The National Car Test (NCT)

Under Level 5 Government restrictions which come into effect at midnight on Wednesday 21 October, for six weeks, the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) has been identified as an essential service. Customers should attend an NCT centre as normal for their test appointment and is exempt from Level 5 travel restrictions. Vehicle owners requiring retests should also attend at the NCT test centre as normal.

Vehicle owners are reminded of the 4-month test due date extension. The National Car Testing Service (NCTS) has now updated all records for those customers’ vehicles that qualified for the 4-month extension as announced by the Minister in April. Customers can now check to see their new test due date on Check NCT Validity. The extension of NCT due dates applied only to vehicles with a test due date of 28 March 2020 or later.

Find out more about the NCT, including preparing for your test, booking your test, what the test entails and the NCT certificate.

Important Notice re NCT

Stolen NCT Certificates

NCT certificates and discs containing the following serial numbers were stolen during a robbery at a NCT centre.

E2999571 to E2999750
E3028501 to E3029250
E3063251 to E3063750
E1717001 to E1718000
E1750263 to E1750360
E1686703 to E1686708

E1717001 to E1718000
E1750263 to E1750360
E1686703 to E1686708

E0215501 – E0216000
E0196751 – E0197000
E0196501 – E0196720

If you are purchasing a second hand vehicle we would urge that you check the serial number on the NCT disc to ensure it is not stolen.

If you have any doubts regarding the validity of a NCT Certificate then please contact NCT on (01) 4135994 who will quickly confirm the validity of the Certificate.

You can also check the expiry date of a NCT Certificate on the NCT website to ensure the validity of a Certificate.

What is the NCT

Find out more about the NCT including the benefits of the NCT and the legislation underpinning the NCT.

Changes to the NCT May 2018.

In accordance with EU Directive 2014/45, a number of changes to periodic vehicle inspection are coming into force across all EU Member States during 2018 with the first of these changes implemented on the 20th May 2018. The purpose of these changes is to unify vehicle inspection across the EU. Find out more.

Test Frequency, Due Dates and Voluntary Early Testing

Find out when and how often your car must undergo a NCT, what happens if you get your vehicle tested early and information on test due dates on vehicles that transfer from SPSV to private.

Booking an NCT & Test Fees

Find out where your nearest test centre is located and how you can go about booking an NCT

NCT Preparation & Process

Find out how to prepare for your test, how much the test costs and what the test examines. Download the testers manual.

NCT Test Result

Find out more about what your test result means and what to do if your vehicle has failed its test.

NCT Statistics

Find statistics in relation to the NCT including annual pass/fail rates and make and model data. Download NCT Annual Reviews.

The NCT Certificate & Recognition Certificates

Information on the NCT certificate including checking the validity of a certificate, what to do if you need to get a replacement certificate and Information on EU Recognition Certificates.

NCT Odometer Readings & Verification

Since July 28, 2014 the NCTS are printing vehicles’ odometer readings (to a maximum of three prior readings) on NCT certificates. Find out more here.

Modified Vehicles

The NCT includes additional test items for vehicle modifications such as exhaust noise levels and window tinting. Find out more about the NCT & modified vehicles.

Trade Management Systems

Since May 2013 the NCTS has made it faster and easier for Motor Traders to book NCT tests at their local test centre, by introducing a voluntary Trade Management System. Find out more about signing up for this system.

NCT Complaints Procedure

Find out what the procedure is if you wish to appeal the outcome of an NCT.

RSA NCT Surveys

The Road Safety Authority contacts a sample of customers for the purposes of customer service research. If you do not wish to be contacted to undertake customer service research please send your name and address to: [email protected] and you will not be included in any future surveys.