Up close and personal: low rates of personal contract plans are driving a surge in car sales

But motorists should read the small print to be aware of their complexities

January invariably means new car sales, and January 2016 saw some bumper figures.

In fact, car sales have been surging in recent years. According to the Society of the Irish Motor Industry, new car registrations at the end of last month were 39,812, a 33 per cent rise on January 2015.

By the end of the year, industry experts reckon 150,000 new cars will have been sold. That will be a massive lift ...