Under European Directive 2014/45/EU on periodic roadworthiness testing, Ireland, like all Member States, must comply with the minimum specified intervals for carrying out such inspections. This is given effect in Irish law by the Road Traffic (National Car Test) Regulations 2017 (SI 415/2017), as amended.
Regulation 3(2) of the 2017 Regulations provides that the initial test due date for a vehicle is determined by its registration date and subsequent test due dates automatically fall on anniversaries of the registration date. Any certificate issued for that vehicle will be valid up to the test due date after the certificate is issued and is not automatically issued for 24 months, or 12 months for vehicles over 10 years old, from the date of testing.
Permitting NCT certificates to be extended beyond the minimum test due dates would place the State in breach of our obligations under EU law and may affect road safety, should the vehicle in question be unsafe to drive. There are no current plans to amend this legislation.
Finally, the RSA has made An Garda Síochána aware that some vehicle owners continue to have issues securing an NCT appointment. Motorists should keep a record of their upcoming test date in their vehicle. However, it is important to note that road traffic legislation requires motorists to maintain their vehicles in a roadworthy condition and it remains an offence, under the Road Traffic Acts, to drive a vehicle on a public road or in a public place without a valid NCT. Enforcement of road traffic legislation is a matter for An Garda Síochána.
