According to figures from the Central Statistics Office (CSO) there were 7,018 new private cars licensed in July 2010, compared with 4,355 in July 2009 - an increase of 61.1 percent.
The number of new goods vehicles licensed in July 2010 was 871 compared with 839 in the corresponding month last year - an increase of 3.8 percent.
The licensing figures also show that in July 2010, the total number of all vehicles licensed was 13,928 compared with 12,411 in the corresponding month last year - an increase of 12.2 percent.
The total number of all new vehicles licensed during July 2010 was 8,648 compared with 6,009 during the same month in 2009 - an increase of 43.9 percent.
In July 2010, of the 7,018 new private cars licensed, 1,946 (27.7 percent) were petrol and 4,850 (69.1 percent) were diesel.
The highest number of new private cars licensed in July 2010, classified by make, was Volkswagen (911) followed by Opel (898), Ford (774) and Toyota (687).
The licensing figures refer to vehicles taxed for road use only and classified by taxation class.