Got a question? Need advice? Submit your queries to melanie@thejournal.ie.
THIS WEEK, A reader asks:
How can I tell when my car is due its NCT?
The answer:
Simple: the NCT have a handy online tool for checking when a car’s NCT is due. All you do is type the car’s registration into the box. Check your NCT due date here.
When you check the NCT due date online, you can also add in your details to get a reminder when your test is due.
Cars up to four years old do not need an NCT. Cars four to nine years old must be tested every second year. Cars ten years and older must be tested every year.
It might help to know that the NCT regulations allow for a car to be tested up to 90 days before the due date without affecting the next cert’s expiry date.
For example, if your NCT is due on 23 January 2017 you can get it tested from 25 October 2016 and (if it passes) you will get a certificate with the expiry date 22 January 2018/2019 depending on the age of your car.
If you need to, you can leave your car in for voluntary testing outside the 90-day advance period. But in this case, the vehicle will receive a two-year or one-year (depending on its age) cert from the date it passes the test.
For example, if your NCT is due on 23 February 2017 and you get it tested on 25 October 2016, your NCT certificate will still expire on 24 October 2017/2018.
You can also call the NCT centre on 01-4135992 from 8am to 8pm (Mon-Thurs) and 8am to 6pm (Fri) and they will tell you when your car is due its NCT.
Have you got a Dear Driver question? If so, email melanie@thejournal.ie and we’ll do our best to answer it!
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