The headline figure for new car sales of 105,253 for 2022, up just 0.3% year on year, was an unspectacular figure, but also not a big surprise. However, perhaps the more crucial stat for Irish car buyers was a further dramatic fall in used car imports. 

Like it or not, used vehicle imports, especially from the UK have a massive impact on the price that most motorists in Ireland pay for their cars. Traditionally new car sales in Ireland are not high enough to produce the level of trade-ins needed to keep the used car market topped up with supply. As such used cars brought in from the UK have traditionally filled the gap and kept prices down. 

However, in 2022 used car imports stood at just 46,490, 26.9% down on 2021 when the figure was 63,617. The contrast is even more stark when compared to pre-pandemic 2019 when registrations were 113,926, meaning the latest figure is 59.2%, down on this.  

The reasons for this steep decline are mainly Brexit related, with increased red tape and tariffs making it much more complex and costly to bring in UK vehicles. With no EU alternatives, Japan is the only other realistic import option and high shipping costs have caused major issues for this supply channel. 

It all means that good value used cars remain scarce and the situation does not look like changing anytime soon, especially as new cars remain in short supply due to on-going semi conductor issues.