More cars fail NCT than pass for fourth year in row

The fear of getting penalty points by drivers last year resulted in the busiest year on record for the National Car Test with almost 1.5m inspections carried out.

New figures show 1,492,176 tests were carried out at NCT centres nationwide last year — a rise of almost 148,000 on the previous year.

The statistics, released yesterday by NCT operator Applus along with a new-look website, also show that more cars failed than passed the test for a fourth year running.

A total of 756,422 vehicles (50.7%) failed compared to a pass rate of 730,322 (48.9%). A further 5,432 vehicles (0.4%) were immediately put off the road by NCT mechanics who deemed them too dangerous to drive away from the test centre. This was 632 more “fail-dangerous” stickers applied than in 2014.

Since the end of 2014, driving without a valid NCT disc is a fixed-charge motoring offence attracting three penalty points. Applus confirmed more drivers presented cars for the NCT last year “mainly due to improved compliance as a result of changes in law relating to NCT non-compliance”.

Spokesperson Sinéad McKeon added that the continuing trend of more cars failing than passing the test was consistent year-on-year.

And she said the number of cars deemed dangerous was relatively low when seen against the large number of vehicles tested overall.

“When you look at this figure in relation to the total number of vehicles that are inspected annually the figure is relatively small,” said Ms McKeon.

Many drivers continue to use the NCT as a diagnostic tool and put cars through the test first to see what needs fixing in order to get a pass on the retest.

Of the 767,675 re-tested last year, 698,376 (90.9%) passed and 68,309 (9%) failed. Some 990 vehicles (0.1%) were again ruled unfit to drive after the re-test.

The top failure items were front suspension; brake line and hoses; headlamp aim; tyre condition and faulty stop lamps.