NCT operator to face fines as 375,000 vehicles on road without cert

The company that operates the national car testing service in Ireland is to face fines for failing to deliver on its contract.

Applus, the NCT operator, has apologised for the backlog of 375,000 vehicles on the road currently without an NCT certificate.

The company has blamed covid, staff shortages and no-shows for the unprecedented delays.

It told the Oireachtas Transport Committee that 3,500 people fail to show up for their NCT test every week. It said 2,500 vehicles do not show up, while 1,000 will cancel just before the test.

The committee heard that the backlog is 170,000 above the norm for this time of year.

Minister of State at the Department of Transport Jack Chambers said the delay is “absolutely unacceptable”, and that the Road Safety Authority is in a process of applying penalties to Applus because they are not delivering the level of service that they have been contracted to do.

Many motorists are facing a wait of weeks – and in many cases, months – in order to get an appointment to renew their NCT certificate.