NCT waiting times.

prodigal_son

NCT was due for renewal, got a letter telling me to apply for it a week before it was due, I did and then found out that the waiting time is 2 months.

I read up and its 5 points for driving without NCT, and also read that it depends on the cop who stops you some will accept a letter saying its booked and let you go.

Surely I can't be expected to go without a car for 2 months. 2 months is a massive amount of time. Their system knows how long the waiting times are, why couldn't it remind me in time?

So really all i want to know is why a system that imposes such heavy penalties is so poorly designed, and can I drive with the letter saying the test is booked or can I still get the penalty points.

Professey Chin

Ring them and look for an earlier date. If they cant give you one within 4 weeks then the test is free by their own terms (And they dont like giving out free tests so youll almost definitely get a date).
Plus keep the letter in the car, the vast majority of garda will let you away with it (of course you could always get one looking for an excuse)

miller50841

You could try a different test centre or as said try ring for a cancellation.

bazz26

prodigal_son wrote: »

NCT was due for renewal, got a letter telling me to apply for it a week before it was due, I did and then found out that the waiting time is 2 months.

I read up and its 5 points for driving without NCT, and also read that it depends on the cop who stops you some will accept a letter saying its booked and let you go.

Surely I can't be expected to go without a car for 2 months. 2 months is a massive amount of time. Their system knows how long the waiting times are, why couldn't it remind me in time?

So really all i want to know is why a system that imposes such heavy penalties is so poorly designed, and can I drive with the letter saying the test is booked or can I still get the penalty points.

You can do the NCT 6 or 3 months prior to it's due date, you don't need to wait for a reminder letter. It's one of the reasons they introduced this system.

Sam Russell

bazz26 wrote: »

You can do the NCT 6 or 3 months prior to it's due date, you don't need to wait for a reminder letter. It's one of the reasons they introduced this system.

They have not got enough capacity.

bazz26

Sam Russell wrote: »

They have not got enough capacity.

Cancellations pop up all the time from my experience, you just need to check regularly. People just need to be a bit more proactive in the matter and plan ahead of time rather than waiting until the due date to go hunting for a booking. I do it this way every time and I haven't been made wait too long for a booking yet.

unkel

Sam Russell wrote: »

They have not got enough capacity.

Nonsense. They've stretched their opening times to allow for the need of more and more tests. I get cars tested all the time and I usually have them tested between 2 and 3 months before they are due. Never a problem if you try to book early

If you've left it late and are having a problem with booking in a particular car, use their online system between 8 and 9 AM or ring them up early. It seems that cancellations are being freed up in the system around that time...

DubTony

I booked mine today... well; yesterday They've really gotten their act together. Mine's on the 18th ....... of bleedin' October.

oldyouth

Chinpool wrote: »

Ring them and look for an earlier date. If they cant give you one within 4 weeks then the test is free by their own terms (And they dont like giving out free tests so youll almost definitely get a date).
Plus keep the letter in the car, the vast majority of garda will let you away with it (of course you could always get one looking for an excuse)

Can you give me a link to this as I can't find it on their website. I booked on 20th July and could only get a 1st October date

bazz26

As Unkel said, if you try online daily early in the morning you will see cancellations appear. You have to be quick though as these vanish quickly. Alternatively ring them and they will put you on a cancellation standby list.

Max Power1

Ive always been able to get a test date within 10-14 calendar days online at the first attempt (mostly saturdays)

Fonthill center.

ABajaninCork

The waiting times in Little Island are ridiculous. My NCT's been out since the beginning of the month. I tried to book a test SIX weeks ago. The earliest date I can get is the 17th October. :rolleyes:

I'm not wasting my time running around to get a cancellation. If the Gards stop me, then I have printed proof in the car and the text message sent confirming the booking. They can take THAT to the bank.

MrDerp

I honestly don't know why people wait until it's out, there's literally no benefit to waiting unless you're about to do a service.

My NCT was due in March and I did it last November, before my car had the chance to suffer a potentially harsh winter. No pressure for a slot, and less wear and tear on every part in the car.

Deliverance XXV

Apologies on re-opening this recent-ish thread but my NCT is out on the 29th of this month. Both the Carlow and Kilkenny test centers have the nearest available dates in the early days of November. I presume the 6 days overdue wouldn't be too much of a problem if I were to get stopped if I were to have a booking confirmation sheet with me?

Has anyone been stopped in the period from when the test is overdue to their actual test and if so, what has been the general consensus?

PS. Their website is a mess.

Guy:Incognito

Deliverance XXV wrote: »

Apologies on re-opening this recent-ish thread but my NCT is out on the 29th of this month. Both the Carlow and Kilkenny test centers have the nearest available dates in the early days of November. I presume the 6 days overdue wouldn't be too much of a problem if I were to get stopped if I were to have a booking confirmation sheet with me?

Has anyone been stopped in the period from when the test is overdue to their actual test and if so, what has been the general consensus?

PS. Their website is a mess.

That would be a month and 6 days. Theres a sneaky month called October in the middle there.:)

I'd imagine youll be fine.

Scortho

Deliverance XXV wrote: »

Apologies on re-opening this recent-ish thread but my NCT is out on the 29th of this month. Both the Carlow and Kilkenny test centers have the nearest available dates in the early days of November. I presume the 6 days overdue wouldn't be too much of a problem if I were to get stopped if I were to have a booking confirmation sheet with me?

Has anyone been stopped in the period from when the test is overdue to their actual test and if so, what has been the general consensus?

PS. Their website is a mess.

If you have a booking comfirmatiom you shoukd be fine.

Their website is ****.
I generally ring them and ask what's the earliest date I can get at the following test centres. You'll usually get a test slot within the next two weeks, even if your nct isn't out for a couple of months.

Deliverance XXV

Guy:Incognito wrote: »

That would be a month and 6 days. Theres a sneaky month called October in the middle there.:)

I'd imagine youll be fine.

Whoops - You're right - the website jumped me ahead after viewing the KK site on a different month...

Bigcheeze

How far in advance does the system let you schedule a booking ? Mine is due in January so I want to schedule the test for October but the system won't let me schedule it yet.

CiniO

Bigcheeze wrote: »

How far in advance does the system let you schedule a booking ? Mine is due in January so I want to schedule the test for October but the system won't let me schedule it yet.

It allows you to schedule a test a month before earliest day you can test it.
So f.e. if your test is due 15th January, then the earliest you can do the test is 3 months earlier - 15th October, so the earliest you can log in online to book an appointment is 15th September.

All dates are approx, as there might be day difference one way or another due to different length of the months.

Also AFAIK if you ring instead of using online facility, they might give you appointment even earlier than that.