Government 'set to scrap unlucky 13 car registration'
It has reported that the Government is to bring in a new licence-plate system next year amid fears that a '13' registration number would negatively impact on car sales.
According to the Irish Independent, cars registered between January and the end of June will have a '131' registration.
Those registered from July 1 to the end of the year will have '132' on the plate.
The decision is said to be based partly on fears that superstition about a '13' registration plate would affect sales and partly in response to the motor industry's plea to spread sales more evenly across the year.
Alan Nolan of the Irish Society of the Irish Motor Industry has welcomed the proposal.
"70% of new car sales occur in the period January, February, March and April, the first four months of the year," he said.
"So the industry has to find funding, and God knows that's difficult in the current climate, staffing and other resources to deliver that huge volume over a short period, and then for the rest of the year it is almost like 'deserted village' level of activity in new cars."
