The CCPC believes this initiative would improve transparency and help reduce the number of unsafe, clocked or poorly repaired vehicles on Irish roads. It said that before buying a used car, consumers must have access to important information about a car’s mileage, past accidents, safety recalls, and import status.

Currently, much of this information is collected by the State but is either unavailable to the public or only accessible through commercial providers such as Cartell and Motorcheck, which charge a fee. The CCPC highlighted that many consumers are unaware of these services, and even those who use them may receive incomplete or unreliable information, as these reports often rely on private sources.

A key finding in the report is that Ireland falls behind other countries in terms of used car history disclosure. Twenty EU member states, including Belgium, Estonia, and Poland, provide public access to vehicle histories, while the UK, New Zealand, and Australia also offers consumers free access to similar information.

In 2024, the CCPC received 3,192 complaints to its national consumer helpline regarding second-hand cars. Among the issues were clocked mileage, undisclosed crash damage, excessive repair times, and recurring faults, while some buyers also reported misleading advertising and misselling practices.

Brian McHugh, CCPC Chair, emphasised the importance of consumer protection, stating that “the State must close the knowledge gap for consumers”. He stressed that an open and accessible State database would enhance safety and prevent dangerous vehicles from remaining on Irish roads.

Insurance Ireland has welcomed the CCPC’s proposal, supporting the creation of a one-stop-shop online portal for car history information, which it believes will provide greater protection for consumers in Ireland.