The governing legislation for the National Car Test is provided by the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2017 - S.I. No. 415 of 2017. These Regulations came into operation on 20 May 2018 (with the exception of Regulation 3(9)(a) that comes into operation on 1 January 2020) and revoked the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2014 - S.I. No. 322 of 2014.
The main changes introduced to the National Car Test in 2018 are:
- Mutual recognition of valid Certificates of Roadworthiness issued by the competent authorities of other Member States;
- Deficiencies categorised into minor, major and dangerous;
- Cars aged between 30 and 40 years old tested biennially.