10-year-old cars face annual NCT from June

dcmraad

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/motors/2011/0119/1224287847693.html

THE NATIONAL Car Test (NCT) is to start annual tests for cars 10 years or older from June 1st.

I have my NCT in March, car will be 10 years old, so I am wondering if I will get 2 years, or if the new rules means it has to be tested again sooner.

I think its a good idea, I remember the state of cars in the 80's and 90's here.

MidlandsM

dcmraad wrote: »

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/motors/2011/0119/1224287847693.html

THE NATIONAL Car Test (NCT) is to start annual tests for cars 10 years or older from June 1st.

I have my NCT in March, car will be 10 years old, so I am wondering if I will get 2 years, or if the new rules means it has to be tested again sooner.

I think its a good idea, I remember the state of cars in the 80's and 90's here.

It's a bollox of an idea for those who have classics over 10 years old and under 30 years old and only use the car in the summer at weekends for example.:o

dcmraad

MidlandsM wrote: »

It's a bollox of an idea for those who have classics over 10 years old and under 30 years old and only use the car in the summer at weekends for example.:o

Maybe we should lobby them to change it to cars 20 years of age or older. Who decided 30 years was classic.

kirving

It's to try and push more people into buying new cars, and to squeeze more money out of those who cant afford a newer car.

All cars should have to meet a specific standard, particularily when it comes to safety, but i'd love to see the stats on the differences in the quality of brakes, tracking, etc. across the board for all cars 8 years old vs. 10 years old. Do NTC publish them? (on mobile internet now so its hard to check.)

MarkoC

Great idea, f we look at the statistics

http://www.ncts.ie/test_stats.html

2 years cap between 2 tests is too long and many many people dont service theyr car very often and cars are danger on the roads few months before the next test ...

Jessibelle

Is there a reduced rate for the annual testing or is it the same price as the two-yearly test?
While I can see the benifits, as someone who drives a very well maintained over 10 years old car, it's a bit of a pain in the backside, especially given the arbitrary nature of the NCT at times. That said, if it lead overall, to increased safety on roads or reductions in motor tax/insurance I'd be all for it.

si_guru

MidlandsM wrote: »

It's a bollox of an idea for those who have classics over 10 years old and under 30 years old and only use the car in the summer at weekends for example.:o

But IMHO most cars +10years are bangers not classics... they should be tested every week!

no1beemerfan

I look at it this way.


I do EVERYTHING to my cars and they are all over ten years old.

For €50 a year I'll be getting the car looked over and told honestly (hopefully!) if there is anything I have missed or couldn't look at right as I don't have a lift.

The biggest thing my cars have failed on is a worn balljoint on the laguna.

It saves me bringing it to a garage and having to do unnecessary work as most garages will find something to do.

I'm in favour of an annual test and to be honest I think waiting for a car to be ten years old is a bit too long...I'd bring it in at 6 to 8 years old.

A dodgey car is a dangerous car and with the traffic today the consequenses can be scarey.

MidlandsM

it'll make it even harder to get appointments now in NCT centres........

Shamo

The way i see it, if it costs more money for someone to do the NCT every year (apart from the 50quid test cost) then their car obviously needs some important fixes. These should be getting done either way to keep the car safe on the roads, where as people might not bother if it was another year to the NCT.
It's only an hour once a year and if you get a NCT pre-test in somewhere like advance pitstop they'll point out any fixes to be made.

cadaliac

si_guru wrote: »

But IMHO most cars +10years are bangers not classics... they should be tested every week!

:rolleyes:
What a statement.

Wolverine_1999

cadaliac wrote: »

:rolleyes:
What a statement.

Ha my thoughts exactly.

Wolverine_1999

no1beemerfan wrote: »

I look at it this way.


I do EVERYTHING to my cars and they are all over ten years old.

For €50 a year I'll be getting the car looked over and told honestly (hopefully!) if there is anything I have missed or couldn't look at right as I don't have a lift.

The biggest thing my cars have failed on is a worn balljoint on the laguna.

It saves me bringing it to a garage and having to do unnecessary work as most garages will find something to do.

I'm in favour of an annual test and to be honest I think waiting for a car to be ten years old is a bit too long...I'd bring it in at 6 to 8 years old.

A dodgey car is a dangerous car and with the traffic today the consequenses can be scarey.

