NCT Appointment wait

osarusan

Hi all,

sorry to bother you again with my import issues.

As I mentioned in my other thread, I'm importing a car from Japan to Ireland, and it will arrive at Dublin port within the next couple of weeks. As it is a private import and (hopefully) exempt from Registration Tax, I need to get it down to Limerick before it can be registered and insured. I made some progress on that today.

Regarding registration:

I've been in contact with the revenue, and it seems that to get a car registered, I bring it to my local NCT centre for an inspection, and then it can be registered (and consequently insured).

I have two questions - does the registration also happen at the NCT centre, or do they simply give me a cert to take elsewhere? I ask because it is going to be a pain in the ass trying to get an unregistered car around to different places.

Secondly, what kind of wait can I expect for an appointment at NCT? The woman at revenue told me that once the car had arrived, I call them, they make a file about my car, and then make an appointment at my local NCT centre (Limerick). How long might I have to wait for that appointment? Days? Weeks?

It will be very frustrating to have the car in the country, but still have to wait weeks more to be able to drive it.

Can anybody provide any info on this?

ShaunieVW

We imported from England last year, got an appoinent for about a week after we rang, they do it all in house and can even make your plates. Make sure you have the correct documents though they are extremely strict with what consitutes as proof of address. Ie a bank letter isn't good enough but a statement is.

osarusan

Thanks ShaunieVW.

Did you need to take the car to the centre for inspection, and if so, how did you get it there?

As mine is completely unregistered, I don't even know how to get it from my house to the centre whenever the appointment is. Such a pain in the arse!

Odelay

osarusan wrote: »

Thanks ShaunieVW.

Did you need to take the car to the centre for inspection, and if so, how did you get it there?

As mine is completely unregistered, I don't even know how to get it from my house to the centre whenever the appointment is. Such a pain in the arse!

I think a mechanic with garage plates would be able to drive it to the test center for you.

osarusan

Thanks Odelay. I'll try to find out about that, and how much it would cost.

Odelay

osarusan wrote: »

Thanks Odelay. I'll try to find out about that, and how much it would cost.

Allow €50 per hour? You pick him up, take him to car, follow to test center and then return him to garage.

mgbgt1978

osarusan wrote: »

Hi all,

sorry to bother you again with my import issues.

As I mentioned in my other thread, I'm importing a car from Japan to Ireland, and it will arrive at Dublin port within the next couple of weeks. As it is a private import and (hopefully) exempt from Registration Tax, I need to get it down to Limerick before it can be registered and insured. I made some progress on that today.

Regarding registration:

I've been in contact with the revenue, and it seems that to get a car registered, I bring it to my local NCT centre for an inspection, and then it can be registered (and consequently insured).

I have two questions - does the registration also happen at the NCT centre, or do they simply give me a cert to take elsewhere? I ask because it is going to be a pain in the ass trying to get an unregistered car around to different places.

Secondly, what kind of wait can I expect for an appointment at NCT? The woman at revenue told me that once the car had arrived, I call them, they make a file about my car, and then make an appointment at my local NCT centre (Limerick). How long might I have to wait for that appointment? Days? Weeks?

It will be very frustrating to have the car in the country, but still have to wait weeks more to be able to drive it.

Can anybody provide any info on this?

Answer 1...The complete registration takes place at the NCT Centre, Applus+ (the company who have the contract to carry out the NCT Test) also have the contract to VRT imported vehicles.

Answer 2... After you have re-registered your car and received an Irish reg number you will have to make an appointment to have the car NCT tested. Ring the NCT on 01-4135992 (you may have to get them to put your car on their system as cars here only appear on any system after they have been road-taxed for the 1st time)and ask for an appointment within 28 days. They will put you on their 'priority list' and in a few days you should receive a text or email with a test date which should be within 28 days of your original call. If the date is beyond 28 days the test should be free, so phone them again and nicely explain that you do not expect to be charged for this test as it is outside the 28 day window in which they are obliged to provide a test.

Many insurance companies do not require an NCT to provide cover, and you can tax the car once it is insured. If you have the car both Taxed and Insured and have a date for the NCT you shouldn't have a problem driving around in it. The Guards understand that there is an NCT Backlog, and as long as you can show proof of an appointment (Text or email) they will usually not be particularly bothered about it.

Sorry for the long-winded response, but that's the way it is.:)

osarusan

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

Answer 1...The complete registration takes place at the NCT Centre, Applus+ (the company who have the contract to carry out the NCT Test) also have the contract to VRT imported vehicles.

Answer 2... After you have re-registered your car and received an Irish reg number you will have to make an appointment to have the car NCT tested. Ring the NCT on 01-4135992 (you may have to get them to put your car on their system as cars here only appear on any system after they have been road-taxed for the 1st time)and ask for an appointment within 28 days. They will put you on their 'priority list' and in a few days you should receive a text or email with a test date which should be within 28 days of your original call. If the date is beyond 28 days the test should be free, so phone them again and nicely explain that you do not expect to be charged for this test as it is outside the 28 day window in which they are obliged to provide a test.

Many insurance companies do not require an NCT to provide cover, and you can tax the car once it is insured. If you have the car both Taxed and Insured and have a date for the NCT you shouldn't have a problem driving around in it. The Guards understand that there is an NCT Backlog, and as long as you can show proof of an appointment (Text or email) they will usually not be particularly bothered about it.

Sorry for the long-winded response, but that's the way it is.:)

hi, thanks, this is all useful information.

I have one more question though - you say that many insurance companies do not require an NCT to provide cover - does that mean that I do not need to take the car itself to the NCT centre for the actual registration? That I could just go there, get it registered, then taxed and insured, with an NCT to come some time within 28 days?

If so, that would be fantastic, as I don't fancy paying somebody to transfer the car from my home to the NCT centre for me. But I am not sure if that is what you are saying? Does there need to be both a VRT text and the NCT?

bazz26

In order for the car to be VRT assessed, paid and issued an Irish registration number, the NCT centre have to inspect the car. The NCT road worthiness test itself is a separate process and needs to be booked with the NCT centre once the car is registered if it is 4 years or older.

osarusan

bazz26 wrote: »

In order for the car to be VRT assessed, paid and issued an Irish registration number, the NCT centre have to inspect the car. The NCT road worthiness test itself is a separate process and needs to be booked with the NCT centre once the car is registered if it is 4 years or older.

So I absolutely would need to bring the car to the NCT centre to get it registered.

Bear in mind this car is a private import and will be VRT exempt (if I can make a successful case to revenue at Dublin port). I will (hopefully) have documentation showing this from revenue.

Or are you talking about the yearly road tax, rather than tax for imports?

bazz26

Even if you are VRT exempt you still have to go to the VRT appointment with the appropriate exemption documentation. Once everything is in order and processed they should issue you with an Irish registration number. You can then go get number plates and should be able to tax the car a few days later afaik.

mgbgt1978

To avoid the same question asked again and again.....you do need to bring the car to the VRT Dept (at the NCT centre) to get it registered.
They have to confirm that VIN numbers etc on the actual car match the log book.
Whether the car is VRT exempt or not makes no difference to this procedure.