Driving without NCT

Tusky

Howdy folks.

My NCT was up on March 3. I didn't realise there was such a backlog and only tried to book an appointment a couple of weeks before it was up. Stupid I know, but it's my first car.

They said I'm on a priority list but pointed out that the next available appointment in any of the Dublin centres is in June, even though I'm willing to take an appointment in the middle of the night.

My question is - are the gardai likely to be lenient if I'm stopped with an out of date NCT? I have the text message to show I'm on a waiting list.

Henry Ford III

Maybe, and maybe not.

bazz26

Ring them up again and explain that you will be expecting a free test if they cannot give you an appointment within 28 days.

Alternatively keep checking the website for cancellations early in the morning and late in the evening.

Duke O Smiley

Yes, just so you know, if you can't get a date within 28 days the test is free.

woody33

Yes but....if the date is in three months, is that still giving you a date? if you see what I mean.

_Brian

Tusky wrote: »

Howdy folks.

My NCT was up on March 3. I didn't realise there was such a backlog and only tried to book an appointment a couple of weeks before it was up. Stupid I know, but it's my first car.

They said I'm on a priority list but pointed out that the next available appointment in any of the Dublin centres is in June, even though I'm willing to take an appointment in the middle of the night.

My question is - are the gardai likely to be lenient if I'm stopped with an out of date NCT? I have the text message to show I'm on a waiting list.

I'd be more worried about insurance..
We had an issue recently and the insurance company point blank refused to cover the car as it didn't have a valid NCT and I had an appointment in 10 days.

This is more and more common with insurance companies, either your not covered or you have a much lower level of cover when you have no NCT.

smeal

It really seems to be the discretion of the Garda if stopped at a checkpoint.. I haven't been stopped at a checkpoint without NCT since before the intro of the penalty points but I was stopped twice over the summer without an NCT while on the waiting list and both times the Garda understood with one actually calling the backlog a disaster at the time! I imagine they would be more lenient if your NCT is only recently out though? Be a different story if it out was out a good few months or longer.. Again though, it seems to be discretion.

The many worry is definitely the insurance company- I have never heard of any insurance company paying out without a valid NCT at the time of the incident.

Try the nct website after 11.30pm for cancellations. Also they seem to update it around lunch time (maybe half 12 or so) because that's when I managed to get mine in for that evening. Also try neighbouring counties as well- I almost had to go to Athlone from Monaghan for mine!

Duke O Smiley

woody33 wrote: »

Yes but....if the date is in three months, is that still giving you a date? if you see what I mean.

Yes, but if it isn't within 28 days the test is free.

magicmushroom

No one can tell you what a Garda will do, depends on the person and what kind of a day they're having!

But I was recently without NCT whilst waiting for a date, I just kept the printed email from them showing the date I was booked in for in my car, in preparation for being stopped.

Luckily I never was but I guess having the proof of having it booked and taking the risk of meeting a grumpy Garda is all you can do, apart from not driving the car at all.

I booked my car in 1st week January, my NCT expired Jan 2015. so they called and said they were looking for a spot. then two weeks later I got a txt saying they were backlogged and still looking. Feb 1st I got a txt with a date of March 24.. Just the the other day.

anyway my car passed but as I was paying the lady told myself and another driver we did not have to pay. If the backlog (not your fault) takes you over 28days from Expiry and providing you've booked at time of expriry, its FREE!!

brilliant eh.

Also I was once told by a garda that if you were a scumbag on your way to murder somebody and the only way they could stop you was to impound your car, then yes, the NCT would be said reason. Half the gardai have car themselves not NCT compliant. It's hardly your fault they cannot cope with demand. Just save the txt and if stopped show it to a gardai, sure what more can you do FFS!

Spook_ie

If you are going to drive without an NCT then ensuring that your vehicle is in such a condition that it would pass the NCT will probably get you a fair chunk of leeway

REmember
Having an appointment for an NCT wouldn't exclude a car being confiscated or a driver being charged with an offence of "Driving vehicle before remedying dangerous defect" or "Driving dangerously defective vehicle" which both involve a mandatory court appearance and 3/5 PP as well as the standard "No NCT" 3 PP/€60 FPN

yeah that goes without saying. no point showing a txt to a garda with a black bag for a window and smoke billowing from the rear!

Jacovs

Im in the same position, kinda. My NCT is out on the 29th of March. I made my booking on the 8th of January and the earliest available was 7th of April. I rang them a couple weeks back looking for an earlier date but was told im better off keeping my date for 7th april cos theres nothing else available earlier. About to print out the email and keep in the car for the week id be driving without.

Spook_ie

rusty cole wrote: »

yeah that goes without saying. no point showing a txt to a garda with a black bag for a window and smoke billowing from the rear!

You'd think so but you wouldn't believe the state of some cars on the road with missing lights, faulty earthing ( all the lights flash when they indicate), chunks of body held on with duct tape and that's just the taxis!!!!

biko

Try checking for neighbouring counties too.
Check site every evening after 8 and ring every morning.

slimjimmc

biko wrote: »

Try checking for neighbouring counties too.
Check site every evening after 8 and ring every morning.

