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

Find car dealers in Wicklow: franchised showrooms in Bray, Kilpedder, Wicklow Town, Rathnew and Rathdrum, local buying tips, a pre-sale checklist and your consumer rights.

Irish Auto Market
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Car Dealers in Wicklow guide contents

Most car dealers in Wicklow sit along the N11 and M11 on the east side of the county, from Bray on the Dublin border down to Wicklow Town and Rathnew, with one more inland at Rathdrum. If you are looking for car dealers in Wicklow, or for used cars in Wicklow, this guide shows where the main franchised dealerships are, which brands each one holds, and the checks and consumer rights that matter before you sign for any car.

Quick Summary

  • Our list has six franchised dealers in Bray, Kilpedder, Wicklow Town, Rathnew and Rathdrum, covering Ford, Volkswagen, Škoda, Hyundai, Renault, Dacia, Opel, Fiat, Jeep and Leapmotor.
  • Toyota Ireland's dealer list had no Wicklow location when we checked, so Toyota buyers usually look to Gorey, Naas or south County Dublin.
  • The county's only NCT centre is in Arklow. Check a car's NCT history and match the mileage to it before you buy.
  • Buying from a dealer gives you rights under the Consumer Rights Act 2022, including the right to reject a faulty car within 30 days of delivery.

Contents

Where the dealers are

The N11 is the backbone of the county's motor trade. It runs south from Bray past Kilmacanogue and through the Glen of the Downs, then bypasses Kilpedder and Newtownmountkennedy. From near Newtownmountkennedy the M11 carries on past Ashford, Rathnew and Arklow before crossing into County Wexford. In the west of the county, the N81 runs from Tallaght through Blessington, Hollywood and Baltinglass towards Tullow.

Bray

Bray, the county's largest town, has the Renault and Dacia dealer on the Dublin Road. Renault Ireland announced the Bray outlet in 2022 as part of an expansion of its Irish dealer network. For anyone searching for car dealers in Bray, it is also the nearest dealer in our list to Greystones.

Kilpedder and the N11

The Ford dealer is on the N11 at Kilpedder. According to the dealer group, it sells new and used Ford passenger cars and Ford commercial vehicles and has a service centre on site.

Wicklow Town and Rathnew

The Volkswagen and Škoda dealers are both on the Dublin Road in Wicklow Town. The business traded as Sinnott Autos until Trinity Motor Group took it over in January 2021; motor trade reports at the time said the Volkswagen franchise had been held there since 1987 and Škoda since 2010. A short drive away, the Opel, Fiat, Jeep and Leapmotor dealer is in Rathnew, at Exit 16 off the M11. Leapmotor added it to its Irish retail network in April 2026.

Rathdrum

Inland, the Hyundai dealer is at Corballis Drive, Balleese Lower, Rathdrum, which makes it the only franchised dealer in our list away from the N11 corridor.

Arklow, Greystones and west Wicklow

None of the franchised dealers in our table is in Arklow, Greystones, Blessington or Baltinglass. Buyers in the south of the county have the M11 towards Rathnew and Wicklow Town, or across the border to Gorey. In west Wicklow, the N81 makes dealers in Naas and south-west Dublin easier to reach than the coast.

Main franchised dealers in Wicklow

These car dealers in Wicklow are listed alphabetically. Each was checked against the manufacturer's Irish dealer locator, the dealer's own website or motor trade news in November 2026. Franchises change, so confirm with the dealer before you travel.

Business nameLocationBrands
Avon MotorsCorballis Drive, Balleese Lower, RathdrumHyundai
John Linnane MotorsExit 16 off the M11, RathnewOpel, Fiat, Jeep, Leapmotor
Spirit Ford WicklowN11, KilpedderFord
Trinity ŠkodaDublin Road, Wicklow TownŠkoda
Trinity VolkswagenDublin Road, Wicklow TownVolkswagen
Windsor BrayDublin Road, BrayRenault, Dacia

Franchised dealers usually sell used cars of other makes too, often taken in as trade-ins, so it is worth asking even if the brand you want is not on their sign. Some brands did not have a Wicklow location in their Irish dealer list when we checked. Toyota is the biggest example: the nearest Toyota dealers in Toyota Ireland's list are in Gorey, Naas, Sandyford and Blackrock, so plan for that if you want main dealer servicing close to home.

Buying a used car in Wicklow: local tips

How cars are driven in Wicklow affects what you should look for in a used one.

