Some Irish car owners may be eligible for a free NCT appointment with most centres now only offering booking for early 2023.
The first available appointment in Dublin is April next year while centres in Portlaoise, Athlone and Ballinasloe have no appointments until March next year. Mullingar's earliest appointment is January 25.
A spokesperson for the RSA told Dublin Live that the average NCT waiting time nationwide is currently 24.5 days. However, Dublin appears to be lagging far behind this timeframe with no appointments available online until April 2023.
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The test costs €55. However, according to the NCTS customer charter, you will be provided a free test where an appointment cannot be offered within a 28-day period, unless any of the following apply:
- The test is overdue by more than 7 days at the time of contacting the NCTS;
- An appointment was offered 7 days or more prior to the test due date;
- You have made specific requests regarding suitable days, times or dates;
- You have declined or rearranged two or more appointments;
- You have failed to attend an appointment; or
- You have previously accepted or requested an appointment outside of the 28 day period.
A spokesman for the Road Safety Authority said that Covid-19 has caused "significant staff absenteeism" at test and call centres. He added that test appointments "are being released continually across all NCT centres, and also, many slots become available through cancellations or rescheduling of appointments."
Customers who require an earlier appointment than available online are asked to contact NCTS on 01 4135992 or place themselves on the priority list on the NCTS website.
The spokesman added: "The vast majority of all customers who use the priority list are getting a test within 4 – 5 weeks of application. Car owners are encouraged to check their NCT due date on the NCTS website."
The spokesman added that there are "very high levels of customer no-shows and late cancellations, which is severely impacting the NCTS operations and their ability to offer these appointments to other customers."
He continued: "NCTS asks customers if they know in advance that they will not be able to make their NCT appointment on the day, to let them know as soon as possible (they can cancel through the NCTS call centre on 014135992 or online www.ncts.ie ) so that those appointments could be offered to those customers on the priority list.
"Whilst appointment schedules are opened up well into the future to facilitate customers with specific requirements, this is not a true reflection of the availability of appointments as slots are released continuously each week based on staff availability.
"The NCT Regulations allow that a car may be tested up to 90 days in advance of the test due date without affecting the expiry date of the certificate issued. This system is in place to ensure all owners have sufficient time to have their vehicles successfully tested before the current certificate expires."
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