Over half failed NCT test in Dundalk last year

The NCT test centre in Dundalk recorded a 49.88% pass rate in 2023, according to figures from the National Car Testing Service.

The Dundalk centre had a 43.11% major fail rate, and a 7.01% dangerous fail rate- with 28, 073 inspections carried out over the course of last year.  

Meanwhile, Drogheda had a  54.14% pass rate with a 39.84% major fail rate and  6.02% of cars recorded as a dangerous fail. In total 38, 276 inspections were carried out at the Drogheda centre last year. 

Nationally, a total of 747,820 vehicles did not pass the full test, with the Cavan NCT Centre ranking top out of 50 NCT centres nationwide, with 59pc of vehicles failing there.

 Just under half of the 1.5 million cars tested last year failed.

According to CarTakeBack.ie, the top reason for failures was steering and suspension, which accounted for almost 15% of failures. 

Lighting and electrical faults were a very close second, with fails for the slip slide test coming in third. 

The Side Slip Test simulates driving on a straight, flat road without touching the steering wheel. 

The test measures how many metres a vehicle would deviate to the left or right over a distance of 1km.

The most tested vehicle make in 2023 was Ford, with 171,129 Ford models being put through their NCT. Of the 50% that failed, the majority did so on lighting and electrical defects.

The National Car Test (NCT) is a compulsory vehicle inspection programme in Ireland. Cars older than 10 years must undergo an annual inspection, while vehicles younger than 10 years must be inspected every 2 years.

The National Car Testing Service say NCTs help to reduce the number of road accidents by identifying defects such as faulty brakes, worn tyres and defective headlight aim. 

They also say that tests help to improve air quality and protect the environment by reducing exhaust emissions.

You can view the pass success rates at your local NCT centre here