If your vehicle is due for an NCT, there are some centres around Ireland you might want to think twice about visiting. New statistics from the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) show that certain testing locations have much higher failure rates than others — with some centres failing nearly half of all cars assessed, reports The Mirror.
Fonthill in Lucan, Dublin, currently tops the list for the most “dangerous fails” in Ireland this year. Since January, 5,200 vehicles tested at this centre were deemed unsafe to drive.
Following closely is Northpoint 2, also located in Dublin, where 4,900 cars were given the same serious fail verdict. Deansgrange, in south Dublin, ranks third with 4,100 vehicles failing in the most critical category, reports The Mirror.
Not far behind is Little Island in Cork, which recorded 3,800 dangerous fails, while Greenhills in Dublin reported 3,400. All five of these test centres were also among the busiest, handling the largest numbers of vehicles across the country this year.
Looking at failure rates as a percentage of total tests, some locations have failed close to half the cars inspected so far this year, reports The Mirror.
Athlone in Co. Westmeath has the highest percentage fail rate, with 50.16% of vehicles not passing. Longford is next at 49.91%, followed by Ennis in Co. Clare at 48.16%, Monaghan at 48.15%, and Carndonagh in Co. Donegal also at 48.15%. While these rates may seem high, they also reflect how seriously safety standards are enforced at these centres.
On the other hand, several locations boasted higher pass rates, potentially giving drivers a better chance of success. Deansgrange passed 58.17% of vehicles tested, followed by Tullamore in Co. Offaly at 57.62%, Ballinasloe in Co. Galway at 55.33%, Cahir in Co. Tipperary at 54.60%, and Waterford at 54.52%, reports The Mirror.
In total, 1,130,640 vehicles have been tested at NCT centres across Ireland so far this year. Of these, 563,862 passed (49.87%), 481,239 were issued with a major fail (42.56%), and 85,539 received a dangerous fail (7.57%).
Driving without a valid NCT certificate is a legal offence in Ireland. The initial fine is €60, rising to €90 if unpaid after 28 days, and drivers will also receive three penalty points, reports The Mirror.
Failure to pay could lead to five penalty points, a larger fine, and even a potential prison sentence if the case ends up in court.
Any car over four years old must undergo an NCT. Vehicles aged between four and 10 years are tested every two years. Cars aged 10 to 30 years must be inspected annually, while those between 30 and 39 years require a test every two years — unless they’re used for commercial purposes, reports The Mirror.
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