September was a good month for the Irish motor market.
New car registrations increased by 13.1% compared with September 2025, while registrations of light commercial vehicles and HGVs also moved higher. Used car imports continued to rise, and electric cars recorded another sizeable increase.
Taken together, the figures point to a market with plenty of movement.
That matters whether you are buying your next car, deciding what to stock on a forecourt or trying to understand where the Irish car market may be heading next.
The most interesting part of September’s figures is probably how broad the growth was. This was not simply one part of the market having a good month. Cars, vans and HGVs all recorded annual growth, while imported used cars added even more supply to the market.
There is quite a lot going on underneath those headline numbers.
New Car Registrations Rose 13.1% In September
Ireland recorded 6,342 new car registrations in September 2026, up from 5,607 in September last year, representing annual growth of 13.1%.
Across the first nine months of 2026, 128,288 new cars were registered. That puts the market 5.4% ahead of the same point in 2025.
The September increase also follows a 3% rise in August and strong registrations during the important 262 period in July. The market has had weaker individual months this year, including a decline in June, but the year-to-date position remains positive.
For the Irish motor trade, steady year-to-date growth is probably more useful than reading too much into a single busy month. It suggests that people are still willing to change vehicles despite ongoing cost pressures affecting household budgets.
For drivers, greater market activity should also mean more choice. Today’s new registrations become tomorrow’s nearly-new and used cars, creating stock that eventually feeds into the rest of the market.
Electric Cars Had A Very Strong September
Electric vehicles provided the standout number.
There were 3,126 new battery-electric cars registered during September, up more than 80% from 1,734 a year earlier. That means EVs accounted for almost half of all new cars registered during the month.
Across January to September, Ireland registered 35,195 new electric cars, up 57.3% year on year.
That growth has pushed battery-electric vehicles into first place by powertrain market share for 2026 so far:
Battery electric cars hold 27.43% of the market, followed by petrol hybrids at 23.68%, petrol at 19.59%, plug-in hybrids at 14.93% and diesel at 12.36%.
The mix of cars on Irish roads is changing quickly.
A few years ago, petrol and diesel dominated any conversation about what Irish drivers were buying. The market is now spread across several types of powertrain, with electric and hybrid cars taking a much larger share.
That creates more choice, although it also means choosing a car now involves a few more questions. Where will it be driven? Can it be charged at home? How many kilometres will it cover? How long will it be kept? What does the overall budget look like?
The Cars Ireland Is Buying Are Changing Too
The powertrain mix is only one part of the story.
SUVs continue to play a major role in Irish buying habits, with the Toyota Yaris Cross leading new car sales during 2026. The Hyundai Tucson, Skoda Octavia, Kia Sportage and Skoda Kodiaq complete the five best-selling models so far this year.
There is a clear mix there.
Compact crossovers, larger family SUVs and one very familiar estate and hatchback nameplate are all performing well. It suggests practicality continues to carry plenty of weight when Irish drivers decide where to spend their money.
September itself looked slightly different. The Tesla Model Y was Ireland’s best-selling new car during the month, as well as its best-selling electric car.
Again, one month should not be treated as a permanent change in buying habits, but it shows how quickly the top of the market can move as new models, incentives and registration cycles change.
For anyone wondering which models are currently attracting Irish buyers, our recent look at the most popular cars in Ireland in 2026 covers the major models and what is driving their appeal.
Vans Also Returned To Growth
The positive September figures were not limited to passenger cars.
Ireland registered 2,318 new light commercial vehicles during September, up 7.3% compared with the 2,159 registered a year earlier. Across 2026 so far, LCV registrations have reached 31,915, also around 7% ahead of last year.
The monthly rise is particularly notable because August had been weaker, with LCV registrations down 10% year on year. September therefore brought the market back into growth after that dip.
Van registrations are worth watching beyond the motor industry because businesses buy commercial vehicles for practical reasons. Replacement cycles, confidence, workload and investment plans can all influence when a company decides to change its vehicles.
One month of higher registrations does not tell us everything about the health of Irish businesses. The year-to-date increase does, however, show that commercial vehicle demand has remained active during 2026.
HGV Registrations Rose Too, Although The Year Remains Slightly Down
Heavy goods vehicles also recorded growth during September.
There were 177 new HGV registrations, up 4.1% from 170 in September 2025.
The longer-term picture is slightly flatter.
A total of 2,381 HGVs had been registered by the end of September, leaving the market around 1% behind the same period last year.
That distinction matters.
September was a positive month, but the HGV sector has not seen the same year-to-date growth as passenger cars or vans. HGV purchasing also follows a very different cycle, with individual fleet orders capable of having a much bigger effect on monthly totals.
New bus and coach registrations are increasing, with 478 recorded during the first nine months of 2026, up 34.3% year on year.
