NCT madness..

CiniO · 12-07-2010 12:03PM #1

I imported a car from NI.
Paid VRT, registered it in Ireland.
Only thing I don't have yet is NCT.
I rang them today, and they told me, that there isn't any appointment available in my local NCT centre for the next 6 months.
She told me, that whenever they'll get anything, they'll post me a letter with appointment.

In my humble opinion, this must be some kind of a joke.

I'm legally required to have NCT before I can drive my car on the public road. For not having it, I'm risking penalty and up to 5 penalty points, and possibly some problems with insurance in case of an accident.

Even more - my car is absolutely roadworthy, and still has a MOT certificate until March 2011. But according to Irish government this is not valid (completely don't understand why, but know that's illegal according to European law).

Anyway, if I'm stopped by guards, only what I can do, is count on they good will. I don't even have a letter with appointment for NCT, so I can't show it to them.

So pretty much, I can't drive my new car legally for the next few months, even I've done everything I could to make it road legal.

This is some kind of a joke.

Only when I'll have some time, I'll sue Irish government to the European Commission, for not accepting test certificated from other EU members.

jimmycrackcorm · 12-07-2010 12:07PM

Well at least your NCT will be free. Got mine free after waiting three months. Two of those without a letter but the Guards weren't bothered about checking for NCT at any of the checkpoints I was stopped at. I reckon they know there are delays and don't even bother with it.

However I do think if you are a young lad with a souped up micra then you'll find they will be bothered....

djimi · 12-07-2010 12:07PM

Keep an eye on cancellations; most people get one within a few days.

Ricardo G · 12-07-2010 12:08PM

Spot on. Same situation all over the country tbh ! Have you tried ringing any other NCT centres within your county or even outside. Some may have a booking in the next 4 weeks. Yes i know its a pain in the neck having to travel beyond your own test centre but worth it if you can get it done. As for the guards i would not worry one bit about it, i'm sure there hearing the same story at every checkpoint every day. Its a shambles but its also Ireland:rolleyes:

Alun · 12-07-2010 12:10PM

Just do the booking online early in the morning (but after they've opened for business) and they've released any cancellations into the system. Both me and my wife managed to get appointments within one week at Deansgrange in Dublin this way.

robtri · 12-07-2010 12:20PM

ring the NCT crowd back..

tell them you have your booking for 6 months time, which is grand and that you want to confirm that it will be free.

this normally has the effect of you being transferred to another department, who miracously find you a date within 4 weeks..so they can charge u.

Anan1 · 12-07-2010 12:23PM

This comes up over and over again. Register car with NCTS. Book test. Get cancellation. All doable within 72 hours.

CiniO · 12-07-2010 12:42PM

Anan1 wrote: »

This comes up over and over again. Register car with NCTS. Book test. Get cancellation. All doable within 72 hours.

How can I book test, if she told me there isn't any appointment available?

djimi · 12-07-2010 12:43PM

Take the next appointment they give you, even if its 6 months down the line. Then look to get a cancellation.

Anan1 · 12-07-2010 12:46PM

djimi wrote: »

Take the next appointment they give you, even if its 6 months down the line. Then look to get a cancellation.

+1. Doesn't matter what centre, you'll be getting a cancellation anyway.

ger vallely · 12-07-2010 12:48PM

Apply for the test-even if it is 6 months away,then you will at least have an appointment letter to show if stopped. 'Tis a joke though, something very wrong with what should be a simple enough system.

GTE · 12-07-2010 12:53PM

If British cars that have a valid MOT can come off the boat or cross the boarder and drive on our roads then why cant you drive your car in the meantime considering the MOT you actually have on it.

I have a feeling you have something to argue your point with if stopped.

ttm · 12-07-2010 12:56PM

I went to book the test online nothing available, so phoned, got offered a date 3 months away, asked if it was free then told to ring another number, called that explained what had just happened and was asked if the car was ready to test, I said yes and was told I'd get a call or letter with an appointment in the next week got a call the following day for a test a week later. Thats how it worked for me

Anan1 · 12-07-2010 12:59PM

bbk wrote: »

If British cars that have a valid MOT can come off the boat or cross the boarder and drive on our roads then why cant you drive your car in the meantime considering the MOT you actually have on it.

I have a feeling you have something to argue your point with if stopped.

Because he's an ROI resident, and because the car is ROI registered.

ABajaninCork · 12-07-2010 01:05PM

Same thing happened to me. Imported a car from the UK, paid the VRT, taxed it and couldn't get an NCT for 6 months (allegedly).

In the end, I pestered the call centre, and got a cancellation for two weeks later. Menawhile, I had a copy of the appointment letter in my glove box just in case I got a pull. Once you have proof an NCT has been applied for, then I don't think the Gards will bother you too much. Even taxing the car was a nightmare as the original log book had been lost and I had to do the same thing - drive around with a copy of the form signed by the Gards until a new one came in the post.

If I were you OP, I'd do the same. Yes, it's a pain when you still have a valid MoT, and frankly I cannot understand why a valid certificate of roadworthiness issued in another EU country isn't counted as valid here. I think it's all a scam TBH...

Anan1 · 12-07-2010 01:08PM

ABajaninCork wrote: »

Yes, it's a pain when you still have a valid MoT, and frankly I cannot understand why a valid certificate of roadworthiness issued in another EU country isn't counted as valid here. I think it's all a scam TBH...

AFAIK, the MOT is a lot easier to pass than the NCT.

