CARZONE MOTORING REPORTExamining Trends in the Irish Motoring Industry

2016 IN REVIEW

Welcome to the 2016 Carzone Motoring Report,

where we examine trends in the Irish motoring

industry in more depth than anywhere else.

With 108 million searches carried out so far in 2016, Carzone is in an exclusive

position to be able to offer insight into how the Irish motorist is behaving.

To support the Carzone search data, we surveyed 1,610 Irish motorists on a

wide variety of topics, asking them about their motoring habits and plans for

buying and selling their next cars.

For the first time, we looked at habits depending on a rural or urban

background, to gain an even greater understanding of Irish motorists'

mentality. As ever, the responses were highly instructive, adding detail to the

Carzone search data. Some will be surprised at how inclinations vary from

county to county across the country.

As ever, Cartell.ie provided extra data and this year it revealed that used car

sales figures are at an all-time high. We hope you find the report useful.

WELCOME

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

2 | Motoring Report

108 MILLION SEARCHES CARRIED OUT ON CARZONE FROM JANUARY 1ST TO OCTOBER 31ST

WE SURVEYED 1,610 IRISH MOTORISTS

Motoring Report | 3

BUYING A CAR

27% SPENDING BETWEEN 20K AND 40K ON MOTOR PURCHASES

16% SEARCH FOR A 2016 CAR

USED CAR TRANSACTIONS Data from Cartell.ie clearly shows that the

used car market is buoyant, with transactions

comfortably exceeding one million - against

976,025 for the same period in 2015. That's an

encouraging gain of 7%.

Deeper dissection of search data reveals that

motorists appear to be browsing for newer

models than previously recorded. The most

searched-for year on Carzone is 2016 at 16%,

closely followed by 2012 at 10%.

This optimism is reflected by our survey

respondents. While the majority (28%) aim to

spend between ¤10,000 and ¤20,000 on their

next car, a significant 27% indicated that they

would spend between ¤20,000 and ¤40,000,

which is an increase on the same period in

2015.

2016MOST SEARCHED FOR YEAR

¤20,000 & ¤40,000 UP YEAR ON YEAR

Transactions

From 2015 1,051,101UNTIL END OF OCTOBER

2015 USED TRANSACTIONS TO END OF OCTOBER

976,025

4 | Motoring Report

Almost 24% purchase cars with over

26% purchase cars with less than

MILEAGE MATTERS

KM

KM

MOST POPULAR CAR TYPES

FUEL TYPE

SALOON 30%HATCH 26%SUV 16%MPV 8%

DIESEL 68% PETROL 32%(54% - DIESEL 2015) (45% - PETROL 2015)

2015

2015

2015

2015

SURVEY DATA

SURVEY DATA

SURVEY

DATA

Motoring Report | 5

42% USE SAVINGS

21% PCP

16% CREDIT UNION LOAN

13% BANK LOAN OnlineSeller

WHERE PEOPLE BUY FROM

FranchiseDealers

IndependentDealers

Private Seller

43% 32% 17%

41%

(20

15)

36

% (

20

15)

13%

(20

15)

HOW PEOPLE PAY FOR CARS

PCP

6 | Motoring Report

HOW THEY INTEND TO PAY FOR CARS NEXT YEAR

PLANNING AHEAD

INTEND ON BUYING A NEW OR USED CAR IN THE NEXT YEAR

25% WILL USE THEIR SAVINGS TO PAY FOR IT

20% WILL TAKE OUT A CREDIT UNION LOAN TO PAY FOR IT

13% WILL USE A FINANCING OPTION SUCH AS PCP45%

PCP

Motoring Report | 7

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

BMW 5 SERIES

BMW 3 SERIES

AUDI A4

FORD FOCUS

MERCEDES E-CLASS

1

2

3

4

5

6

IN 2016 IN 2015

MOST POPULAR CAR MODELMOST POPULAR CAR MAKE

SEARCH DATA JANUARY-OCTOBER 2016

1

4

2

5 6

3

NATIONWIDE NATIONWIDE

VOLKSWAGEN GOLF

FORD FOCUS

VOLKSWAGEN PASSAT

BMW 3 SERIES

BMW 5 SERIES

OPEL ASTRA

As has been the case for several years, the

Volkswagen Golf is the most searched for car

on Carzone. However, changes elsewhere in

the data reveal that there is optimism in the car

market once more.

