Major change announced for NCT

A major change has been announced for payment policy for an NCT.

Over the coming months, it will be longer be possible to pay in cash for an NCT and drivers will now have to pay in full in advance for their test.

It was stated that the decision was been taken for safety and convenience with drivers only being able to pay by card or by postal order.

The decision has been criticised by Laois Offaly TD Carol Nolan who has said she is engaging with the Road Safety Authority following the decision of the National Car Testing Service (NCT) to adopt a ‘cashless’ payment policy. The RSA is the statutory body with responsibility for the operation of the NCT.

Deputy Nolan said the moved had caused 'a significant backlash' online among consumers who objected to the proposal, with particular concern being expressed for the older population who may prefer to retain a cash payment option out of necessity and convenience.

“Both the Central Bank and indeed Government have repeatedly stated a willingness to maintain and protect the option of paying by cash for goods and services,” said Deputy Nolan. “Well, it’s time for Government and the Minister for Transport to put their money where their mouth is and intervene with the RSA and the provider of the NCT service to show us how serious they are on this issue.”

“It just makes no sense for the NCT to adopt this approach when we spent almost the entirety of 2022 and well into 2023 trying to ensure that everything possible was done to reduce the backlog in and reinstate an average waiting period of 12 days. They should be making it easier on people to book their tests not harder,” she added

“People value the cash option but more importantly they value the sense of not being railroaded into a ‘cashless’ society simply for the convenience of operators who provide a mandatory public service.”

“The NCT and the RSA urgently need to rethink this one and stop making people’s lives more difficult than they already are,” concluded Deputy Nolan.