NCT test dates

corktina · 03-01-2014 07:27PM #1

Emailled them for a date yesterday, got test 13th January....delays? what delays?

discodavie · 03-01-2014 09:19PM

I take it that that's irony.

ba_barabus · 03-01-2014 09:35PM

I've never once had a delay with getting an NCT test date. I always just look for one in time or call looking for cancellations.

corktina · 03-01-2014 09:39PM

I don't bother going online at all

Neilw · 03-01-2014 09:49PM

Is there any point in calling into the centre to see if they have a free slot that day? Mine is due mid March but I'd like it done early.

biko · 03-01-2014 10:32PM

Not really, unless you get very lucky and they are feeling friendly.
You're better off just ringing them every morning and also extend your search to centres in neighbouring counties.

Neilw · 03-01-2014 10:36PM

biko wrote: »

Not really, unless you get very lucky and they are feeling friendly.
You're better off just ringing them every morning and also extend your search to centres in neighbouring counties.

Northpoint are not renound for being anyway friendly lol. Thanks

kerry4sam · 04-01-2014 11:19AM

corktina wrote: »

Emailled them for a date yesterday, got test 13th January....delays? what delays?

My own NCT was not due until February, but on December 16th last I went online and booked in my own test with loads of dates and times available, but chose 3rd January @ 8:20am. This gave me a few weeks in event more work needed to be done, or any parts needed ordering, I had a window of a few weeks before official due-date to sort. Maybe their are others out there like me and like to book weeks in advance also.

Now, as it turned out, my own car passed no bother yesterday morning.

Two in-front of me and before I left their were 4-more waiting on tests. If you look online, you'll see time slots disappearing each time you refresh the page, and where I go for my own NCT, they never stop! Constant flow of vehicles in to them.

Backfire · 04-01-2014 11:34AM

I tried booking a slot in february for killarney but there was no day available at all for the entire month.
Is this genuinely the case or the system not updating properly?

lollsangel · 04-01-2014 11:39AM

Backfire wrote: »

I tried booking a slot in february for killarney but there was no day available at all for the entire month.
Is this genuinely the case or the system not updating properly?

Its probably not updated yet! I know that both tralee and kilarney had an awful backlog late last year. The earliest date I could get in august was the end of october. Booked the other car in for January this year no problem in tralee.

corktina · 04-01-2014 11:43AM

the dates seem to appear in bulk , but most of the time there are no dates shown at all. It;'s a bad system that gives people the impression there is a big delay, ....there isn't.

djimi · 04-01-2014 11:46AM

I have never had an issue with the NCT. Pick up the phone, get offered a date within 1-2 weeks max. Never bothered with the online system.

I have to book the test next week so Ill see how I get on this time around.

keith16 · 04-01-2014 11:48AM

How long does the test typically take? Can you leave the car there and head off or would you be waiting around the centre?

djimi · 04-01-2014 11:53AM

keith16 wrote: »

How long does the test typically take? Can you leave the car there and head off or would you be waiting around the centre?

Test itself takes about 30 minutes. You might be waiting a bit beforehand also before the car is actually taken in. Whole thing shouldnt take longer than an hour.

I wouldnt go far tbh. Twice I have been required to turn my alarm off; Clifford alarm in valet mode so basically a simple alarm system, but for some reason they kept doing stupid things like opening the window fully and turning the alarm on, then wondering why it started screeching when they put their arm through the window...

corktina · 04-01-2014 12:07PM

djimi wrote: »

I have never had an issue with the NCT. Pick up the phone, get offered a date within 1-2 weeks max. Never bothered with the online system.

I have to book the test next week so Ill see how I get on this time around.

I just booked my Wife's car online!
...got a date in the middle of feb which is fine as it isn't out til the end of April

mickdw · 04-01-2014 01:23PM

I booked a few days ago for 13 January. My car can only be tested from 10th jan. Onwards so good result there.

Backfire · 06-01-2014 01:23PM

I decided to ring the Nct to try and book a date in february for killarney centre as planned, and besides an appointment at 8:30am in the morning on february 28th, next available time slot is on march 6th.
I agreed to it but not very pleased.

So killarney booked out for entire month of february already?

corktina · 06-01-2014 02:13PM

you should have refused it, your test would have been free if they couldn't manage an earlier date.

tin79 · 06-01-2014 02:23PM

corktina wrote: »

Emailled them for a date yesterday

corktina wrote: »

I don't bother going online at all

corktina wrote: »

I just booked my Wife's car online!

Something doesn't add up here

Personally I have found it a mixed bag. Sometimes you ring up and they tell you they are booked out for months (Dublin) sometimes you get lucky.

If you keep ringing for a cancellation you will get one but, IMO, you shouldn't have to keep ringing up. There are certainly capacity issues at some centres but the booking system is inefficient and inconsistent.

ninty9er · 06-01-2014 02:38PM

Technically I can have my car tested from early February per the rules, however when I attempt to book online my car is "not eligible for inspection" on the system.

I can understand why it wouldn't allow me to book a date before then, but I can't get my head around the fact the system can't offer me dates during the eligible period. After all, it does know when the renewal date is!

Backfire · 06-01-2014 02:43PM

corktina wrote: »

you should have refused it, your test would have been free if they couldn't manage an earlier date.

My nct isnt out till the end of april. I just like getting it done as early as possible and get a 15 month cert if you get my drift.

corktina · 06-01-2014 02:53PM

tin79 wrote: »

Something doesn't add up here

.

I don't usually bother with online and didn't with my car, which was the OP. As an experiment, in fairness to the system, I tried online for Wifey.s car and was pleasantly surprised. Not afraid to admit I was wrong you see. I hope that's clearer for you.

blastman · 06-01-2014 03:20PM

Backfire wrote: »

My nct isnt out till the end of april. I just like getting it done as early as possible and get a 15 month cert if you get my drift.

If you're doing that every year then you aren't getting a 15 month cert if you get my drift

06-01-2014 03:31PM

ninty9er wrote: »

Technically I can have my car tested from early February per the rules, however when I attempt to book online my car is "not eligible for inspection" on the system.

I can understand why it wouldn't allow me to book a date before then, but I can't get my head around the fact the system can't offer me dates during the eligible period. After all, it does know when the renewal date is!

Call them up and they can book you in over the phone.
I can test my car from the 23'd Jan but cant book it in on line. I called them and they were able to book me in for the 28th. I literally just looked on the site there now and got a cancellation for the 24th so happy days

Backfire · 06-01-2014 03:33PM

blastman wrote: »

If you're doing that every year then you aren't getting a 15 month cert if you get my drift

Yeah i suppose

But if i ever wanted to sell, longer the nct helps the sale. Not that i would get much for my 96' suzuki escudo (5dr).

I hope nothing goes wrong with her from now until march 6th. I'll send her in and take my chance.

To be honest i do look after my escudo, got a good bit of work done to it in the past 12 months. Including new clutch and radiator.

Liam90 · 06-01-2014 03:34PM

I booked nct in early december and earliest date I got was 29th January. My dad booked his late december and got his for next week!?!?

pjq · 12-04-2014 01:52PM

I just took the first date available for Waterford , July 8th. Not even 3 months to wait ,,, only 2mths 28days.
pjq

NCT test dates

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