Taken together, commercial registrations show a market in motion, although different vehicle types are clearly progressing at different rates.
Used Car Imports Are Still Rising Much Faster Than New Car Sales
Away from new registrations, one number deserves particular attention: 8,326 imported used cars entered the Irish market during September.
That was 18.9% more than the 7,000 recorded in September last year.
Across the first nine months of 2026, imports have reached 72,140 vehicles, an increase of 34.4%.
That growth is much faster than the 5.4% rise in new car registrations.
For the used market, the extra supply matters.
Imported vehicles can fill gaps where suitable Irish stock is limited. They can also give drivers more choice on age, specification and price. For dealerships, a greater supply can create sourcing opportunities while putting more pressure on the need to buy carefully.
We looked at this in more detail in our recent analysis of why used car imports into Ireland are rising.
There is another useful point here. More new registrations and more used imports are happening at the same time, so buyers have a wider pool of vehicles to compare.
That puts price, condition, history and affordability firmly in the spotlight.
What Do The September Figures Mean For Used Car Buyers?
A strong new-car month not only matters to somebody buying new.
New cars set off a chain reaction through the market.
Some buyers trade in an existing vehicle when they change. Dealers receive additional used stock. Nearly-new cars begin entering the market later. Fleet vehicles eventually return. Over time, higher new-car registrations can improve the amount and variety of stock available to used buyers.
Imports are already adding to that supply.
For someone shopping for a used car in Ireland, more choice is useful, but it also makes comparison important. Two cars carrying the same badge can have very different histories, mileage and specifications.
Imported cars also require a few extra checks, including registration documentation and vehicle history.
Affordability Still Shapes What People Can Buy
Registration growth tells us people are buying vehicles. It does not mean every applicant finds the buying process straightforward.
The price of the car is only one part of affordability. Insurance, fuel, servicing, tax and monthly finance repayments all compete for the same household income.
This is particularly relevant in the used market, where a buyer may find the right car but fall outside the lending criteria of a mainstream finance provider.
Different lenders assess applications differently.
A previous credit problem, an irregular credit history, or a decline elsewhere does not automatically tell the whole story about someone’s current circumstances.
That is where non-prime finance has a role.
LMO provides Hire Purchase finance for petrol and hybrid vehicles in Ireland, with a human approach to underwriting. Rather than relying solely on an automated decision, our team considers the customer’s broader circumstances and affordability.
A Growing Market Creates More Finance Conversations For Dealers
For dealerships and brokers, increased activity creates opportunity at several points in the market.
More new registrations mean more part-exchanges. More imports increase the available pool of used stock. Changing powertrain preferences affects what customers search for. Growing choice also means buyers can become more selective about what they purchase and what they can comfortably afford.
Finance becomes part of that conversation fairly early.
A customer may find a suitable vehicle and still fall outside a prime lender’s criteria. Sending the same application repeatedly through lenders that serve similar customer profiles rarely creates a better outcome.
A broader panel gives dealers somewhere appropriate to place different types of customer.
As our guide to choosing the right car finance partner as an Irish dealer explains, the strongest panel is usually the one that gives useful coverage across different customer circumstances rather than simply adding more versions of the same lender.
LMO specialises in non-prime Hire Purchase. That gives dealerships and brokers another route for customers whose credit history or circumstances may need a more individual review.
Monika McIlhatton, Managing Director at LMO, explains it simply: “A credit history gives us useful information, but it doesn’t always tell us everything about the customer today. Human underwriting gives us the opportunity to look at the application in context, understand affordability and make a decision based on the full picture.”
That approach becomes more relevant when the vehicle market is busy, but household budgets remain varied.
What Does Budget 2027 Mean For The Car Market?
There has already been an important policy development since SIMI published September’s registration figures.
Budget 2027 extended VRT relief for battery-electric vehicles for another two years, to the end of 2028. SIMI welcomed that decision, having called for continued support when it released the September registration figures.
There is also a change affecting many higher-emission cars. From 1 January 2027, VRT rates for Category A bands 3 to 20 will increase by one percentage point. SIMI has warned that this will increase costs for many buyers who are currently unable or unwilling to move to a fully electric car.
That makes affordability worth watching as we move towards 2027.
The EV market has considerable momentum, but petrol and hybrid vehicles still account for a significant part of Irish demand. Changes to taxation can affect new prices, which in turn influence nearly-new values, trade-ins, and the wider used market.
There will be movement well beyond the new-car showroom.
What Should We Watch For Next?
The September figures leave the Irish car market in a stronger position than it held at the same point last year.
New car registrations are 5.4% higher year to date. Vans are ahead by around 7%. Electric registrations have risen by more than 57%. Used imports are up by more than a third. HGV registrations remain the exception, sitting slightly behind their 2025 year-to-date total.
The next question is how much of that momentum carries through the final months of the year and into 2027.
