Donegal motorists are facing wait times of around four months for their National Car Test (NCT) due to high demand, new figures show.
Three Donegal test centres (Derrybeg, Carndonagh and Donegal Town) have appointments no earlier than November 2022, while the Letterkenny centre is running at a faster capacity with appointments free from 11th August.
Derrybeg is Gweedore has the longest wait time in the county with the earliest available appointment being on 23rd November.
The Irish Independent reports that the longest wait time in the country is in Drogheda, Co Louth, where the first available appointment booked online is on January 24, 2023. A further seven centres are also backed up to January 2023.
The NCT roadworthiness test is conducted every two years for vehicles between four and nine-years-old. For vehicles 10 years or older, an annual inspection is required.
However, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, a four-month deferment was granted on March 28th, 2020 for cars registered before August 1st, 2016.
Applus+, the company that provides NCT in Ireland, says that if a customer requires an appointment sooner than those available online, they should contact the NCTS directly or place themselves on the priority waiting list online. The NCTS will do its best to accommodate all customers on the priority list within four weeks of application.
