New car sales are on the increase – that’s the message right across the country. Unlike other changes in the economy, which are seen as Dublin-centred, the percentage increase in new car sales has been reflected in each county.

A Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) report for the first 11 months of 2014 shows that almost 30% more cars were registered compared with the same period last year. Each month during the first three quarters of the year, car sales numbers increased.

The arrival of half-year registration plates in 2013 began to bed in during 2014 with car buyers. As a result of the change, this year has seen almost double the number of new cars registered in the months of July, August and September, compared with the same months in 2013.

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It is now accepted that this growth in car sales reflects improved consumer confidence, the availability of credit, the improving labour market and positive growth in disposable incomes, along with a general belief that the economy has turned the corner and that the bulk of the painful fiscal adjustment is now almost complete. There is also an element of catch-up after a number of years of poor sales. Many potential buyers had been holding off until more economic and financial certainty returned. They have now moved to change before the current car becomes too old and while car prices remain competitive.

New car sales have shown remarkable growth in percentage terms in Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Louth and Leitrim. Some counties have smaller markets, but what’s interesting is the growth as a reflection of economic enthusiasm, or maybe simply the need to upgrade the car. VW continues to dominate the market for the first 11 months, followed by Toyota and Ford (see Table 2). Hyundai has grown ahead of Nissan with impressive cars such as the i40 and ix35.

When it comes to the most popular models, the Volkswagen Golf remains the top seller, with Nissan’s Qashqai, Ireland’s Continental Irish Car of the Year 2015, in second place. Volkswagen has two cars in the top 10, with the Passat also included. Toyota has three cars in the top 10 – the Yaris, Corolla and Auris. Ford has the Focus and Fiesta included. Car buyers in 2015 may be forced into acquiring a new car due to the lack of availability of good secondhand cars. The strength of sterling has affected the prices of quality imported used cars from Britain and Northern Ireland.

Despite this, some 50,758 used cars were imported into Ireland up to the end of November. This is still a significant market as imported cars account for 34% of all cars licensed for the first time in Ireland. Cavan, Longford and Louth showed the biggest growth in used car imports. Next to Dublin, Cork accounted for over 4,500 used car imports so far this year.