NCT Queries

therandomguy

All advice gratefully recieved. Have never had to put a car through NCT before and have just realised that they make you go to court if caught without.

1) Should you get a car checked by a mechanic before an NCT, or just put it through blind and let the NCT guys identify if there is anything to be changed or fixed?

2) Also, if a car was due for an NCT two years ago, do you need to back pay like you would tax?

3) Do you have to clear out and get the inside valeted before an NCT, or is it ok to send it along with boxes, sand and dog hair in it?

4) Why do I have to take the wheel trims off, and will they put them back on for me?

biko

Put it though blind but fix any obvious issue like bulbs and such.

Car should be "presentable" so not spotless but then again not drenched in paper cups and muck. Just give it a spring clean at a garage and throw away rubbish.

They need to see the wheel lugs and no, they won't put hubcaps back on for you.

steph1

Al info should be on here
http://www.ncts.ie/

therandomguy

Thanks. Does it matter if the upholstery is torn? The dogs/passenger seat has a big hole in it exposing foam

joujoujou

therandomguy wrote: »

[...] Does it matter if the upholstery is torn? [...]

Not really.

Cee-Jay-Cee

1) Should you get a car checked by a mechanic before an NCT, or just put it through blind and let the NCT guys identify if there is anything to be changed or fixed?

Not necessary to get it checked before by a mechanic but if you know something is wrong then get it fixed beforehand. The NCT will highlight any other problems you weren't aware of.

2) Also, if a car was due for an NCT two years ago, do you need to back pay like you would tax?

If the car is NCTd within 3 months of its anniversary then it won't be back dated. So for example if it was due to be tested on 01/01/13 and you had it tested at some stage in the 3 months prior to that date you'll get a full new NCT but if it was tested 4 months before the 01/01/13 it would back dated to the previous due date and so you'd only get 4 months NCT.

3) Do you have to clear out and get the inside valeted before an NCT, or is it ok to send it along with boxes, sand and dog hair in it?

No but make sure they can see all belt buckles and clips and that the boot isn't full of rubbish as they need to be able to view the spare tyre.

4) Why do I have to take the wheel trims off, and will they put them back on for me?

Because the NCT testers,who are all qualified mechanics, aren't capable of doing anything technical like pulling off a friggen wheel trim themselves...god bless them.

biko

They see hundreds of cars every month and if I as owner can do a little bit of work to help them do their job quicker and easier I don't mind.

I had a known emissions issue and the tester spent an extra 5 mins revving the car up and down to try to get it under regulation. I think it was because the car was clean otherwise and he just wanted to help. Had it been a ****box I don't think he'd be inclined to be so helpful.

MidlandsM

CJC999 wrote: »

1)
Because the NCT testers,who are all qualified mechanics, aren't capable of doing anything technical like pulling off a friggen wheel trim themselves...god bless them.

to be fair, i'v often seen them take of hubcaps and put them in the boot of cars.....most are decent blokes......