In total, 65,937 cars were registered last month according to the SMMT, compared to 59,433 for August 2012 and marking the 18th consecutive month of rises.

Although private registrations saw the biggest gain, fleet and business buyers also continued the positive performance. A total of 32,386 fleet cars were registered, up 7.4% from the September 2012 figure of 30,153.

Meanwhile for the sub-25 business market, registrations rose 13.4% from 1,713 in September 2012 to 1,943 for the same month this year.

Private registrations were up 14.7% from 31,608 units to 27,567 units this year.

Marking the fifth successive month of double-digit growth, the August figures have pushed the year-to-date market up 10.4% to 1,391,788 units, with the fleet sector up by 4.7% and the business sector ahead by 15.3%. The 13-plate, covering March-August registrations, was the best in volume terms since the recession and the 08-plate.

The SMMT added that registrations of the new 63-plate in September are expected to exceed 2012's 359,612 total by more than 7%.

‘UK new car registrations have now risen consecutively for a year and a half. Private and fleet buyers are clearly capitalising on attractive deals and new technologies against a backdrop of increasing economic confidence,’ said Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive. ‘Ahead of the September plate-change, August always has far fewer registrations, but the 10.9% rise this month bodes well for the new 63-plate.’