Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 October 2014
274. Deputy Anthony Lawlor asked the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport the reason a used car which has recently undergone an MOT in the United Kingdom requires an national car test when it is imported; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [38693/14]
View answerUnder the Road Safety Authority Act 2006 (Conferral of Functions) Order 2006 (S.I. No. 477 of 2006) the Road Safety Authority has responsibility for the delivery of the National Car Test. The RSA has overall responsibility for the operation, oversight, development, quality assurance and delivery of vehicle testing arrangements.
Directive 2009/40/EC sets down the minimum requirements with regard to roadworthiness testing in EU Member States. However, there are differences in the test between countries.
In Ireland, passenger cars are required to undergo a roadworthiness test when they are 4 years old and every two years thereafter until they reach 10 years of age when they become subject to annual testing. Where a vehicle is imported and re-registered as an Irish vehicle it becomes subject to the same requirements i.e. if it is four years old or more it must undergo an NCT. The test certificate issued is valid for 1 or 2 years (depending on the age of the car) from the date of registration in Ireland.
In the UK passenger cars must undergo a roadworthiness test when they are three years old and annually thereafter. If an Irish car is imported into the UK it becomes subject to UK requirements and must undergo an MOT there if it is more than three years old, even if it holds a current NCT certificate.
