Half of all cars fail NCT the first time around
Figures show that 2,349 or 0.4% of vehicles tested failed the NCT as they did not meet basic safety standards.
Nearly 300,000 vehicles â more than half tested between January and July â failed the test the first time.
However, 90% of vehicles which retook the test passed.
Conor Faughnan of AA Roadwatch said the figures were ânot alarmingâ, as the number of unroadworthy cars was quite low.
âWe are not too alarmed about the figures. While half of vehicles checked the first time around failed, 90% of rechecks passed. It seems as though people are using the NCT as a diagnostic to see if their vehicle needs servicing or not, which is understandable.
âHowever, we would encourage people to keep their vehicle checked all through its life.
âIt is a bit like brushing your teeth, you do it for your general health and not leave it until you see a dentist.â
He also warned that although people may not be keeping vehicles maintained because of the recession, it may cost more in the long run.
He also said that motors ciould fail the NCT for minor faults that could otherwise be easily fixed.
âIt is a kind of false economy. A vehicle in poor condition can cost more in fuel and have problems that worsen, leading to a higher cost in the long run.
âThe AA have 100,000 breakdown call-outs every year, and we would also see that the general age of cars is getting older, and some of the faults would be from maintenance being put on the long finger, which in the recession is a human thing to do.â
Recent figures from Motorcheck.ie have shown that new car registrations are down 12% compared to last year.
An RSA spokesperson said that the NCT figures were in line with last year, people were advised to have their vehicles serviced before the test.
Cars four years or older must be tested every two years, while vehicles 10 years or older must have annual checks.
