Speculative reports in today's Irish Independent reveal that the Government have decided to change the Irish car registration system which will see the dropping of the superstitious '13' plate next year. Furthermore they will add a new plate in July following extensive lobbying by the industry.

According to the report, from January Irish number plates will begin with '131' with a second plate being introduced in July with '132' as the initial digits. It is also hoped that this will spread the sales of new car more evenly across the year and help to avoid the 'rush to buy' at the beginning of the year. This has been a bug bear for car dealers as over 70% of cars sold in Ireland happens in the first four months of the year. The SIMI have been asking for the registration system to be changed for over a year so as to remove the seasonality from the car-sales year.

The issue of the 'unlucky 13' plate was first raised by Autobiz's, Gerry Murphy, Chairman of the Irish Motoring Writers' Association in his keynote address to the industry at the Continental Irish Car of the Year awards in November 2011. Now it seems that following much publicity and lobbying from the SIMI the Government are planning to change the system in line with the dual plate system that is currently used in the UK.

There is also some speculation that the Government is considering an increase in the VRT rates for all new cars in the forthcoming budget. While the Government never confirm or deny budgetary proposals ahead of budget day, there is speculation that increases are on the way. However, as is often the practice at this time of the year, this may be just a 'kite' to gauge the reaction of the already hard-pressed motorist.