Although Hyundai topped the new car sales

table this year with its Tucson model, it will be a

few years before those are plentiful on the used

car market.

Hence, the Volkswagen Golf remains the most

searched for used car on Carzone. The BMW

5 Series and 3 Series and the Audi A4 have all

displaced the Ford Focus from its second place

in 2015's search data, revealing real buoyancy in

the market and demand for high-end German

premium marques.

8 | Motoring Report

BLACK 29%WHITE 22%BLUE 6%SILVER 5%RED 5%

MOST POPULAR CAR COLOUR

2016 HYUNDAI TUCSON IN BLACK

FUEL TYPE

PETROL/ELECTRIC HYBRIDS SALES**

ELECTRICCARS SALES**

UP 58%

UP 94%

NATIONWIDE

MOST SEARCHED FOR NEW CAR IN IRELAND

NATIONWIDE

81% searched for a diesel carVs. 78% in 2015

68% purchased a diesel car*Vs. 56% in 2015

16% searched for a petrol carVs. 17% in 2015

32% purchased a petrol car*Vs. 42% in 2015

*relates to new and used cars purchased** Cartell.ie data, which relates to sales Jan-Oct 2015 & Jan-Oct 2016

Motoring Report | 9

CORKOver half (55%) of Cork

respondents understand the

term PCP, higher than the

National Average at 53%, with

22% of Cork respondents saying

this was their payment method

of choice when they purchased a

car in 2016.

DONEGALA quarter (25%) of those who

purchased a car in 2016 drove

off in a 2012 car, higher than the

National Average which saw 10%

purchase a 2012 car.

GALWAY36% of Galwegians are spending

an average of ¤20,000 to

¤40,000 on their new vehicle,

18% of which, purchase a 2016

model.

LIMERICKLimerick was higher than the

National Average when it came

to the age of learning to drive, as

a fifth of those (20%) didn’t see

it as a priority until between the

ages 21-25.

DUBLIN39% would purchase through

an Independent Dealer, higher

than the National Average, which

placed Franchise Dealer at 43%

and Independent Dealer at 32%.

LOUTHDespite being the smallest county

in Ireland, Louth appeared to go

for the largest vehicles in 2016

with a fifth (20%) buying 4x4s/

SUVs this year, higher than the

National Average!

NATIONWIDE MOTORING TRENDS

10 | Motoring Report

MOST POPULAR SEARCHES

Motoring Report | 11

MONAGHAN

Make: Hyundai

Model: IX35

Year: 2013

Color: White

Fuel: Diesel

CAVAN

Make: Mercedes-Benz

Model: E-Class

Year: 2013

Colour: White

Fuel: Diesel

DUBLIN

Make: Volkswagen

Model: Golf

Year: 2008

Colour: Black

Fuel: Diesel

SLIGO

Make: Audi

Model: A6

Year: 2012

Colour: Black

Fuel: Diesel

GALWAY

Make: Volkswagen

Model: Golf

Year: 2012

Colour: Black

Fuel: Diesel

CORK

Make: Ford

Model: Focus

Year: 2012

Color: Black

Fuel: Diesel

WATERFORD

Make: BMW

Model: 5 Series

Year: 2016

Color: Black

Fuel: Diesel

SLIGO

GALWAY

CAVAN

DUBLIN

WATERFORD

CORK

MONAGHAN

COUNTY MAKE MODEL YEAR(S) COLOUR FUEL

DUBLIN VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2008 BLACK DIESEL

CORK FORD FOCUS 2012 BLACK DIESEL

LIMERICK FORD FOCUS 2012 BLACK DIESEL

GALWAY VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2012 BLACK DIESEL

KILDARE FORD FOCUS 2012 BLACK DIESEL

CARLOW VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2014 (141) BLACK DIESEL

