The number of private cars being licensed for the first time in Clare is still nearly 20 percent below pre-pandemic levels.
CSO figures show 2,214 vehicles were licensed here in the first five months of 2021.
305 private cars were licensed here in May of 2021 – that’s 15 percent below the corresponding figure in 2019.
It is, however, five times the figure of 2020 – suggesting while activity in the market in this county is increasing, it’s not quite back at levels seen before COVID-19 struck.
That said, the 650 cars registered in January 2021 was the highest monthly figure since January 2019 – though the first month of the year is traditionally when the number of vehicles registered for the first time is highest.
The average number of newly licensed cars here per month between January and May is around 447 – it’s only been above that number once this year.
1.4 litre engines are the most popular in this county, with Ford, Volkswagen, Hyundai and Audi the most popular brands to register for the first time here, in that order.
Private car owners here appear to be particularly eco-friendly, with more than 60% of newly licensed vehicles here in the lowest motor tax cost bracket over the past number of years.
