A fail is not the end of the test. It opens a short window in which the car comes back for a re-inspection of the failed items only. Miss the window and you start again with a full test and a full fee.
The three results
- Minor: the car has passed with minor faults recorded, but there is no certificate yet. The faults have to be repaired and the car presented again for re-inspection before NCTS issues the NCT certificate.
- Major: the car has failed. You have 30 days to repair and return it. No certificate until it passes the re-inspection.
- Dangerous: the car has failed because of a defect that is a direct or immediate risk to road safety, and NCTS says it should not be used on the road under any circumstances. A "failed dangerous" sticker goes on the car. Driving it is illegal and can mean penalty points and a court appearance. It has to be repaired, re-inspected and passed before a certificate issues.
The two deadlines
Book the re-test within 21 days of the original test and have it done within 30 days. Both count from the day of the failed test, not the day you got the repairs done. If either passes, NCTS treats the car as untested: a full test, €60, and a place in the normal queue.
What a re-test costs
- €40 if the failed item needs the test lane: brakes, emissions, suspension, headlamp aim, steering, anything measured on equipment.
- Free if it is a visual check with no lane: wipers, a bulb, a number plate, a mirror, a seatbelt buckle. Call ahead and go in; no appointment is needed, but confirm the centre is open because break and shift times vary.
- Moving or cancelling a booked re-test inside five working days costs €16.
The re-test calendar is a different calendar
When a car with an open fail signs in on ncts.ie, the booking page shows re-test slots only, with the deadline printed at the top. Those slots are short-dated and separate from the periodic test calendar other cars see. NCTS says lead time for re-tests is usually under three days. If your centre shows nothing inside your deadline, try the next centre over; the re-test can be done at any centre, not only where the car failed.
nctalerts.ie handles re-test cars differently for the same reason: alerts for a car with an open fail follow that car's own re-test dates and stop at its re-test deadline, so you are never sent a date your car cannot book.
Before you go back
- Bring the Vehicle Inspection Report. The inspector re-checks the items listed on it.
- Fix everything on the list, minors included. NCTS will not issue the certificate until minor faults are repaired and re-inspected too.
- If the fail was headlamp aim (the most common failure item, about 5% of all tests in 2024), have a garage set the aim with the car loaded as it was on test day.
Frequently asked
Do I have to re-test at the same centre?
No. Any centre can do the re-test. Bring the Vehicle Inspection Report so the inspector knows what to check.
What if I miss the 30 days?
The re-test lapses. You book a new full test at €60 and go into the normal calendar. The clock cannot be extended by NCTS.
Can I drive the car after a major fail?
NCTS and Citizens Information do not give any special permission to drive after a fail. What they do say: the car must be kept roadworthy at all times, no certificate issues until it passes the re-inspection, and if your old certificate has already run out, driving without a valid one is an offence. After a dangerous result the car should not be used on the road under any circumstances.
Do I get the NCT certificate with minor faults?
Not straight away. A minor result is a pass with faults recorded, and NCTS says those faults must be repaired and the car presented for re-inspection before the certificate is issued.
Is a visual re-test really free?
Yes, where no test lane equipment is needed. NCTS lists wipers and registration plates as examples. Ring the centre for a good time to come in; opening hours vary and there are short closures at shift changes.
Sources
Read on 24 September 2026. Fees, deadlines and phone numbers above come from these pages.