WEXFORD VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2012 BLACK DIESEL

WATERFORD BMW 5 SERIES 2016 (161) BLACK DIESEL

LOUTH VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2012 BLACK DIESEL

MEATH VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2012 WHITE DIESEL

WESTMEATH VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2016 (161) BLACK DIESEL

LONGFORD VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2011 BLACK DESEL

LAOIS VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2016 (161) BLACK DIESEL

COUNTY MAKE MODEL YEAR(S) COLOUR FUEL

OFFALY HYUNDAI SANTA FE 2012 WHITE PETROL

KILKENNY FORD FOCUS 2012 BLACK DIESEL

TIPPERARY FORD FOCUS 2012 BLACK DIESEL

CLARE FORD FOCUS 2012 BLACK DIESEL

MAYO VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2016 (161) BLACK DIESEL

SLIGO AUDI A6 2012 BLACK DIESEL

LEITRIM VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2012 BLACK DIESEL

ROSCOMMON VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2016 (161) BLACK DIESEL

KERRY FORD FOCUS 2013 (131) BLACK DIESEL

CAVAN MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS 2013 (131) WHITE DIESEL

DONEGAL VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2012 WHITE DIESEL

MONAGHAN HYUNDAI IX35 2013 (131) WHITE DIESEL

WICKLOW VOLKSWAGEN GOLF 2012 BLACK DIESEL

MOST POPULAR SEARCHES BY COUNTY

12 | Motoring Report

41% INTEND ON SELLING A CAR IN THE NEXT YEAR

37% WOULD SELL VIA TRADE IN

22% WOULD SELL

ONLINE

SELLING TRADE IN ONLINE

Most motorists that intend to sell their car in

the coming year will use it as a trade-in, as

they feel comfortable with the process and

there's no potential delay in waiting for a

private buyer.

When you've decided to change car, it's all

too tempting to take the quickest and easiest

option, which is, for most people, trading

their car in against their next one. Some 37%

of survey respondents indicated that's how

they will sell their car in the coming year.

Nonetheless, a significant 22% said they would

sell their car online, though, in general, men

appear more comfortable with that idea than

women do (at 49% vs. 29%).

TOP TIP: whether you're a man or a woman,

it's best to have a friend with you when a

potential buyer comes to look at your car.

Never leave the keys alone with the buyer and

do not let the car go without cleared payment.

MORE MALES (49%) THAN FEMALES (29%) WOULD BE CONFIDENT IN

GOING THE ONLINE ROUTE WHEN LOOKING TO SELL THEIR CAR

49%OF MEN ARE CONFIDENT IN GOING THE ONLINE ROUTE

SELLING A CAR

Motoring Report | 13

20% SPEND BETWEEN 120 AND 150 EUROS PER MONTH

¤120-15019% SPEND BETWEEN 150 AND

200 EUROS PER MONTH

¤150-200

15% SPEND BETWEEN 200 AND 250 EUROS PER MONTH

¤200-25014% SPEND 300 EUROS AND UP PER MONTH¤300 +

Monthly car running costs vary from person to

person, though our data reveals that, in general,

men spend more on motoring than their female

counterparts do.

When asked how much they spend on motoring

each month, including car insurance, motor tax,

fuel, repairs and servicing, 20% of our survey

respondents told us that they spend ¤120-150, 19%

spend ¤150-200, 15% spend ¤200-250 and 14%

spend over ¤300. A difference between the sexes

was found, though, revealing that 20% of men

spend ¤150-200 on average, while 25% of females

average ¤55-199 per month.

TOP TIP: if you have an older car, your running

costs could be much higher than they would be

for a newer model. It may be worth financing the

purchase of a newer car.

