The replacement time between cars has gotten shorter, cost is still key and people are asking AI for help researching a car to buy
Reports show that drivers change their cars on average every five years. Photo: Getty
How often are Irish people changing cars and what are they spending?
On average, according to a recent report by Carzone, Irish car owners now change cars every five years and that replacement time has shortened from 5.6 years in 2025 to 5.2 years. Three in ten plan to buy a new car in the next year, and the average spend on their current car was €19,400, with buyers planning to spend about €1,900 more on their next purchase.
What are the top priorities when buying a car in 2026?
Not surprisingly, price is the single biggest factor and 30pc say this is the top consideration and was in the top three considerations by 58pc of those who own or plan to buy. Reliability and running costs also figure highly on the list, with about half of drivers putting reliability in their top three, especially older motorists, and many also ranking day‑to‑day costs as a key influence.
How are people planning to pay for their next car?
Two in five buyers expect to pay with cash or savings, while around a fifth plan to use a credit union loan and 14pc anticipate taking a personal loan. Overall, 55pc of car owners have used car finance, three‑quarters of them say it makes buying more affordable, and two in five current finance users expect to trade their car in against another finance deal once it’s paid off.
Is AI playing a role in the car-buying process?
One in four Irish car owners has already used AI in their car search, and over half would feel comfortable using AI to help them find the right car. The use of AI is most popular among younger drivers, with 43pc of 18-34‑year‑olds stating they used AI, mainly to compare models, research potential problems, estimate running costs, evaluate deals and gauge resale value.