Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

98. To ask the Minister for Finance the number of cars registered here in each of the past four years and to date in 2018; the number of those registrations that were pre-registered, that is, the dealer will register a car in advance of it being sold; his views on whether this has the potential to distort the figures on the number of cars sold each year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [19062/18]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

I am advised by Revenue that the number of new and used cars registered for Vehicle Registration Tax for the years 2014 to 2017 and the first three months of 2018 are shown in the following table.

I am informed by Revenue that vehicle registrations are carried out by motor dealers either through Revenue’s on-line system, ROS, or through the National Car Testing (NCT) Centre network. When a vehicle is being registered, the requirement is to declare the vehicle particulars in order for Revenue to provide authorisation for entry-into-service of the vehicle. There is no requirement to declare the conditions of sale or whether the vehicle is being registered by a dealer in advance of a sale.

I am further informed by Revenue that a system of “pre-inspection” of vehicles is operated through the NCT Centres. This system was introduced by Revenue to provide an alternative to motor dealers having to attend the NCT Centres. Using this system, an authorised motor dealer can have a vehicle or a number of vehicles pre-inspected in advance of sale. Where a sale is subsequently made, the dealer can register the vehicle directly through ROS without having to go to the NCT Centre. These pre-inspections are not registrations and are processed internally in Revenue for accounting purposes but are not reflected in the annual registration statistics.

I am advised by Revenue that registration statistics reflect the number of vehicles registered each year and are not intended to represent an accurate number of vehicles sold each year, whether by direct sale to a customer or another form of transaction in advance of sale.