Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 31 March 2021
301. Deputy Cian O'Callaghan asked the Minister for Transport if his attention has been drawn to the fact that persons who go for the national car test early receive a certificate from the date the test was carried out and in effect are paying twice for the period in which the new and outgoing NCT was covered for; his plans to address the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17247/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraI would firstly seek to clarify to the Deputy that all Member States of the European Union are required by law to carry out a periodic roadworthiness inspections on motor vehicles at regular intervals throughout the vehicle's lifecycle. This is an essential safety check and an important road safety measure that provides for a reduction in road accidents by detecting defects such as faulty brakes, worn tyres or defective headlights.
The applicable dates for periodic testing and voluntary testing is provided for by national legislation. Under Regulation 3(2) and 3(3) of the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2017 (S.I. No. 415/2017), the initial test due date for a vehicle is determined using the date of registration of that vehicle and subsequent test due dates fall on anniversaries of that date. Accordingly, all test due dates are predetermined based on the date of registration of a vehicle. It is important to note that the NCT certificate relates only to the condition of testable items at the time of the test and does not constitute a warranty for their condition for the subsequent 12-month period. Any NCT certificate issued in respect of a vehicle is only valid up to the test due date that falls after that certificate was issued.
Where a vehicle is presented for a voluntary test not more than 90 days prior to its test due date, it will be issued with a test report valid until the dates outlined in Regulation 3(2). In the case of a vehicle being presented for a voluntary test greater than 90 days prior to its subsequent test due date, the next test due date shall be:
(i) until the tenth anniversary of first registration of the vehicle, each subsequent biennial of the date such test report was issued;
(ii) from the tenth anniversary of first registration of the vehicle, each subsequent anniversary of the date such test report was issued; and,
(iii) from the thirtieth anniversary of first registration of the vehicle, each subsequent biennial of the date such test report was issued.
There are no current plans to amend this legislation in respect of test due dates.
