Central Statistics Office figures show that the number of new cars licensed last year was down nearly 5% on 2002 at just over 143,000. This was the lowest total since 1998 and the third annual decline in a row.
For the month of December, new car sales were 2,012, a drop of 27% on the same month a year earlier.
But figures for second-hand cars showed a slight rise last year to just under 13,500.
The total number of all vehicles licensed last year fell by 1.4% to 217,709.
