Car registrations

Annual new car registrations overtake used

1 Jul 2025

Our take on the latest Car registrations (Tue 1 Jul 2025)

179,643

Total car registrations in the year to June, down 5.1%pa

New car registrations up 14%pa from June 2024

Used car registrations down 19%pa from June 2024

The annual car registrations fell again in the June quarter to 179,643pa, having been on a downward trend since the beginning of 2024. The last time the annual total was below 180,000pa was in October 2013. New car registrations in the June quarter were up 14% from the June 2024 quarter, while used car registrations were down 19% over the same period.
In the March 2025 quarter, we saw a quarterly rise (2.0%) in total car registrations for the first time in a year, but this lift was reversed in the June 2025 quarter, as total registrations fell back 1.9% (all figures seasonally adjusted).
New car registrations fell back 3.1% from the March 2025 quarter, but this drop follows three consecutive quarterly rises (seasonally adjusted). Used car registrations remain on a downward trend, falling from the previous quarter (-5.4%) for the sixth consecutive quarter (seasonally adjusted).
Full battery electric vehicles registrations continued to recover in the June 2025 quarter, with their annual market share rising from 4.5% in the year to March to 5.1% in the year to June. Non-plug-in hybrid electric vehicles remain popular, with a 41% market share, five percentage points behind petrol vehicles, which made up 46% of registrations.

Annual running total, first-time car registrations by type

Annual new car registrations overtook used car registrations in late 2022 and remained above used registrations for a year. The trend is re-emerging as used car registrations trend lower and new car registrations rise. Quarterly new car registrations have been higher than used car registrations for the past three quarters.
Business confidence and investment intentions bounced back in ANZ’s Business Outlook for June, after falling in April and May due to global trade uncertainty. Survey respondents pointed to central government policy as the second most important reason for investing, which was likely due to the Investment Boost incentive introduced in May’s Budget. The scheme allows businesses to immediately make a 20% tax deduction, which might bring forward fleet renewal for businesses in a favourable cash position.
International trade policy has been a sticking point for major global car manufacturers. Policy uncertainty remains, but downside risks have subsided significantly, with the US administration in negotiations with global trading partners for trade deals and the 90-day pause for reciprocal tariffs potentially being extended in coming days.
Household budgets are coming under less pressure, as homeowners continue to roll onto lower mortgage rates. As households come into better financial positions, and the labour market begins to improve, we expect some lift in spending on durable, big-ticket items such as cars.

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