The revised website now has a handy option to you check all centres within a range of 20,50 or 100km of your chosen test centre.

Tusky

Thanks for all the replies folks - I appreciate it.

[edit] managed to get a cancellation appointment at 2am on a Wednesday in the middle of April. Madness.

ProudDUB

OP- If you have an entire morning or afternoon free, go to the test centre & ask if they have had any cancellations or no shows for the day. Ask very nicely, if they can squeeze you in that day. Bring a book and prepare to wait.

I had an apt tonight for 9.30pm. I really didn't want to go so late. So I went to the test centre today at 3pm. I was told to come back at 4.30 and they would squeeze me in then. They did & they were really nice about it all.

Sometimes people do cancel, or are late, or just don't show up & slots do free up. This generally happens after lunch where people make an appt for their lunch break, but something happens & they can't make it, so slots free up later in the day. These slots don't show up in time to register on the central reservations booking system, that you access online, or via phone bookings. You have to be physically at the test centre to avail of them.

MelanieC

I never heard of this free test thing. My NCT is up since Feb 26th. I rang the number on Feb 10th & was told there was no availability & they would text once a date opened up. Have heard nothing since. Does this mean whenever I eventually get a test,it should be free? And how do you avail of this,just refuse to pay at the centre?!!

ProudDUB

They can see on their system when you applied. If your test date is 28 days from when you applied, they will tell you at the test centre that no payment is required.

Go online late at night (after 11pm) & see if anything sooner is available. That is the time that they seem to load the new available appointments at. When I first applied, there was nothing available until 2 months away. A very kind boardsie here, told me to re check the available dates late at night.

I did & I got an test date for 10 days later. Don't worry about already having a request in. If you get an earlier date online, it will cancel out your previous request.

bladebrew

I would definitely check after 11:30pm, I checked Little Island today, this afternoon the next day available was the 16th of June, I just checked again now and there is one slot on the 10th of April!

stefanovich

Made the same mistake. Checked all the the test centers regularly. Something came up in Ennis for me just in time. Keep an eye on the site.

I personally wouldn't risk 5 points for driving without NCT or not being insured.

myshirt

This is like saying, 'I have double dashers on my car, does this mean I can park wherever I want to?'

Plainly, it all depends on the gard. But it is certainly illegal despite what you may be reading, and not the gards prerogative to allow for the hassle you are having with a private company.

It is totally ridiculous and impractical, but there you go.

ScouseMouse

I needed a quick nct on a car I imported.

Went online and was offered May but spotted one for this week, clicked it and it was gone. Then spotted greenhills within four days! Jumped on it and got it. Cancellations do appear. You just have to keep trying.

Tusky

Is it 28 days to get a date (which could be two months away), or 28 days between the date you applied and the date of your actual inspection?

power pants

Went on line linE last night and got a date for next Sunday. Stroke of luck

ProudDUB

Tusky wrote: »

Is it 28 days to get a date (which could be two months away), or 28 days between the date you applied and the date of your actual inspection?

28 days from when you apply.

goz83

Tusky wrote: »

Is it 28 days to get a date (which could be two months away), or 28 days between the date you applied and the date of your actual inspection?

ProudDUB wrote: »

28 days from when you apply.

Just to clarify. When you apply for the test, if they cant get your vehicle inspected within 28 days, the test is free.

You can ring any day and they'll give you a date for 3 months away, but that's not an inspection date within 28 days.

lycan238

Rang up for an appointment on 20/2 and got text a few days ago for my 'free' test on 17/4 12 days before its up. +1 to the go to the test centre to see if they can squeeze you in. Have used that plenty of times myself.

ninty

Did the RSA consult with the NCT before they introduced this law to see could they cope

John P. Mac

I waited 7 weeks for a test. Was charged the 55 Euro as receptionist said "no mention of free test on computer". I did get a refund after I complained.

cantdecide

1) always go on the 'priority' list

2) always take advantage of the three month early testing window

3) always call early in the morning for retests, cancellations and short notice bookings

4) don't believe the Joe Duffy poop that you have to wait forever for an appointment

Just putting it out there...

Rang and went on the 'priority' list. Got a booking within the months and had the car tested. Failed on rear bushes. Shopped for a couple of weeks to get them fixed and booked the retest. I'm going tomorrow for the retest and expect to pass... and I still have a month to go before my NCT runs out.

Lekrub

Since its half time maybe I can get some good news here.

Nct expires June 1st - Booked Jan 26th to make sure i got the 3 month rule - earliest I got was April 26th.

So I would still qualify for the 28 day rule? As it was well over 28 days??

matt70iu

My own test was up January this year. Booked last November, earliest I could get was March 9th. Test was free.

Went through a Garda check point in kilcock in February, checked all my discs and license and sent me on my way. Didn't even mention the fact the NCT was out.

Failed on brake lines on 9th so retest required. Went on NCT site late that night and got retest for 25/3. Could have had it earlier if I'd been free to take the car:)

I'd back up what others are saying about checking the site late at night, seems to be when their systems update.

CiniO

ninty wrote: »

Did the RSA consult with the NCT before they introduced this law to see could they cope

What law?