However, used car registrations went up 70.5% on the year to 117,429 units, the ministry’s license and car registration division said.
On the month, new car registrations saw a slight increase of 3.8% to 11,475 units.
Used car registrations, on the other hand, fell 29.5% on the month to 17,705 units.
Dacia, made locally by French Renault’s unit Dacia Automobile SA, was the best-traded brand in May with 3,938 units, down 38% on the year.
In 2008, new car registrations in Romania were down 8.6% on the year to 285,500 units.
Used car registrations climbed a record of nearly 150% on the year to over 300,000 units.