"Ahead of the EU referendum, the second quarter New Vehicle market growth rate moderated to 1.0 percent from 5.1 percent in the first quarter," it said.

"We expect this moderation of the New Vehicle market to persist into the second half of 2016," Inchcape said, as it posted an 8 percent rise in first-half pre-tax profit to 165 million pounds ($217 million).

British new car registrations fell for only the second time in over four years in June when Britain held its EU membership vote.

(Reporting by Costas Pitas; editing by Susan Thomas)