The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) has called on Transport Minister Darragh O’Brien to establish a “one-stop shop portal” giving buyers free access to vital information about used cars.
Currently, Irish consumers must “rely on the honesty of sellers” with limited ability to verify claims about a vehicle’s condition. Last year, the CCPC received over 3,000 complaints about second-hand cars, including issues with clocked odometers, undisclosed crash damage, and misleading advertising.
The proposed portal would provide information about previous accidents, verified mileage, safety recalls, and import status. The CCPC noted that much of this data is already collected by the State but remains “either inaccessible or available only for a fee.”
CCPC Chair Brian McHugh emphasized that “sharing car history with buyers will protect all road users, helping to keep dangerous cars off Irish roads.”
Meanwhile, used car imports increased 21% last year to over 60,000, though this remains 46% below 2019 levels. The market has seen significant shifts, with 75% of imports now coming from non-UK sources, compared to just 5% in 2019.
According to The Journal, The used electric vehicle market is also showing signs of recovery, with used EVs now 11.2% cheaper than comparable diesel models.