The cars are not half as dodgy as the people trying to drive them tbh :rolleyes:

corktina

MidlandsM wrote: »

It's a bollox of an idea for those who have classics over 10 years old and under 30 years old and only use the car in the summer at weekends for example.:o

its not 30 any more...its pre 1980

Pkiernan

no1beemerfan wrote: »

I look at it this way.


I do EVERYTHING to my cars and they are all over ten years old.

For €50 a year I'll be getting the car looked over and told honestly (hopefully!) if there is anything I have missed or couldn't look at right as I don't have a lift.

The biggest thing my cars have failed on is a worn balljoint on the laguna.

It saves me bringing it to a garage and having to do unnecessary work as most garages will find something to do.

Thats a good way of looking at it!! A €50 inspection service is less than any garage would charge, and they don't have a vested interest in replacing the flux capacitor!

iphone4g

si_guru wrote: »

But IMHO most cars +10years are bangers not classics... they should be tested every week!

Stop talking out your hole.

flutered

iphone4g wrote: »

Stop talking out your hole.

+ 100, do you not realise that theose of us that have cars of this vintage really love them, some of us treat them like loved ones.

MidlandsM

corktina wrote: »

its not 30 any more...its pre 1980

you know what I mean FFS......:rolleyes:

KERSPLAT!

flutered wrote: »

+ 100, do you not realise that theose of us that have cars of this vintage really love them, some of us treat them like loved ones.

Ive a vintage '00 Golf :pac: clapped out piece of dirt!!!

jk jk, tryin to sell it so anyone interested PM me :P

JustLen

si_guru wrote: »

But IMHO most cars +10years are bangers not classics... they should be tested every week!

What a statement fool. :rolleyes:

corktina

MidlandsM wrote: »

you know what I mean FFS......:rolleyes:

I know but many many people havent copped on to this yet, so its best to keep it accuarate.

Ghost Estate

it seems like the idea behind this is to send an almost subliminal 'time to buy a new car' signal to people once their car goes into the yearly test territory.

as with every new measure they introduce in this country it starts off smoothly so people accept it. when its well established they put on the squeeze and thats what they're doing now.

not that new cars are so much better anyway. i'm sure there are well maintained 10 or 15 year old cars out there that will have less problems than some of the cheap, mass produced sh1te that is rolling off the production lines today.

10 years for a car isn't much anymore. if a car doesn't last 20 years with average use its a poor quality car

no1beemerfan

flutered wrote: »

+ 100, do you not realise that theose of us that have cars of this vintage really love them, some of us treat them like loved ones.

So true!

si_guru

si_guru wrote: »

But IMHO most cars +10years are bangers not classics... they should be tested every week!

Good thing the folks who call the shots have better opinions so

Tigger

si_guru wrote: »

But IMHO most cars +10years are bangers not classics... they should be tested every week!

your opinion is wrong

stevenmu

OSI wrote: »

I think the far more telling information in that article however is.

"The main reasons for vehicles failing the NCT were faulty break lines, indicators and headlamps and inadequate tyres."

FM!

The other NCT thread on the go at the moment has a few people who were failed for rusted brake lines who shouldn't have been.

The cynic in me wonders if they're trying to twist the stats in favour of something which is obviously very safety orientated, as opposed to some of the other things people fail for.

daenerysstormborn3

Er, my father in law's 2006 nissan almera was tested last week and the date for the next test is March 2012. Judging by what I'm reading here surely that can't be right?

KERSPLAT!

Why not?

Boskowski

To be fair about it.

There's certainly a lot of people out who take care of their older cars. I for one have a 98 6 cyl. E39 and she's in fine nick. Wouldn't swap her for a lot of cars half her age.

But there is also a lot of people out there who communicate to the other fellow road users in every possible way that they don't give a sh1t about driving and about their vehicle.

They go around in bangers with half the bulbs gone, rear mirrors hanging down, tyres more or less flat. One must assume the rest of the car is not in much better state.

Annual NCT won't do these people any harm.

daenerysstormborn3

IPAM wrote: »

Why not?

From what I'm reading here the NCT is supposed to last 2 years, no?

KERSPLAT!

Sorry took your post up wrong, anyway..