MONEY MATTERS

RUNNING COSTS

14 | Motoring Report

YET 49% WERE INCORRECT

40% WERE CORRECT

A FIFTH (20%) SPEND AN AVERAGE OF 151-200

EUROS A MONTH

A QUARTER (25%) OF FEMALES AVERAGING AT BETWEEN 55-199 EUROS A MONTH

¤151-200 ¤55-199

FINANCE OPTIONS

41% OF MALE RESPONDENTS BELIEVE THEY HAVE A FULL

UNDERSTANDING OF CAR FINANCING OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM

50% OF FEMALES BELIEVE THEY HAVE SOME UNDERSTANDING OF FINANCIAL OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM

WHEN ASKED TO ELABORATE ON THE TERM PCP

IN THEIR INTERPRETATION OF

THE ABBREVIATION PCP

MALES PLACED HIGHER THAN FEMALES WHEN IT CAME TO RUNNING COSTS

PCP

Motoring Report | 15

32% PAY QUARTERLY53% PAY IT IN ONE LUMP SUM

58% PAY INSURANCE IN ONE LUMP SUM 41% PAY BY MONTHLY DD

OF THE 18-34 YEAR OLD BRACKET, OVER HALF (53%) SET UP DIRECT DEBITS TO COVER THESE COSTS.

18-34

TAX MATTERS INSURANCE MATTERS

DIRECT DEBIT

FANS

AGE

YEARS

16 | Motoring Report

47% COMMUTE LESS THAN 20 MINS

38% TRAVEL BETWEEN 30 AND 45 MINS

51% PASSED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT

29% PASSED ON THEIR SECOND ATTEMPT

59% PASSED ON THE FIRST ATTEMPT

30% PASSED ON THEIR SECOND ATTEMPT

ONLY 15% OF PEOPLE CAR SHARE ON THEIR COMMUTE

COMMUTE TIMES DRIVING TEST

MINS

MINS20

30/45

MALES

FEMALES

10% TRAVEL UP TO AN HOUR

MINS

60

Motoring Report | 17

TOP 3 CONCERNS

23

FINANCIAL CONCERNS

91% OF RESPONDENTS STATE THAT BREXIT HAS NOT IMPACTED OR DELAYED THEIR DECISION TO PURCHASE A CAR IN 2017

FUEL

INSURANCE

TAX

1

DOWN FROM NO. 1 IN 2015

DOWN FROM NO. 2 IN 2015

UP FROM NO. 3 IN 2015

18 | Motoring Report

Although a massive 42% of our survey

respondents told us that they used their own

savings to buy their current car, there's an

undeniable shift towards using all types of car

finance. Some 21% used PCP, 16% used the

Credit Union and another 13% took out a bank

loan.

So, what is PCP?

PCP stands for Personal Contract Plan. First up, the

buyer pays a deposit (or covers it with a trade-in) and

then a monthly fee for a set number of years (usually

three). Finally, when that time is up, they decide

between paying a lump sum to own the car, giving

the car back with no further payments, or using value

remaining in the car to cover a deposit on another

new car to start the cycle again. There's lots of fine

print involved, but that's what most of them boil down

to.

Other options?

Hire Purchase is still available. Rates and repayments are higher than

PCP, but you own the car at the end.

Meanwhile, Credit Union and other bank loans allow the buyer to own

the car from the start.

WHAT ARE THE PROS AND CONS OF PCP?

CARZONE GUIDE

TO FINANCE

THE PROS include a shiny

new car every three years,

minimal maintenance costs

and seemingly low monthly

payments.

THE CONS include the fact you

don't own the car, there are

usually limitations on mileage

and condition and, once in the

cycle, it's difficult to get out

and start again from scratch.

NEW CAR EVERY 3 YEARSLOW MAINTENANCE

LOW PAYMENTS

NO OWNERSHIPMILEAGE LIMITATIONS

DIFFICULT TO BREAK FREE

PCP

Motoring Report | 19

CARZONE MOTORING REPORT2016 IN REVIEW