Defective tyres most common cause for NCT fail in 2024

Almost half of vehicles failed their NCT in 2024, with defective tyres being the most common cause of failure.

According to the latest statistics from the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) operator Applus, a total of 1,732,095 vehicles were put through a full NCT last year, with just over half (50.6%) passing on the first attempt.

Some 128,548 (7.4%) vehicles ‘Failed Dangerous’ as they were deemed to be “likely to cause an accident and should not be driven in its current condition”.

Overall, 231,212 vehicles failed their NCT in 2024 due to having defective tyres. Tyre pressure, tread depth, bulges, tears and abrasions all form part of the NCTS’s tyre inspections.

Front suspension (191,481), steering (147,868), brakes (126,444), and bodywork (106,288) were the other main causes for an NCT visual failure last year.

Meanwhile, a total of 29,478 vehicles failed the NCTS’s petrol emissions test in 2024.