Car Dealers in Clare: A Local Guide to Used Car Dealerships (2026)

Most franchised car dealers in Clare are in Ennis, and nearly all of them sit on two roads: the Gort Road on the north side of town and the Kilrush Road on the west side. If you are looking for car dealers in Clare, Ennis is where you will find the widest choice of brands, while buyers in west Clare, Shannon and east Clare often combine a trip to Ennis with a look at dealers in Limerick or Galway.

Contents

1. Where the dealers are
2. Main franchised dealers in Clare
3. Buying a used car in Clare: local tips
4. Checklist before you sign
5. Your rights when buying from a dealer
6. Frequently asked questions

Where the dealers are

Ennis: the Gort Road

The Gort Road is Clare's main motor mile. Coming into Ennis from the M18 and the north, you pass the Toyota, Škoda, Renault and Dacia showrooms, plus Sheils Motor Group's site at Dulick, which trades as BYD Clare. Because these dealers are close together, it is easy to compare cars of different brands on the same day.

Ennis: the Kilrush Road

On the west side of town, the Kilrush Road (N68) is home to the Kia dealer in Ennis. It is the natural first stop for buyers coming in from Kilrush, Kilkee and the rest of west Clare.

Shannon, Kilrush and east Clare

Outside Ennis, Clare has many independent garages and smaller used car sellers, but franchised showrooms are rare. Buyers in Shannon and south-east Clare are often closer to the Limerick dealers on the Ennis Road than to Ennis itself, and buyers in north Clare may look towards Gort and Galway. If you want to compare stock across the region, see our guides to car dealers in Tipperary and car dealers in Kerry, and the used cars listed in Limerick on EcoSteer.

Main franchised dealers in Clare

This table lists franchised dealers whose brand appointment in Clare has been reported publicly. It is not a ranking. Dealers change brands from time to time, so check with the dealer or the manufacturer's Irish website before you travel.

Business name	Location	Brands
Al Hayes Motors	Gort Road, Ennis	Škoda
BYD Clare (Sheils Motor Group)	Gort Road, Dulick, Ennis	BYD
Cummins Car Centre	Ballymaley Business Park, Gort Road, Ennis	Toyota
Hogan Motors	Gort Road, Ennis	Renault, Dacia
Liam Cleary Autoworld	Kilrush Road, Ennis	Kia
Pierse Volkswagen Ennis	Ennis	Volkswagen

A few notes on these dealers, based on public reports:

• Al Hayes Motors was appointed as the Škoda sales and aftersales dealer for Co. Clare in 2015 and operates from a showroom and workshop on the Gort Road. The family business also has a site in Portumna, Co. Galway. If you are weighing up a Škoda, our guides to the Škoda Octavia and Škoda Kodiaq are a good starting point.
• BYD Clare is run by Sheils Motor Group, which has traded in Ennis since 1925. The group was appointed as the BYD dealer for Clare in 2026 and sells BYD's hybrid and electric models from its Gort Road showrooms. Our BYD Ireland guide explains the range.
• Cummins Car Centre joined the Toyota Ireland network in 2011 as the authorised Toyota sales and service dealer for Clare. Popular Toyota models on Irish forecourts include the Yaris, Yaris Cross and C-HR.
• Hogan Motors is the main Renault and Dacia dealer in Ennis and is also listed by Ennis Chamber as a Toyota authorised repairer. See our pages on the Renault Clio and Dacia Duster.
• Liam Cleary Autoworld is listed on Kia Ireland's website as the Kia sales and service dealer in Ennis, on the Kilrush Road. For electric and hybrid Kias, read our Kia EV3 buyer guide and the Kia Niro page.
• Pierse Volkswagen Ennis was previously Western Garages, a Volkswagen main dealer in Ennis since 1956, which became part of the Pierse Motor Group in 2022.

