Vehicle Owners Reminded of 4 Month Test Extension and 16 NCT Test Centres re-opening on Monday 29 June

The National Car Testing Service (NCTS) has now updated all records for those customers’ vehicles that qualified for the 4 month test extension as announced by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Mr Shane Ross in April.

A vehicle with a test due date on or after 28th March 2020 has now had their test date extended by 4 months, see example below

*Cars first registered on or after 1st August 2016 are not eligible for the 4 month extension.

Customers should note this change and are encouraged to check their new test due date on the Check NCT Due Date section on the NCTS website before booking their test.

NCTS are reminding customers that if they book a test that is more than 90 days earlier than the test due date, the test will be a voluntary early test and the NCT certificate issued will be valid for 1 or 2 years (depending on the age of the vehicle) from the date of the successful test.  NCTS are asking customers to note carefully the website messages they receive throughout the course of the booking process.

NCTS can now confirm that following the successful reopening of the first 19 centres, we intend on opening the remaining 28 centres on a phased basis. The reopening is subject to the Government’s approval of the start of phase 3 of the Road Map to ease Covid19 restrictions.

The remaining centres will be reopening in the following blocks and appointments for these centres are available online at www.ncts.ie once approval for the phase is granted.

The reopening of these centres will be aligned with the Governments Roadmap for reopening Society and Business. As information and guidance from public health officials change, we will reassess and change our procedures and protocols accordingly.

Customers with a test due date prior to 28 March and those affected by the lifts issue are being prioritised.

Further updates will be provided on the website www.ncts.ie over the coming days.

Notes

In the interests of health and safety of staff and customers, we have the following protocols and procedures in place for those attending for their NCT:

Protocol for Staff:

• Before each inspection, all vehicle inspectors must wash their hands with soap and water and wear a new set of disposable gloves.
• Leave all entrance doors open where possible to minimise the risk of virus transfer via door handles.
• Leave Vehicle Inspection Reports and NCT Certificates (if applicable) on the front seat of the customer’s vehicle following the test, thus eliminating the need for customers to re-enter the test centre, unless they have a query.

Protocol for customers

• Tests must be booked and paid online
• A maximum number of customers will be permitted to enter the centre and this will be clearly sign posted as you enter the centre.
• Please ensure you wear the correct clothing attire to the test centre as you may have to wait outside the building while your vehicle is inspected
• In advance of attending for NCT, please ensure your vehicle is being presented in a hygienic state and free of any unhygienic matter such as used tissues, gloves and wipes.
• Only customers with confirmed appointments should present their vehicle for inspection.
• Only one person must present the vehicle for inspection and we are asking that vulnerable drivers and those with an underlying illness do not attend, we ask that they organise for someone else to present their vehicle where possible.
• All customers must adhere to the social distancing guidelines.
• Driver identification will still be required to be shown at check in, but it should not be handed to the staff member.
• Once checked in, customers will be advised to wait in their vehicles or if they prefer to wait outside the building.
• Leave windows lowered slightly to allow for air to ventilate naturally throughout the vehicle.
• Ensure the air vents in the vehicle are closed and the fans are reduced to the lowest level.
• Once the inspection is complete, the Vehicle Inspection Reports and NCT Certificates (if applicable) will be left on the front seat of the customer’s vehicle following the test, thus eliminating the need for customers to re-enter the test centre, unless they have a query.