If you have spent any time on the floor of a dealership lately, you know the struggle isn’t finding buyers; it is finding the right cars to sell them. The latest figures from SIMI show a significant 16.6% jump in used car imports for 2025, with 71,813 units arriving in the state.
At LM Operations, we are seeing this data reflected in the finance applications crossing our desks. Dealers are no longer just looking at the traditional UK market. Instead, they are adapting to a new reality where the “Used Import” label often means a car has travelled from Japan rather than just across the Irish Sea.
The Decisive Shift From Great Britain To Japan
The days of the easy “UK hop” for stock are largely behind us. Since Brexit, the logistical and tax hurdles of bringing a car from Great Britain have pushed dealers to look elsewhere. In 2025, used imports from the UK fell by nearly 21%.
Japan has filled that vacuum. Currently, Japan supplies almost three times as many used cars to Ireland as the UK does. This isn’t just a temporary workaround; it is a fundamental shift in how Irish dealerships maintain their inventory.
The reasons are purely functional:
• Right-Hand Drive: Japan is one of the few massive markets that shares our driving side.
• Condition: Unlike UK cars, which often battle road salt and rust, Japanese imports are typically much cleaner underneath.
• Low Mileage: The “Shaken” test in Japan makes it incredibly expensive to keep older cars on the road, meaning high-quality, low-mileage vehicles hit the export market far sooner than they do in Europe.
Petrol And Hybrids Lead The Import Charge
When looking at the 2025 import data, it is clear that buyers are moving away from diesel. Petrol vehicles account for over 65% of Japanese imports, followed closely by petrol-electric hybrids at 24.8%.
This matches what we see in our Dublin and regional dealer partners. Customers are asking for reliability and lower running costs without the range anxiety or high entry price of a full EV. The Volkswagen Golf and Polo remain the most popular choices, followed by the Audi A3 and the Toyota Prius.
For a dealership, stocking these specific models means faster turn times. These cars are not sitting on forecourts for long because they meet the exact “middle ground” that most Irish families are looking for right now.
Dealing With Older Stock Profiles
One interesting trend in the latest import surge is the age of the vehicles. Over half of the cars currently being imported are between six and nine years old.
This presents a challenge for traditional lenders who often have strict age limits on vehicles. At LM Operations, we have adjusted our approach to meet this market reality. We understand that a 2017 Japanese import is often in better mechanical health than a 2020 UK car.
Turning Imports Into Sales In 2026
The used car shortage of 2024 and 2025 pushed prices up, but we are finally seeing a plateau. The key to maintaining margins in 2026 is stock diversity. Dealers who successfully mix local trade-ins with a steady stream of well-sourced Japanese or Northern Irish imports are the ones seeing the most consistent growth.
The market is competitive, and buyers are better informed than ever. They are using AI-driven search tools to find specific lifestyle matches. When you have the right car, whether it started its life in Tokyo or Cork, the final hurdle is always the finance.
Fund Your Forecourt With LM Operations
You shouldn’t lose a sale just because your stock doesn’t fit a “standard” box. LM Operations provides the flexibility Irish dealers need to move both local and imported stock.
- Import Friendly: We provide Hire Purchase for a wide range of vehicles.
- Same-Day Decisions: Get an answer on your finance applications within the hour, often in minutes.
- Direct Access: Speak directly to our underwriting team in Dublin, not a call centre abroad.
- No Middlemen: As a direct lender, we provide clear, transparent rates and attractive commissions.