Ennis also has a number of established independent used car dealers. Independent dealers sell many makes and can be a good source of older or lower-priced cars. Your consumer rights are the same whether you buy from a franchised or an independent dealer.

Buying a used car in Clare: local tips

• Book the NCT early. Clare is served by a single NCT centre on the Quin Road in Ennis, and local media have reported waits of several months for appointments. A car with a long NCT is worth more to you than one due a test next month.
• Think about your daily drive. Many Clare buyers cover long rural distances or commute on the M18 to Limerick, Shannon or Galway. For high mileage, a diesel or a full hybrid usually makes more sense than a small petrol car. For mostly town driving in Ennis or Shannon, a used electric car can cut running costs if you can charge at home.
• Check for coastal wear. Cars that have lived near the Atlantic coast, in places such as Kilkee, Lahinch or Doolin, can show more rust underneath. Look at the sills, brake lines and subframes, or ask the dealer to put the car on a lift.
• Compare across county lines. Limerick and Galway are both reachable from Ennis on the M18 motorway. If a dealer elsewhere has the exact car you want, the drive may be worth it.
• Ask about delivery. Some dealers will deliver a car or arrange collection for buyers in west Clare, which saves a day of travel.

Checklist before you sign

1. NCT certificate and history. Check the expiry date and compare the recorded mileage with the odometer.
2. Vehicle Registration Certificate. Make sure the details match the car, including the VIN.
3. Service history. Look for stamps or invoices that match the mileage.
4. Recall check with the VIN. Ask the dealer to confirm that any open recalls have been completed.
5. Finance check. Confirm there is no outstanding finance on the car.
6. A test drive on the M18 and local roads. Try the car at motorway speed and on a rough country road to listen for noises.
7. The deal in writing. Get the price, warranty terms and anything the dealer promised written into the sales agreement.

Your rights when buying from a dealer

When you buy a car from a dealer in Ireland, the Consumer Rights Act 2022 applies. The car must be of satisfactory quality, fit for its purpose and as described. If a fault appears, you can ask the dealer to repair or replace the car, and in some cases you can reject it and get a refund. These rights are separate from any warranty the dealer offers. The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) explains the rules in plain language.

A private sale does not give you the same protection, which is one of the main reasons many buyers prefer a dealer for their next car.

Browse used cars

Looking beyond one dealer's forecourt? Browse used cars for sale across Ireland on EcoSteer, or go straight to used Toyota, Kia and Škoda listings, or the used electric cars page.

Frequently asked questions

Where are the main car dealers in Clare?

Most franchised dealers in Clare are in Ennis, mainly on the Gort Road on the north side of town, with the Kia dealer on the Kilrush Road.

Which car brands have a dealer in County Clare?

Based on public reports, Clare has franchised dealers for Toyota, Volkswagen, Škoda, Kia, Renault, Dacia and BYD, all in Ennis. Check the manufacturer's Irish website for the latest list.

Where is the NCT centre in Clare?

Clare's NCT centre is at Clare Marts on the Quin Road in Ennis. It is the only test centre in the county, so book early.

Is it better to buy a used car from a dealer or privately in Clare?

A dealer sale gives you rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2022, such as repair, replacement or a refund if the car is faulty. A private sale does not, so private buyers need to be more careful with checks.

Should I look at dealers in Limerick or Galway too?

Yes, if you live in Shannon, east Clare or north Clare, Limerick and Galway dealers may be closer than Ennis. Comparing across the region also gives you more choice.

Sources

• CompleteCar: New Skoda dealer announced in Clare
• Autotrade: Sheils Motor Group appointed BYD dealer in Clare
• Autobiz: Cummins Ennis joins Toyota network
• Ennis Chamber member listing: Hogan Motors
• Kia Ireland: Liam Cleary Autoworld
• CompleteCar: Western Garages bought by Pierse Group
• The Clare Echo: Fresh calls to open NCT centre in west Clare
• NCTS
• CCPC