The Irish car market is running hot into the summer plate change, and for used-car buyers the picture has rarely been clearer. Electric cars have gone mainstream, used EV prices have finally stopped falling, and the 262 registration plate on 1 July is about to send a fresh wave of trade-ins into the used market. Here's our weekly read on where the value is right now — with five best-value picks at the end.
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The big picture: electric has gone mainstream
New-car sales are up 4.7% so far this year, with 83,038 new registrations to the end of May. The standout shift is electrification: electric vehicles now make up 23% of the new-car market year-to-date, and EV registrations doubled in May to 2,335 units. Add hybrids and plug-in hybrids and electrified cars account for almost two-thirds (65.7%) of all new sales.
Why does that matter for used buyers? Because today's new cars are tomorrow's used stock. A market tilting hard toward EVs and hybrids means the used forecourt is filling up with them too — and more supply usually means better value.
The value story of the month: used EV prices have stopped falling
For two years the big worry with a used electric car was depreciation — the fear of catching a falling knife. That phase is over. After sharp drops through 2023–24 and a softer 7–9% dip in 2025, used EV prices were broadly flat year-on-year by the end of 2025 and remain steady now. The correction has run its course.
The result is a genuine value window. Irish market data shows used EVs are now priced around €7,000 (roughly 11%) below comparable diesels. A typical three-year-old electric car asks about €28,825, versus €35,893 for the equivalent diesel. You get the benefit of someone else's depreciation — without the continued downside risk that made buyers nervous a year ago.
The 262 plate: more choice is coming
The 262 plate arrives on 1 July. July is Ireland's secondary new-plate season, and every new car sold means a trade-in coming the other way. Expect used supply to loosen through July and August, with more choice and a little more room to negotiate — especially on family hatchbacks, SUVs and popular EVs.
If you're flexible on timing, late summer often rewards patience.
Grants: up to €8,500 off a new EV from 1 July
Big news for anyone weighing new vs used: the ICE2EV scrappage scheme launches on 1 July 2026, offering €5,000 for scrapping a petrol or diesel car registered in 2013 or earlier (13+ years old) and buying a new battery-electric vehicle. It stacks on the existing €3,500 SEAI EV grant, bringing total support to as much as €8,500.
A few things to know:
- The scheme is backed by a €10 million fund, split 65% rural / 35% urban by Eircode.
- Your old car must have been in your name for 12 months, with a valid (or recently expired) NCT, taxed and insured.
- The EV grant price cap drops from €60,000 to €50,000 on 31 July — higher-spec EVs only qualify if approved before then.
- Separately, EV VRT relief ends on 31 December 2026 — a real deadline for anyone importing or registering an EV cheaply.
These incentives push more buyers toward new EVs, which in turn feeds the used market with trade-ins — good news whichever side you're shopping.
Imports: Japan now leads, the UK is a tougher sell
Post-Brexit, UK imports are generally too expensive and complicated for most ICE cars: you're looking at VRT of up to 40% of the car's value, plus 23% VAT and 10% duty. Irish dealers have pivoted to Japan, which now supplies over half of all used imports. Overall used imports are up 38.2% year-to-date.
The one bright spot for UK imports is electric: EVs attract just 7% VRT, and the relief usually wipes that to €0 — so a clean UK EV can still make sense. If you're considering it, read our VRT and UK-import guide first.
Segment snapshot
| Segment | Direction | Typical used band |
|---|---|---|
| Small / city | Stable → firm | €8,000–€14,000 |
| Family hatch | Stable | €15,000–€22,000 |
| SUV / crossover | Firm | €20,000–€38,000 |
| Estate | Stable | €17,000–€26,000 |
| Used EV | Bottomed out / flat | €12,000–€28,000 |
| Hybrid | Firm | €17,000–€26,000 |
| Premium | Stable → soft | €30,000+ |
Five best-value used picks this week
- Nissan Leaf (2017–2019, 30–40 kWh) — €9,000–€13,000. The cheapest genuine way into an EV, with near-zero running costs for city and commuter driving.
- Hyundai Kona Electric (2019–2020, 64 kWh) — €17,000–€21,000. Around 400 km of real-world range, sitting right at the used-EV value floor now that prices have stabilised.
- Toyota Corolla Hybrid (2019–2020) — €18,000–€22,000. A bulletproof self-charging hybrid with strong residuals and low fuel and tax bills.
- Skoda Octavia (2019–2021, hatch or estate) — €17,000–€23,000. Enormous family space for the money, and Skoda demand is strong in Ireland right now.
- Volkswagen Golf (2018–2020, 1.0/1.5 TSI) — €15,000–€19,000. The default family hatch — broad supply keeps pricing keen and choice wide.
Prices are indicative for the Irish used market at the stated years; always check live listings before you buy.
Ready to find yours?
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