NCT centres across the country are currently experiencing high demand, with many people struggling to find appointments for this half of the year.
Covid-19 has still had an impact on appointments, as well as no-shows from customers.
Demand for the national roadworthiness test is currently extremely high, as confirmed by Applus, the company that runs the NCT.
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A spokesperson told the Irish Mirror : “We are experiencing high demand at present.
“However, NCT test appointment slots are released continually across all centres with many slots becoming available through cancellations or rescheduling of appointments.”
A number of factors have caused huge delays with appointments, including Covid-19.
“Covid is still impacting the NCT operations. Staff absenteeism levels at test centres have resulted in a number of cancelled NCT appointments.
“In addition, there were also very high levels of customer no-shows and late cancellations. NCTS are currently experiencing high levels of customer no shows on the day of the test and, as you can imagine, this is severely impacting the business and our ability to offer those cancellations to other customers,” the spokesperson said.
The company are asking customers to let them know as soon as possible if they can’t make their appointments so that those on the priority list can take the slots.
It comes as many motorists found there were no appointments sooner than the end of the year, with one posting on Twitter : “Get a letter saying my NCT is due next week but next available check is the end of November?”
Another wrote: “I just booked a test for November, my NCT expired on May 15th!”
The spokesperson from Applus recommended for motorists to book their NCT “well in advance of the cert expiry date”.
“It is the responsibility of owners to ensure their vehicle is maintained in a roadworthy condition at all times when in use in a public place.
“Enforcement of the relevant legislation is a matter for An Garda Siochana. It will be for the Gardai to decide whether or not to exercise discretion in relation to individual circumstances regarding vehicles with a test,” they said.
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