The number of imported used cars licensed was up almost 36% to 4,601 compared with the same time last year.

This figures, released today in the "Vehicles licensed for the first time" report by the Central Statistics Office, also show that almost a thousand less vehicles were registered last month than in May 2012.

Although the number of new goods vehicles which took to the roads was up 11.9%, the overall figure of all new cars licensed was down 8.3%

There were 53 electric cars licensed in May 2013, with almost three quarters of the remaining 7,042 running on diesel engines.

There are hopes that the new 132 registration plate which will appear on cars registered in the second half of this year will result in increased sales.