· 73 per cent own a car that is more than five years old· 60 per cent of buyers pay less than €20,000 for a car
Car ownership in Ireland has seen steady growth over the years, and we’re now edging towards 2.5 million people across the country holding the keys to their own car. Combine this with roughly 80 per cent of the population over the age of 18 holding a driving licence , and it’s clear that vehicle ownership and the ability to get behind the wheel is an integral part of life in today’s Ireland.
The headline figure regarding vehicle ownership is that nearly three-quarters of survey respondents own a car that is more than five years old. And a die-hard 14 per cent expect to drive their cars into the ground, only replacing it once they’ve wrung every last kilometre out of it.There are pros and cons to this approach of course. On the plus side, an older car is likely to be owned outright and not have monthly finance payments.
Speaking of necessity, it seems that owning a car is vital to Irish life. While 50 per cent of respondents cover no more than 10,000km a year, or less than 27km a day, some 42 per cent of people who took the survey make 90 per cent or more of their journeys by car.Owners are thrifty when it comes to buying a car, and the cash they save goes towards its upkeep, with 42 per cent of survey respondents spending €250-€500 annually on vehicle maintenance.
Electric drive is starting to make inroads into the Irish car market, with 4 per cent of survey respondents owning a full, and around half that number behind the wheel of plug-in hybrids. Other hybrids are also making inroads, with 9 per cent of drivers using one. And when it comes to replacing their current car, most respondents are open to the idea of electrification: the majority will be considering a hybrid, 26 per cent a diesel and 20 per cent petrol.