The due date of the test determines the date its certified for, so if the car was overdue for a test, the car will receive a cert from the due date, which could be 03/10 until 03/12, which would make sense. If it was only due now then i've no idea why it didnt get a full 2 years

edit: the fact its a 2006 it should have been tested last year as far as I know, from new it should be tested after 4 years, so it would have been approx 1 year overdue a test

daenerysstormborn3

IPAM wrote: »

Sorry took your post up wrong, anyway..

The due date of the test determines the date its certified for, so if the car was overdue for a test, the car will receive a cert from the due date, which could be 03/10 until 03/12, which would make sense. If it was only due now then i've no idea why it didnt get a full 2 years

I understand there may be backlogs with the system but surely they wouldn't leave a car nearly 10 months overdue for its NCT. There's nothing wrong with the car and my FIL is 80, it's not like he's rallying the car around or anything. As far as I know, the NCT people said they sent a letter to my FIL before Christmas which he didn't get, it must have got lost in the post, so he had to pay for that missed NCT and then he got a new date, 8th of January on which the car was tested.

KERSPLAT!

They should have sent a letter last year, 03/10 approx, for the car to be tested. Its not because of backlog its because the car was overdue the test (this is speculation because im just guessing from what your telling me that the car was overdue)

Unless your FIL booked the test he shouldnt have paid any cancellation fee,

Also the state of the car doesnt really come into play when they issue the cert, either it passes or it doesnt, if its a dirt box but passes all their tests, until June 2011 it should get 2 years test providing its done when due its test or up to 3 months before or 6 months for a 1st time test

edit: Also I believe its up to the car owner to get the car tested on time, Im not sure if the NCT have to send a letter

ToxicPaddy

I have what is now a 10 year old car, its got 80k miles on the clock and is in perfect condition mechanically, always serviced regularly, kept clean inside and out and in general very well looked after.. so a car of its age its far from a banger like some idiot here suggested.. :rolleyes:

In some ways it good as it will get the heaps of junk off the road as I do believe 2 years between tests is a bit long especially when you see the state of some cars on the road, a lot of those younger than 10 years.. I would have said, after 5 years a car has to be checked every year as that will guarantee a lot of cars are kept in better condition than they currently are..

But they really do need to do something about the queues and wait times for getting a test.. they are a bit crazy..

daenerysstormborn3

IPAM wrote: »

They should have sent a letter last year, 03/10 approx, for the car to be tested. Its not because of backlog its because the car was overdue the test (this is speculation because im just guessing from what your telling me that the car was overdue)

Unless your FIL booked the test he shouldnt have paid any cancellation fee,

Also the state of the car doesnt really come into play when they issue the cert, either it passes or it doesnt, if its a dirt box but passes all their tests, until June 2011 it should get 2 years test providing its done when due its test or up to 3 months before or 6 months for a 1st time test

edit: Also I believe its up to the car owner to get the car tested on time, Im not sure if the NCT have to send a letter

Okay, just checked and he booked the test just before Christmas because it was due and they sent out a letter confirming it but he never got that so missed the test and had to pay and then it got tested on the 8th. The car wasn't without an NCT cert, FIL wouldn't have that so I'm still baffled as to why the NCT is only lasting until next March?

Mr.Boots

Its like a DOE on a van...yearly.
Some pile of crap tipper truck used by a dodgy builder is tested the same as a light small van used for dropping off dry cleaning....dosnt make alot of sense.

Boskowski

Ye queues are a bit crazy at the moment.

Probably because a lot of people buy/register their new car at the beginning of the year, therefore the NCT cycles also expire on a lot of cars in January and February.

I actually failed NCT in December :rolleyes: on having one of the beams a little too high and I also completely forgot to remove the 'hubcaps' from my alloys. Stupid, I know. But the point is I only have a certain period to present the car for a retest. After that its a full test again.

Only I can't get a date for a retest as its fully booked up beyond my cutoff date. I have to ring every day hoping for a cancellation.

Yesterday the girl on the phone asked me if I could take the test in Clare. WTF? I can almost see the Waterford test centre from my office window.

Idbatterim

I think any car older than 1 year should be tested yearly, maybe not the full test, but maybe a mini test on the crucials i.e tryes, bulbs and brakes. followed by full test the year after...

KERSPLAT!

pixiebean22 wrote: »

Okay, just checked and he booked the test just before Christmas because it was due and they sent out a letter confirming it but he never got that so missed the test and had to pay and then it got tested on the 8th. The car wasn't without an NCT cert, FIL wouldn't have that so I'm still baffled as to why the NCT is only lasting until next March?

