NCT wait time

danger_mouse_tm

I just got a letter of notification for my NCT. It doesn't actually say on the letter when it's due (I wonder is there a reason for this) but it does advise in several areas, the advantages of having the car tested early. When I went online too book I was unable to get a booking time until a clicked forward to the middle of May (Little Island, Cork). There's a period of a week and a half that's shaded green where I can get an appointment, and every day before and after that is black. I think my NCT runs out at the end of March, so that would mean I have to drive around for six weeks without any NCT. Should I notify my insurance company? I also didn't see any link for me to click through to claim my hotel break offer. Why don't they make the test cheaper instead of paying for hotel stays? EDIT I just got a confirmation email with a link to book my hotel stay.

ednwireland

my NCT ran out at the end of feb no online appointments available for 10 weeks, an then its one day with another block of no availability (must ring up and try and get a cancellation)

dave1982

danger_mouse_tm wrote: »

I just got a letter of notification for my NCT. It doesn't actually say on the letter when it's due (I wonder is there a reason for this) but it does advise in several areas, the advantages of having the car tested early. When I went online too book I was unable to get a booking time until a clicked forward to the middle of May (Little Island, Cork). There's a period of a week and a half that's shaded green where I can get an appointment, and every day before and after that is black. I think my NCT runs out at the end of March, so that would mean I have to drive around for six weeks without any NCT. Should I notify my insurance company? I also didn't see any link for me to click through to claim my hotel break offer. Why don't they make the test cheaper instead of paying for hotel stays? EDIT I just got a confirmation email with a link to book my hotel stay.

I got 10th March last week when i rang them, ring them is easier more dates available cause the 10th was not available online

djimi

Definitely ring rather than booking online. I got both my test and retest in less than a fortnight in Naas by ringing.

If your NCT expires and you can show that you have a test booked (they will text you a confirmation) then its quite likely that you will be okay if you are stopped. Of course, its not 100% certain, but if there is a bit of a gap between expiration and test then you should be fine.

mgbgt1978

This has been done here loads of times.
The NCT are obliged to test your car within 28 days of you contacting them (by phone) or you are entitled to a free test. This is part of their contract so they must adhere to it.
If you can't find a date (within 28 days) online then simply phone them, explain that you want your car tested within 28 days or you will be expecting a free test. Give them 24 hours to text you back with a date......they will.

ps. if you book a test online which is beyond 28 days then you have "accepted" that date and are not entitled to a free test.

Guy:Incognito

I've rang them a couple of times over the last year or so for 2 different cars. Each time I was offered a test later the same day if I wanted it. I deliberately waited a couple of days and was given a test .

chinwag

I was told by NCT last year that the appointments calendar seen online is the same as the one available to the NCT staff.

But maybe they do hold a small number of vacant dates in reserve.

danger_mouse_tm

yup,I think I will call them on Monday. If I leave it until the time that it says on the website, I will end up having to put tyres and god knows what else on the car.

djimi

danger_mouse_tm wrote: »

If I leave it until the time that it says on the website, I will end up having to put tyres and god knows what else on the car.

What difference does it make? If the car needs tires then it will need them regardless of whether it has been through the test or is awaiting it.

danger_mouse_tm

djimi wrote: »

What difference does it make? If the car needs tires then it will need them regardless of whether it has been through the test or is awaiting it.

..because right now the tyres are legal. If I pass it now, then I can make the decision when to change them. It's quite possible, when I get it NCT'ed they could bring up the worn front exhaust hanger that's making creaking noises, or the front wheels that the local tyre merchant refused to balance. That alone is going to be enough of an expense without putting €200 worth of tyres on the back of a car that might do 50 km a week.

Sunny Dayz

OP - very same as myself. Went online yesterday evening to book my NCT (cert out end of March so I thought 4 weeks would be plenty of time and work can be flexible with times). Earliest availabilityfor Athlone is first week in May :eek:
I supose the back log is due to cars being more than 10 years old requiring a test every year, therefore more work for NCT centres.

Will be ringing them on Monday morning.

snaps

It seems crazy, my wifes car due this month, earliest appointment at Westport is July. Seems this nct has bitten more than it can chew. How do we stand with garda. Been put on a waiting list, but really needed an appointment so can make sure have time off work. I assume the small print of a free test if no appointment within 28 days is that they have to offer you a cancelation?

corktina

just keep ringing them.....I find them very accomodating

selfbuilder1

Ring up in the morning. I was looking for a test in Westport also. There were no appointments online for a couple of months but when I rang up got one within a couple of weeks. You can book an NCT 3 months before its due so there is no excuse for not having a current NCT cert.

ironclaw

There's no issue if you are stopped and have an NCT booked. The issue arises when your NCT is out and you have no booking. Just carry the text on your phone and print receipt in the glove box. Granted your entitled a freebie but that doesn't suit everyone as you may have an extremely limited time selection. The earliest test I could get for my car having bought it in Jan was the end of April.

The backlog is going to get worse with the complete lack of car sales. Its only a matter of time before it hits breaking point / 6 month wait.

bazz26

snaps wrote: »

It seems crazy, my wifes car due this month, earliest appointment at Westport is July. Seems this nct has bitten more than it can chew. How do we stand with garda. Been put on a waiting list, but really needed an appointment so can make sure have time off work. I assume the small print of a free test if no appointment within 28 days is that they have to offer you a cancelation?

You can do the NCT 6 months in advance of the car's first NCT due date or 3 months in advance if it's the car's second or subsequent NCT.

Country lad

Got new date for nct for car for middle of september so went to book test online today and first available test is for 17 november so just booked it ..how do i get a earlier test also tax is out on car end of october so can i tax it without nct test thanks for replies in advance

I bought a car from an indy dealer a few years ago. He booked the NCT for me, but it wasn't for a month or two. So he told me to just go to the NCT centre, and he'd ring and let them know it was coming.

They just fitted it in, between other cars. So I effectively got a same-day NCT by randomly showing up.

Can that still be done, I wonder? Can I just swing over to the NCT centre, throw your man €20 and ask him to fit it in when he gets a chance during the day?

EDIT: Failing that, is there a way of finding out when the soonest available dates are, irrespective of which centre? (assuming you're willing to travel)

extra-ordinary_

Thread is seven years old.

Country lad wrote: »

Got new date for nct for car for middle of september so went to book test online today and first available test is for 17 november so just booked it ..how do i get a earlier test also tax is out on car end of october so can i tax it without nct test thanks for replies in advance

Contact the NCT and they will get you another date. You can tax without NCT according to the Covid regulations.