188811515
November 201618461128411305
December 20166791048711077
January 2017266681116110880
February 2017169051048410745
March 2017171801093110650
April 2017134271070510580
May 201795811048210512
June 20173585986810426
July 2017213161085410331
August 201781051022010244
September 201748281022410167
October 20173255993410119
November 201715941000310076
December 20176011004210035
January 2018258131017310018
February 2018165011019110041
March 201816088989810075
April 201811557977210119
May 201893621026310149
June 201837161054810144
July 20182074310061
August 201876819880
September 201843979825
Table 4: Seasonally adjusted number of vehicles licensed for the first time classified by taxation class
Taxation classSeptember 2017August 2018September 2018Monthly % change
New vehicles    
New private cars 10,2249,8809,825-0.6
New goods vehicles 1,9872,1532,149-0.2
New tractors 150172168-2.3
New motor cycles 128149137-8.1
New exempt vehicles 475470482-2.6
New other 12013216424.2
Total new vehicles 13,08412,95612,925-0.2
    
Used (imported) vehicles    
Used private cars 8,3518,4318,6782.9
Used goods vehicles 1,2151,2471,200-3.8
Used tractors 2051681711.8
Used motorcycles 2622802820.7
Used other vehicles 5034814963.1
Total used vehicles 10,53610,60710,8272.1
    
Total all vehicles 23,62023,56323,7520.8
X-axis label20142015201620172018 to date
<1 year old1.61.12.11.91.1
1-2 years old15.611.113.216.717.7
3-5 years old49.650.447.849.251.4
6-9 years old24.327.729.727.325
Over 10 years old8.99.87.34.84.8
Table 5: Number of new and used (imported) private cars licensed for the first time
Private cars20142015201620172018 January - September
New92,361121,110141,931127,045115,858
Used (imported) 52,86347,21770,13892,50875,435
Total145,224168,327212,069219,553191,293
% used (imported)36.4%28.1%33.1%42.1%39.4%

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 6: Number of new and used (imported) private cars licensed for the first time by fuel type
Fuel typeNewUsed (imported)
September January - SeptemberSeptember January - September
20172018 20172018 20172018 20172018
Petrol1,4271,554 37,74844,8521,5421,619 12,18713,220
Diesel3,1562,538 78,95162,7666,4776,134 54,65457,579
Electric50119 5641,1283853 330514
Hybrid195186 4,3327,112270569 1,9184,120
Other00 0000 12
Total4,8284,397 121,595115,858 8,3278,375 69,09075,435

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, Tourism and Sport. 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 (which later became the Department of Transport, Tourism and Sport).

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 StatBank 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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