High percentage fail NCT

A new survey has revealed that the largest number of cars have failed the National Car Test (NCT) this year, compared to any other year since it’s introduction two years ago.

A little over half of the cars being tested are actually making it through first time since the introduction of a tougher test this year.
NCT figures show that only 53% of the 452,587 cars tested so far this year have passed which is a dramatic turn around from the previous year when 62% of the 378,467 cars passed first time.

The main reasons for failure are brakes, steering linkage and front suspension but nine out of ten cars pass on their second test. This years test is not as lenient as previous years hence the larger failure rate. Any defect is now deemed to result in an instant failure and must be repaired by the car owner before returning to be rechecked by the test centre.

The cost of the full test is Eur48.40 and a retest will set a person back a further Eur27.20 if any equipment belonging to the centre has to be used on the car.