The Best Time to Buy a Luxury Car in Ireland
Plates, Quarters & Timing

In Ireland, when you buy a luxury car affects both what you pay and what it's worth when you sell. The registration-plate system, dealer quarter-end targets and the shape of the depreciation curve all create predictable windows of opportunity. Here's how to use them.

The 261/262 plate system

Since 2013, Irish plates have run in two periods a year. In 2026 that's 261 for cars registered January–June and 262 for July–December (the "26" being the year). A car's plate is the first thing the resale market reads, and a "261" car is worth more than an otherwise-identical "262" because it scans as six months newer.

End of quarter and end of year

Dealers and franchised groups work to registration and sales targets, typically tied to calendar quarters and year-end. The last few weeks of March, June, September and December — and December especially — are when a salesperson is most motivated to do a deal to hit a number. For a new or Approved Used luxury car, timing your purchase into one of these windows can be worth real money in discount, trade-in or added extras.

The depreciation curve

If you're buying used, the calendar that matters is the car's own age. Luxury cars lose value fastest in their first one to three years; after that the curve flattens. A two-to-three-year-old premium car — late enough to have dodged the steepest drop, early enough for condition and remaining warranty — is usually the value sweet spot. Which specific models fall fastest (and which barely move) is covered in our depreciation guide.

Seasonal quirks

Convertibles and sportier cars tend to be cheaper to buy in the depths of winter, when demand for them is lowest, and dearer in spring. EVs and sensible saloons are less seasonal. If you're flexible on exactly when you buy, leaning into the off-season for the car type can shave money off.