Total number of private cars licenced fell by 8% in last 12 months
The total number of new private cars licensed in April 2026 has fallen by 8% when compared with the same month last year, according to figures released by the CSO (Central Statistics Office).
When it came to the number of used imported cares licenced, this grew by 40% in April 2026 when compared with April 2025. In numbers, these increased by 7,732 compared to 5,537.
Among new private cars registered, electric vehicles made up 23%, compared to just 16% at the same time last year.
The number of plug-in hybrid vehicles licensed in April 2026 increased by 3%, from 1,761 to 1,810.
Toyota was the most common make of new private car licensed in April, with the Toyota C-HR being the most popular make of electric car.
Damien Lenihan, Statistician in the Transport Section of the CSO, said: “Today’s figures from the CSO show a 73% increase in the number of new private electric cars (EVs) licensed for the first time in April 2026 (3,089) when compared with the same month in 2025 (1,783).
“We saw a decrease in the licensing of hybrid vehicles, which were down 14% from 3,233 in April 2025 to 2,796 new private cars in April 2026.
“The total number of used (imported) private cars licensed in April 2026 rose by 40% compared with the same period in 2025 (7,732 vs 5,537).
“There were 1,543 used (imported) diesel private cars licensed in April 2026, compared with 1,504 in the same period of 2025. Used (imported) private petrol cars licensed went up by 21% in April 2026 compared with April 2025 (2,845 vs 2,352).
In the first four months of 2026, there was a 43% rise in new private EVs licensed when compared with the same period in 2025 (15,031 vs 10,495).
“The same four-month period showed a fall of 23% in the number of new petrol cars licensed (17,446 vs 13,469). Similarly, a 24% decrease in the number of new diesel cars licensed was seen over the same period (10,917 vs 8,295).
“The total number of new goods vehicles licensed for the first time in April was 3,787, up 21% on April 2025 (3,130).
“There were 14,012 new goods vehicles licensed from January to April 2026, which was an increase of 18% on the 11,859 licensed over the same period of 2025.”