  • Commuter miles: many Wicklow cars spend their working week on the N11 and M11 into Dublin. Steady motorway miles are usually easier on a car than short town trips, but they add up quickly. What matters is that the mileage is consistent with the NCT history and backed by regular servicing.
  • Short trips and diesels: the opposite problem applies to a diesel that has only done school runs around Bray or Greystones. Diesel particulate filters need longer runs to clean themselves, so ask how the car was used and watch for warning lights on the test drive.
  • Coastal air and corrosion: a car that has lived near the sea, in Bray, Greystones, Wicklow Town or Arklow, may show more rust underneath than an inland car of the same age. Check the subframes, brake pipes, exhaust and suspension parts, and look at the brake discs for pitting.
  • Hills and mountain roads: regular driving over the Wicklow Mountains, through the Sally Gap or the Wicklow Gap, is hard on brakes and clutches. Check that the clutch bites cleanly without slipping, the handbrake holds the car on a slope, and the brakes stop the car straight without vibration.
  • The NCT in Arklow: the only NCT centre in County Wicklow is at Croghan Industrial Estate, Emoclew Road, Arklow; the Deansgrange, Naas and Enniscorthy centres are also listed on ncts.ie. If the car's NCT is due soon, allow time to book, and read our guide on how to pass the NCT first time.
  • Test drive routes: try to cover some town traffic, a stretch of the N11 or M11 to check noise and steering at speed, and a quieter regional road to test the suspension. Turn off the radio and air conditioning so you can hear any problems.

Checklist before you sign

Checklist before buying a used car from a dealer in Wicklow
Seven checks to do before you sign for a used car.
  1. NCT certificate and history: check that the car has a valid NCT on ncts.ie. The CCPC notes that the NCT certificate shows the mileage at the latest test and the three before it; readings that go down or jump around may be a sign the car has been clocked.
  2. Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC): make sure the details, including engine size, fuel type, registration date and colour, match the car in front of you, and that documents are originals, not photocopies.
  3. Service history: stamps or invoices for each service, in line with the mileage.
  4. Recall check: give the vehicle identification number (VIN) to a main dealer for that brand, or use the manufacturer's online check where one exists, to see if any recall work is outstanding.
  5. Finance check: confirm there is no hire purchase or PCP agreement still on the car. If there is, the car could be repossessed. A paid history check can also show write-offs and mileage records.
  6. A proper test drive: include a stretch of the N11 or M11 and some hills, and drive the car from cold if you can.
  7. The deal in writing: get the full price, any warranty terms and any extras in writing before you sign. An approved dealer can notify the change of ownership online for you.

For a longer list of checks, see our used car buying checklist for Ireland.

Your rights when buying from a dealer

When you buy from a dealer, you are protected by the Consumer Rights Act 2022. According to the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC), the same rights apply to new and used cars, although the quality you can expect from a used car should reflect its age and price.

  • Within 30 days of delivery: if a fault appears, you can generally cancel the purchase and get a full refund without first accepting a repair or replacement.
  • After 30 days: you can normally ask for a repair or replacement.
  • If a repair does not work: where repair or replacement is not possible or does not fix the problem, you may be entitled to a price reduction or a full refund, depending on how serious the fault is.
  • What is not covered: faults caused by misuse, accidents or normal wear and tear, such as worn tyres or brakes.
  • Private sales are different: you do not have the same rights when you buy from another consumer. A trader posing as a private seller is treated as a dealer, and the CCPC says this practice is illegal.

Report any fault to the dealer in writing and keep copies of emails, messages and receipts. The CCPC's car problems and your rights page explains the next steps if a dealer does not respond.

Browse used cars

Before you visit a showroom, it helps to see what similar cars cost elsewhere in the country. You can browse used cars for sale across Ireland on EcoSteer, with petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric cars from dealers and private sellers in one place. If you already have a brand in mind, start with used Ford cars, used Volkswagen cars, used Hyundai cars, used Renault cars or used Opel cars, all brands with dealers in Wicklow, and compare age, mileage and spec before you travel.

Frequently asked questions

Where are the main car dealers in Wicklow?

Most of the franchised dealers in our list are on the east side of the county, along the N11 and M11: Bray, Kilpedder, Wicklow Town and Rathnew. There is also a franchised dealer inland at Balleese Lower, Rathdrum. None of the dealers in our table is in Arklow, Greystones or west Wicklow.

Which car brands have a dealer in County Wicklow?

Going by the manufacturers' Irish dealer lists and the dealers' own websites, Wicklow has franchised dealers for Ford, Volkswagen, Škoda, Hyundai, Renault, Dacia, Opel, Fiat, Jeep and Leapmotor. Toyota Ireland's dealer list did not include a Wicklow location when we checked; the nearest Toyota dealers in that list are in Gorey, Naas, Sandyford and Blackrock.

Where is the NCT centre in County Wicklow?

The only NCT centre in the county is the Arklow NCT Centre at Croghan Industrial Estate, Emoclew Road, Arklow. Depending on where you live, the Deansgrange, Naas and Enniscorthy centres may also be within reach. You can check a car's NCT status on ncts.ie.

Can I return a faulty used car to a Wicklow dealer?

If a fault appears within 30 days of delivery, you can generally reject the car and get a full refund under the Consumer Rights Act 2022. After 30 days you can normally ask for a repair or replacement. Faults caused by wear and tear, misuse or accidents are not covered.

Is it safer to buy a used car from a dealer than from a private seller?

A dealer sale is covered by the Consumer Rights Act 2022, so you can seek a refund, repair or replacement if the car is faulty. You do not have the same rights when you buy from a private seller, and the CCPC says a trader who poses as a private seller is acting illegally.

Sources

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