Cars that failed NCT for bald tyres to get free retest
Transport Minister Martin Cullen yesterday approved a relaxation of the rules of the NCT, which was introduced in 2000 to keep lethal cars off the roads.
From today mechanics will no longer check lamps for the registration plate, wheel nuts or the colour of indicator bulbs.
Cars which have registrations without the county name in Irish will no longer fail the test and instead drivers will get free stickers with the place-name to put on their plates.
And from January 1 next year drivers will be able to book a test online and pay in advance under a Government review of the NCT system published yesterday.
The Department of Transport carried out the study into the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) company, which runs the country’s 43 car test centres under a 10-year contract.
Officials looked at the kind of checks undertaken by mechanics, waiting times, customer satisfaction and the test centres.
Transport Minister Martin Cullen said he was pleased with the findings of the report, which showed the NCTS was hitting all its targets for waiting times, quality of service and thoroughness of tests.
He said the roadworthiness of vehicles on the Republic’s highways was improving as a result of the NCT and was helping to save lives.
The NCTS carries out 600,000 tests a year with a first-time pass-rate of 50.9% — compared to just 3.8% in 2000 when the tests began.