In that case then, so am I and Id be ringing the NCT to investigate. Can you find out the date the car was 1st registared and the date it was due its 1st NCT? Not that I could do anything just interested now :P

NUTLEY BOY

I have a current NCT certificate (car 10 years plus)that is valid to JULY 2012.

Are they going to insist that I present this year ?

BronsonTB

MidlandsM wrote: »

It's a bollox of an idea for those who have classics over 10 years old and under 30 years old and only use the car in the summer at weekends for example.:o

x 2

KERSPLAT!

NUTLEY BOY wrote: »

I have a current NCT certificate (car 10 years plus)that is valid to JULY 2012.

Are they going to insist that I present this year ?

No the test will last till that date, 07/12, after that you will get a cert for 1 year, each year the car passes,

If I get a car test now that is due its test say 01/11, I will still get 2 years test, so 01/13, its from 06/11 the new regs will come in, so any car older than 10 years thats tested after 06/11 will receive 1 year cert

Wolverine_1999

NUTLEY BOY wrote: »

I have a current NCT certificate (car 10 years plus)that is valid to JULY 2012.

Are they going to insist that I present this year ?

I don't think so. Apparently cars that have been NCT'd up to June will be exempt. (i.e even last year)

Wolverine_1999

Hmm I just see that MOT is required every year for cars over 3 years old in the UK. With a fee of £55, it's not cheap either.

Thing is, seeing Tax is only a fraction the cost of that in Ireland - would this not be an incentive to bring the annual test in, and reduce the cost of car tax?

I know I'd go for it then.. but seeing the government in Ireland knows we rely on cars so much...

daenerysstormborn3

IPAM wrote: »

In that case then, so am I and Id be ringing the NCT to investigate. Can you find out the date the car was 1st registared and the date it was due its 1st NCT? Not that I could do anything just interested now :P

I'll check with my oh later, FIL wouldn't really know the dates off-hand like that, my OH should. I will post up though and see if there's a reasonable explanation.

biko

It's already an annual occurrence in several other countries, I'm totally ok with it having a car myself >10 years.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vehicle_inspection

Eric Cartman

Id say a certain amount of this is to get modified cars , I know a few lads who go and put factory lights, exhaust and remove the tints and get the NCT done , then as soona s they pass the test the straight pipe , limo black tints and lexus lights , recaros with no occupancy sensor (so the abs light comes on) go back in . most of these lads drive 90's jap cars and I know atleast 4 or 5 of them wouldnt bother keeping the tints or loud exhaust if they had to be re-tested every year

KERSPLAT!

Eric Cartman wrote: »

Id say a certain amount of this is to get modified cars , I know a few lads who go and put factory lights, exhaust and remove the tints and get the NCT done , then as soona s they pass the test the straight pipe , limo black tints and lexus lights , recaros with no occupancy sensor (so the abs light comes on) go back in . most of these lads drive 90's jap cars and I know atleast 4 or 5 of them wouldnt bother keeping the tints or loud exhaust if they had to be re-tested every year

My mate took my windows for 3 weeks :mad: because his were tinted and mine weren't. It was suppose to be for the day but he failed and had to go back for somethin else so kept my windows, looked like a thick with stupid blacked out front windows and clear back ones

MidlandsM

Wolverine_1999 wrote: »

Thing is, seeing Tax is only a fraction the cost of that in Ireland - would this not be an incentive to bring the annual test in, and reduce the cost of car tax?

.

.....like that would ever happen.....:rolleyes:

MarkoC

Not talking about vintage cars here 25y+ but i have to agree here with on fella, many 10y+ cars, most likely 15-20y old cars are really in bad condition ...
NCT statistics are talking about themselves ...

mcwhirter

dcmraad wrote: »

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/motors/2011/0119/1224287847693.html

THE NATIONAL Car Test (NCT) is to start annual tests for cars 10 years or older from June 1st.

I have my NCT in March, car will be 10 years old, so I am wondering if I will get 2 years, or if the new rules means it has to be tested again sooner.

I think its a good idea, I remember the state of cars in the 80's and 90's here.

Cars very different now. My 11 yr old saab is in better nick than many 5 yr old cars.
Another tax for the poor,:mad: