New car registrations rose by 5.89% in March and 7.39% in the first quarter of 2013 year-on-year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Industry predictions of the number 13 plate not steering away custom proved correct as 394,806 units were registered in March, compared to 372,835 in the same month of 2012.

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The figure was approximately six times that of February, typically the quietest month of the year for new car sales, and makes up the majority of the 605,198 new cars sold in Q1.

As such, the SMMT has said full-year registrations could exceed its January 2013 prediction of 2.057 million units but warned this figure is under pressure from the "subdued" economy and trading conditions.

Private sales rise

As reported in recent months, private car sales were cited as a growth factor across the quarter by the SMMT, up by 11.24%, 2013 year-to-date compared to Q1 2012.

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Sales of petrol-engine cars were up 8.71% in March and 12.11% in Q1 and remained above diesel registrations by volume, which grew by around 3% in both periods.

Registrations were up across all segments except Upper Medium and Luxury Saloon in March, including a rise of 56.5% in the Mini segment, plus double-digit growth in MPV and Dual Purpose segments.

The Ford Fiesta was the biggest-selling model in both March, with 22,748 registrations, and Q1, with 34,309 registrations.

Further analysis of first quarter new car registrations will be published in the April issue of Motor Finance magazine.

richard.brown@timetric.com