ABajaninCork · 12-07-2010 01:10PM

Anan1 wrote: »

AFAIK, the MOT is a lot easier to pass than the NCT.

Depends on the tester. Yes, there's some who'll give a cert on a 'nod and a wink', but most are VERY through and will fail the car on the slightest thing! In any case, ANY roadworthiness test will only tell you the car was roadworthy AT THE TIME IT WAS TESTED. So, you could have your exhaust drop off 100 yards down the road, but hey! You still have an MoT/NCT!!!

cloneslad · 12-07-2010 01:16PM

When I was in Ireland and living in Monaghan I tried Monaghan, cavan, louth, and sligo (g.f is from sligo) all were booked up for 3 months ended up going to Leitrim for it. I had a 2 week wait.

I was able to ring and get the retest done in Monaghan two days after the phone call.

bmstuff · 12-07-2010 02:11PM

Anan1 wrote: »

AFAIK, the MOT is a lot easier to pass than the NCT.

Yeah and you can even buy it in the UK if you know the guy. This is what some guy I bought a car from did, I can tell you, the MOT was a week old, the car was not roadworthy...
It is not government run in the UK, any garage can be a MOT test centre if I am not mistaken.
Period our NCT here means far more than a MOT in UK. Even in France you can buy it from a friendly mechanic, same as UK, anyone registered garage can issue official roadworthy certificates...

ABajaninCork · 12-07-2010 06:04PM

bmstuff wrote: »

It is not government run in the UK, any garage can be a MOT test centre if I am not mistaken.

Not true. The garage has to be accredited by the Dept of Transport. This means that the garage, inspectors and equipment has to be tested to DTP standards on a regular basis...I believe there are also certain tests the actual inspector has to pass.

GTE · 12-07-2010 06:57PM

Anan1 wrote: »

Because he's an ROI resident, and because the car is ROI registered.

That shouldn't matter given that under its old registration in the UK the car held a valid MOT. Given the time frame we are talking about the owner should be eligible to a grace period of sorts to account for waiting times of the NCT as long as the national car test of what ever country its coming from is still valid during that waiting period.

It's a daft situation that the OP is forced into because the crowd who do the NCT cant keep up with demand.

Anan1 · 12-07-2010 10:03PM

bbk wrote: »

That shouldn't matter given that under its old registration in the UK the car held a valid MOT. Given the time frame we are talking about the owner should be eligible to a grace period of sorts to account for waiting times of the NCT as long as the national car test of what ever country its coming from is still valid during that waiting period.

It's a daft situation that the OP is forced into because the crowd who do the NCT cant keep up with demand.

What waiting times? As has already been pointed out, an NCT slot can be got within a couple of days.

CiniO · 12-07-2010 10:08PM

Anan1 wrote: »

This comes up over and over again. Register car with NCTS. Book test. Get cancellation. All doable within 72 hours.

How can I book test, as I was told today, that she can't provide me with any booking as there's nothing available within 6 months. She doesn't make any booking further in the future. That's it.

Anan1 · 12-07-2010 10:15PM

CiniO wrote: »

How can I book test, as I was told today, that she can't provide me with any booking as there's nothing available within 6 months. She doesn't make any booking further in the future. That's it.

There's nothing available anywhere, or just not at your local test centre?

CiniO · 12-07-2010 10:17PM

Anan1 wrote: »

There's nothing available anywhere, or just not at your local test centre?

I asked only about my local test centre, and 3 closest ones...
So in total nothing available in 4 centres.

Anan1 · 12-07-2010 10:19PM

CiniO wrote: »

I asked only about my local test centre, and 3 closest ones...
So in total nothing available in 4 centres.

Just take any date, in any centre. It makes no difference, as you'll be getting a cancellation in your local centre. You just need a booking.

GTE · 12-07-2010 10:22PM

Anan1 wrote: »

What waiting times? As has already been pointed out, an NCT slot can be got within a couple of days.

You can't count on cancellations all the time and you shouldn't have to be in the situation where you have to rely on them to get a test within a reasonable amount of time. The OP has proved this. As have I. Reading a confirmation email I got on April the 1st I got a test date of the 21st of May in Fonthill and I did look for cancellations. I didnt mind as my NCT was due in April/May anyway.

Anan1 · 12-07-2010 10:25PM

bbk wrote: »

You can't count on cancellations all the time and you shouldn't have to be in the situation where you have to rely on them to get a test within a reasonable amount of time. The OP has proved this.

You're probably right, but they're still available for the following day. I'd just get the car tested and move on with my life.:)

Eoin · 12-07-2010 10:31PM

ABajaninCork wrote: »

In any case, ANY roadworthiness test will only tell you the car was roadworthy AT THE TIME IT WAS TESTED. So, you could have your exhaust drop off 100 yards down the road, but hey! You still have an MoT/NCT!!!

What's the alternative - they fail you because the car might fail in a week's time? Can you imagine the uproar!

To get back on topic, my wife got a test within a week after accepting cancellations and asking if it was free if she didn't get a test within a month, or whatever that clause is.

mb1725 · 12-07-2010 10:44PM

Imagine the waiting lists when they bring in the annual nct next year for older cars!!!!

Anan1 · 12-07-2010 10:48PM

mb1725 wrote: »

Imagine the waiting lists when they bring in the annual nct next year for older cars!!!!

AFAIK the reason for the current congestion is that people didn't bother NCTing their cars until threatened with large fines and points. Given the small numbers of 10+ year old cars on our roads (and the fact that the NCTS know they're coming), I can't really see there being a problem.

NCT madness..

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