Cracked licence plates and last-minute cancellations among reasons for NCT complaints

The Road Safety Authority said there had been a significant fall in the number of complaints they received in 2023 about the NCT.

Cracked number plates, last-minute cancellations, and too little time to get a car back in working order were among the complaints made about the NCT last year.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) received 88 formal complaints about the roadworthiness test in 2023.

In one, a person expressed disbelief that they had failed because there was a small break in the number plate of their car.

An email to the RSA said: “I own a 2005 registration car, very well kept and low mileage for her age. During September, I had extensive work done on her and I knew she would pass with flying colours.

“She was well presented: vacuumed, washed, and polished. Imagine my disgust when I was then told she'd failed because of a cracked front number plate! The number plate was perfectly legible.” 

Time constraints

Another wrote of how a one-month limit to get their car back in order was not enough time during a cost-of-living crisis.

“That's 30 days if it's a new tyre costing €80 and 30 days if it’s a €1,500 bill. How is this enough time for people to save this money and get a car repaired in time?” they asked.

One person was “absolutely furious” after having their NCT test cancelled with little over one hour of notice.

A log of the complaint said: “He had his vehicle prepared and he was ready to leave his home for this test and now he has been told it has been cancelled. This is simply not good enough.” 

Another person wrote on behalf of their elderly father, who they said ended up with a supposedly two-year NCT certificate that lasted just eight months due to long delays in getting a test appointment.

“My dad is at an age where he is now petrified of driving his car even if the test is booked for that next available date next year, for fear of being stopped and having the car removed from him.” 

Delays in getting an appointment made up the highest proportion of complaints with one suggesting local garages should be tasked with carrying out the NCT and another angry that they, as a 72-year-old woman, were being asked to drive to an industrial estate at 10.10pm because it was the only appointment available.

Payment problems

There were multiple complaints about the possibility that the NCT would become a cashless system, which the government later confirmed would not be the case.

One person wrote: “Can you please explain how the NCT providers are allowed to declare that they will no longer accept legal tender and if this means it will be okay for those who don't have a credit card to drive without an NCT?” 

Another said: “I think [a] cashless policy is a bit high-handed and out of order; customers should be able to pay in whatever way they see fit.” 

NCT policy that the owner was responsible if a car was damaged during the test was also a cause of consternation with one person saying they felt it was “unfair and may even be illegal”.

Their complaint said: “I reluctantly signed the form eventually as I am legally obliged to have [an] NCT. I did inform the tester that I felt coerced into signing the form.” 

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The Road Safety Authority said there had been a significant fall in the number of complaints they received in 2023 about the NCT.

A spokesman said: “In 2022, the RSA received 207 complaints, which has fallen to 88 in 2023, which we feel is evidence of the improvements in the NCT Service for the public.

“This is in a period where a record of 1.6 million NCT tests were completed in 2023. We expect that in 2024 the volume of customer complaints to the RSA regarding the NCT Service will continue to reduce, however, we will always aim for a service that provides a satisfactory experience to all customers.”