One in two people in Ireland change their car every five years

ONE IN TWO people in Ireland change their car every five years according to the latest Motoring Report from car buying experts Carzone.

The bi-annual index which examines trends in the Irish motoring market, highlights the continued rise in used car sales in Ireland as people upgrade their car more regularly.

When changing their car, 47 per cent tend to stick with the same marque indicating that brand loyalty remains high among Irish drivers.

The Carzone Motoring Report is compiled by analysing data from the 67 million searches carried out on Carzone in the first five months of 2017, as well as an in-depth survey of 2,647 Irish motorists and a cross section of car retailers in Ireland.

Insurance was named as the main financial concern for motorists once again with 88 per cent saying they noticed a rise in their insurance premium in the last year. Fuel was the second biggest concern followed by road tax and costs associated with the NCT.

On average half (51 per cent) spend between €120 and €150 running their car each month while 13 per cent say it can cost anywhere from €151 to €200 per month.

The report finds that city dwellers are more likely to drive a petrol car than their rural counterparts. Just half (51 per cent) of those based in an urban area have a diesel car, compared to 81 per cent of those who live rurally. Women are also more likely to drive a petrol car than men (48 per cent vs. 17 per cent).

In line with changing trends in motoring, Carzone questioned respondents on their attitudes to car technology.

Over two thirds say that a car’s technology plays an important role in their purchasing decision. However, it seems it has a bigger influence over men than women. Over 3 in 4 men polled say that car tech is very important when buying a car compared to just under half of women.

Its importance also carries more weight with the 25-34 age group with 91 per cent citing it as a very important factor.

Two thirds believe that in-car technology has made them a better driver and 70 per cent say it makes driving more enjoyable.

When it comes to must-have tech, 47 per cent say they can’t live without their trusty GPS and a quarter can’t do without a Bluetooth handsfree kit.

Although we can’t live without GPS, parking sensors are the most used tech item among motorists with 65 per cent relying on sensors for perfect parking. Cruise control is second (61 per cent) followed by a handsfree kit (37 per cent).

As technology now plays an important role when selecting a vehicle, Carzone also asked what technology consumers expect now as standard. A significant 85 per cent say that they would expect to find a Bluetooth handsfree kit as standard while 41 per cent expect car sensors and a third (34 per cent) cruise control.

Indicating that Irish motorists are embracing technology, almost 60 per cent say they would happily be a passenger in a self-driving car and just under three in four believe that autonomous driving will happen in their lifetime.

the biggest reservation noted by consumers was the fear of the car being hacked,

Although electric and hybrid cars make up a smaller portion of searches on the Carzone site, interest in these cars has significantly increased in the first five months of 2017. The Nissan Leaf is the most searched for electric car on Carzone while the Toyota Auris takes the top spot in the hybrid stakes.