The number of new private cars licensed for the first time fell 28.9 per cent in December, leading to a total fall of almost 63 per cent for 2009.
Only 474 registered during the month, compared with 667 in December 2008.
In total, the figures were down 62.8 per cent compared with 2008, with 54,432 new private vehicles licensed for the first time, compared to 146,470 the year before.
Out of this figure, more than 30,000 were diesel, roughly 56 per cent of the total.
The number of new goods vehicles was also significantly lower, with only 251 licensed in December 2009 compared with 426 in the corresponding month last year, representing a fall of 41.1 per cent.
For the year, 10,051 new goods vehicles were licensed, a 68.1 per cent fall compared to 31,459 in 2008.
There were 2,405 used cars imported into Ireland in December, with a total of 49,464 in 2009, compared to 60,091 in 2008.
The total number of all vehicles licensed during the year was 149,389, down 47.1 per cent on 2008's figures.
