Had my car Nct today but only got a ticket for four months due to the back log of testing

No, it's not your fault.

But look at it this way, if the system was working correctly and you had got the test last Feb, it would still be due next Feb again, so you're no worse off.

Definitely your fault. You could've requested priority numerous times.

Yep. You request a cancellation and you get one. The OP unfortunately is wrong.

Except the waiting list is probably more than six months.

The booking system is not fit for purpose, unless the purpose is to ensure Applus+ don't have to provide any free tests.

The available appointments that customers see online only represent approximately 1/3 of the actual appointments available for that time. NCTS only open the full capacity or the remaining 2/3 of appointments two weeks ahead when they finalise their schedules and know what staff are available that week.

If I check online now there is one test available tomorrow in my nearest centre and none other offered until early May next year, over a month after my NCT us due. There is none available within the 90 day window before it's due date near the end of March next year.

I can wait until a 90 days before my NCT due date and then ask to be put on their priority list and maybe be offered a date and time which might or might not be practical for me, and if it isn't then tough luck and I'm in an even worse situation. Still no appointment and nearer to the deadline.

Or I can keep checking early in the morning and late at night when cancellations seem to be processed and frantically refresh my browser in the hope of snatching a suitable appointment before another customer or Applus+ themselves do!

The only reason Applus+ can operate as they do is because they have a monopoly and the NCT is mandatory.

Would it be so radical to implement a booking system that is designed for the customers rather than for Applus+?

If an appointment time is available, make it available online for customers to book. Why hide two thirds of your capacity from customers?

It shouldn't be difficult to plan capacity in advance. All the data should be there, the first registration date of every Irish registered car, the retest rate, the number and timing of early voluntary tests and 'normal' tests should all be identifiable.

Since a valid NCT is a legal requirement, there is no reasonable excuse for the NCT provider not implementing a test and booking system that, at a minimum, matches the required test capacity and customer demand.

The current system falls far short of what should be considered a minimum acceptable standard.

Ive never driven without a valid nct always go early,went online at night got a date within 2 days so there are ways of getting a test on time.Was due in june passed test in april so had 14 months nct.

If you had waited a few weeks, you'd have got one for 15 months.

In fairness, you couldn’t get a test which suited your location and timing choices not that you couldn’t get a test at all.

No it's more farcical that to ensure your car has a valid NCT certificate you need to try to book an annual test eight or nine months in advance when the waiting time service level target is twelve days.

Sssh there is no way to get the NCT test faster.... 🤥

Why book it at all in that case...

That’s fine so long as you are willing to park the car up while the cert is out of date; the modicum of effort is required in order to avoid committing an offence! Some of us think that effort is worthwhile.