Ireland’s NCT Centres Face Scrutiny for High Vehicle Fail Rates

The latest figures from the National Car Testing Service (NCT) indicate that several testing centres across Ireland have alarmingly high fail rates, with some rejecting nearly half of all vehicles tested this year. The findings reveal that drivers may want to reconsider where they take their vehicles for inspection, particularly at the Fonthill Centre in Lucan, Dublin, which recorded the highest number of serious fails, marking 5,200 vehicles as a ‘dangerous fail’ since January 2023.

Following closely behind is Northpoint 2, also located in Dublin, where 4,900 vehicles were flagged as dangerously failing their tests. Deansgrange, situated in south Dublin, rounds out the top three with 4,100 dangerous fails. Other notable centres include Little Island in Cork, which saw 3,800 dangerous fails, and Greenhills in Dublin, accounting for 3,400 vehicles categorized similarly.

The data highlights a concerning trend, as these five centres also represent the busiest NCT locations in Ireland, handling a significant volume of vehicles. Some centres reported fail rates that approached nearly half of all tests conducted. Naas in Kildare leads this category dramatically, with 45.48% of vehicles failing their NCT tests. Galway follows closely at 44.48%, while Eniscorthy in Wexford recorded a fail rate of 44.70%. Fonthill and Northpoint reported fail rates of 43.41% and 42.62%, respectively.

While these figures may raise eyebrows, they underscore the commitment of NCT centres to enforce vehicle safety on the roads. Conversely, some centres achieved significantly higher pass rates, providing drivers with better odds of passing their tests. Deansgrange led this group by passing 58.17% of vehicles, followed by Tullamore in Offaly at 57.62%, and Cahir in Tipperary at 54.60%.

Overall, the NCT centres in Ireland have tested a total of 1,130,640 vehicles this year. Of those, 563,862 passed (representing 49.87% of tests), while 481,239 received a major fail (approximately 42.56%), and 85,539 were marked as dangerous fails (around 7.57%).

Driving a vehicle without a valid NCT certificate is considered an offence in Ireland. The initial penalty for such an offence is €60, which increases to €90 if unpaid within 28 days. Offenders also incur three penalty points on their driving record. If the matter progresses to court due to non-payment, penalties can escalate to five points, larger fines, and possible imprisonment.

For vehicles that are four years or older, an NCT test is mandatory. Cars aged between four and ten years require testing every two years, while those between ten and thirty years old must be tested annually. Vehicles older than thirty years need testing biennially unless used for commercial purposes.

As the NCT continues to monitor and enforce vehicle safety standards, drivers are encouraged to stay informed about their testing options and choose centres wisely.