NCT website crashes over new penalty points

GARDA management yesterday advised motorists whose NCT is overdue to carry proof of an appointment for a test to avoid a possible court summons and five penalty points.

The Garda Traffic Corps is gearing up for the introduction of penalty points, on conviction, for five offences over the bank holiday weekend, starting on May 1. This includes five points for using a car without a valid NCT certificate.

The surprise announcement this week of the new penalty points created panic among many motorists whose NCT is due or overdue. The National Car Testing Service (NCTS) website has crashed since Monday, and yesterday the site only displayed a brief notice saying there had been “an unprecedented demand” in the number of people requesting a booking for a test.