2026
Motoring
report
Examining trends in the Irish motoring industry
Priorities
Top 3 priorities when choosing a car in 2025 were:
People are changing cars more often
3 in 10 are planning to buy in the next year
People change their cars every 5.2 years (down from 5.6 years in 2024).
“My next car will be new...”
34% of buyers are planning to buy a new car next year, with an average budget increase of €1900
Running costs are up
Car owners are now spending on average €224.40 per month running their cars.
Insurance is the top financial concern
66% say insurance is their biggest concern when it comes to running their car.
Buying a car is exciting!
2 in 5 drivers who’ve bought a car describe the buying process as exciting.
A quarter feel it is time-consuming and stressful. The process is more stressful for women and younger drivers.
Car finance
55% of car owners have used car finance.
75% of those who have used it think it makes it more affordable to buy a car.
In partnership with
Which fuel type will drivers buy next?
Going electric
Cost is both the biggest motivator and biggest barrier to EV adoption.
Two-thirds who plan to buy are motivated by the lower running costs, while a third say they are too expensive overall.
AI in the car buying process
1 in 4 car owners in Ireland have already used AI to assist them in the car buying process. Over half of respondents would feel comfortable using AI to help them find the right car.
Is ownership important?
96% of drivers in Ireland say that owning their own car is at least somewhat important to them, with half (53%) deeming it essential.
