Vehicle history expert, Cartell.ie, reports that annual mileage in newer cars is increasing as the country recovers.
The average annualised mileage travelled by a car five years of age or less (newer cars ) in 2016 is 21,028 km. This represents an increase of 7.1 per cent over the equivalent figure for 2008 (19,635 km ). Cartell.ie compared the average annual mileage in 2008 of private cars registered between 2003 and 2008, and compared the results to the average annual mileage in 2016 of private cars registered between 2011 and 2016. The results showed that vehicles in the second range were driven more - up 1,398km.
The study considered various possible reasons for the increase: a buyer shift towards diesel engines over the second date range (2011 to 2016 ) may have contributed. Diesel vehicles are generally more economical and individuals may have felt encouraged to use their vehicle more buoyed by lower costs; finance may have been less readily available in the market for some in the second date range (2011 to 2016 ) so buyers of newer vehicles then may have had a more definite purpose for their use; two-car-households are possibly using the newer car for longer journeys as it is more economical.
John Byrne from Cartell.ie said: “What makes the results interesting is that between 2003 and 2008 the economy was performing well throughout most of that period so we might have been expecting to see a decline in mileage in newer cars since then. It’s difficult to say with certainty why we’re seeing an increase. Possibly the buying trend towards diesel engines has encouraged buyers to use their car more – buoyed by the fact that costs are lower relatively.
“Another possibility is that finance in the market may have been harder to obtain for some between 2011 and 2016 and those who purchased a newer car then may have had a more definite purpose in mind for their use – work purposes, for example.”