For car buyers, the expanding mix of new and used stock should continue to create choice.
For dealers and brokers, the job becomes matching that stock with the customers walking through the door. That includes customers with straightforward prime applications and those whose circumstances need a little more consideration.
LMO helps Irish dealerships and brokers add that extra layer to their finance panel. We provide non-prime Hire Purchase for petrol and hybrid cars, backed by human underwriting and a team that looks beyond a simple automated score.
If you want another route for customers who may have been declined elsewhere, partner with LMO and add non-prime finance to your panel.
Irish Car Registrations FAQs
How Many New Cars Were Registered In Ireland In September 2026?
Ireland recorded 6,342 new car registrations during September 2026, up 13.1% compared with September 2025. The year-to-date total reached 128,288.
Are Car Sales Increasing In Ireland In 2026?
Yes. New car registrations were 5.4% higher year on year across the first nine months of 2026. September alone recorded annual growth of 13.1%.
How Many Electric Cars Were Registered In Ireland In September 2026?
There were 3,126 new battery-electric cars registered in September, up more than 80% compared with September 2025.
What Is The Most Popular Type Of New Car In Ireland?
Battery-electric vehicles have the largest year-to-date powertrain share in 2026 at 27.43%. Petrol hybrids follow at 23.68%, then petrol at 19.59%.
What Is The Best-Selling Car In Ireland In 2026?
The Toyota Yaris Cross is Ireland’s best-selling new car year to date. The Hyundai Tucson, Skoda Octavia, Kia Sportage and Skoda Kodiaq make up the rest of the top five.
Are Used Car Imports Increasing In Ireland?
Yes. Ireland imported 72,140 used cars between January and September 2026, up 34.4% compared with the same period in 2025. September imports alone increased 18.9%.
Can You Get Car Finance After Being Declined Elsewhere In Ireland?
Potentially. Lenders use different criteria, so a decline from one provider does not mean every lender will reach the same decision. Non-prime lenders can consider customers whose circumstances fall outside standard prime lending criteria.
Watch What Your Stock Buyers Are Doing
Finance teams and stock buyers should be talking to each other.
That sounds obvious. In a busy dealership, the two decisions can easily happen separately.
A buyer sees an opportunity at auction and changes the age profile of the forecourt. The finance panel stays the same. The gap only appears later when applications start arriving.
Ireland’s current import figures make this worth reviewing. SIMI says used imports are up 37% year on year, with 63,815 vehicles imported by the end of August 2026. That is a large amount of additional stock entering the Irish market.
If your dealership has changed where it sources vehicles, what it pays or the ages it buys, review finance coverage at the same time.
Brokers Need To Know The Stock Their Dealers Are Selling
Brokers have a slightly different challenge. They may work with several dealerships, each carrying a different stock profile.
One partner may specialise in younger premium cars. Another may sell older vehicles around a lower retail price. Another may have a high proportion of imported stock.
The same lender mix will not always provide equal coverage across all three.
Vehicle criteria should therefore form part of lender placement alongside the customer’s circumstances. Age, mileage, term and vehicle value can quickly rule out options before the credit assessment even starts.
Keeping lender criteria current helps brokers send applications to lenders with a realistic appetite for both parts of the deal: the customer and the car.
Five Questions To Ask About Your Finance Panel
A useful panel review can start with five questions.
- Does it cover the age of vehicles we actually sell? – Look at current age and age at the end of a typical finance term.
- Do lender mileage limits fit our stock? – Use your actual average and upper mileage figures rather than assumptions.
- Do we have enough coverage across different customer profiles? – Look at where declined applications are coming from and whether your panel has a genuine non-prime option.
- Can lenders support the terms our customers commonly need? – Vehicle-age restrictions can reduce the available term and change monthly repayments.
- Where are we repeatedly losing deals? – Decline data is useful commercial information. Review the reason rather than simply recording the outcome.
If the same gap keeps appearing, your finance panel may need to change.
Review Your Finance Panel When Your Stock Changes
Ireland’s used car market is moving.
Used imports are up 37% this year. UK data also shows wide differences in price performance between younger and older stock, with 10-to-15-year-old cars recording 6.9% annual retail price growth in August.
Dealers are responding to those market conditions through the cars they buy. Finance coverage should move with them.
Review vehicle age, mileage and agreement terms across your lender panel. Compare those limits with the stock you actually sell. Then review where customer applications are being declined and whether your lenders cover enough different credit profiles.
For brokers, apply the same process across the dealerships you support.
LMO works with car dealers and brokers across Ireland, providing non-prime Hire Purchase for customers who may fall outside mainstream lending criteria. We combine flexible vehicle criteria with a human approach to underwriting, giving partners another option for suitable cases that need a closer look.
If your current panel has a gap around non-prime customers or the used vehicles your dealers are selling, speak to LMO about becoming a finance partner.