Your NCT is due on the anniversary of the date your car was first registered. The first test is at four years old, then every two years, then every year once the car reaches ten. The quickest way to see your exact date is to type the registration into the free due-date check on this site, which gives the same answer as ncts.ie.
How often the NCT is, by age
- Under 4 years: no test needed.
- 4 to 10 years: every 2 years, at the 4th, 6th and 8th anniversary.
- 10 to 29 years: every year, starting with the 10th anniversary test.
- 30 to 39 years: every 2 years, if the car is not used for commercial purposes. A car used commercially, for example as a wedding hire car, stays on a yearly test.
- 40 years and over, or registered before 1 January 1980: exempt, unless used commercially. Citizens Information says a car over 40 used for something like wedding hire still needs a test.
So a car first registered on 15 May 2020 is due on 15 May 2024, 2026, 2028 and 2030, then every 15 May after that.
What moves the date, and what does not
Time off the road does not count. NCTS says periods of non-use are not relevant: the date stays tied to the registration anniversary. A late test does not move it either; the certificate still runs only to the next anniversary.
The one thing that does move it is a voluntary early test. Pass more than 90 days before the due date and the new certificate runs from the pass date, which becomes your new anniversary. Inside those 90 days the date stays where it was. Cars that got the four-month Covid extension also have an adjusted date, which ncts.ie already shows.
Imported cars and ex-taxis
- Imported before it was 4 years old: NCTS works out the due date from the date of import into Ireland.
- Imported at 4 years or older: it needs an NCT, and the due date is set from the day it presents and passes.
- From another EU country with a valid roadworthiness certificate: that certificate is recognised in Ireland until it expires. Pass the NCT before then.
- Previously a taxi or other public service vehicle: the due date is the day the current NCT on the car expires.
Which cars are exempt
Apart from cars over 40 (not used commercially), NCTS lists cars used only on islands with no road link to the mainland, and vehicles of the Armed Forces, An Garda Síochána and the Fire Service. Heavy and light goods vehicles are not tested at NCT centres at all; NCTS says they must go to an approved commercial vehicle test centre.
Once you know the date
You can book any time, but test inside the 90 days before the due date to keep the anniversary. That window is also the best time to set up cancellation alerts: nctalerts.ie watches up to five centres and emails you within a minute when a date before your deadline opens. If your date has already passed, read what to do when your NCT has expired.
Frequently asked
How do I check when my NCT is due?
Enter the registration in the free due-date check on this site or on ncts.ie. Both read the same NCTS record and show the due date and whether a certificate is in force.
How often is the NCT for a 10 year old car?
Every year. The test at the 10th anniversary gives a one-year certificate, and yearly tests continue until the car is 30.
Do cars over 30 years old need an NCT?
Yes, every two years if they are 30 to 39 and not used commercially. Used commercially, the test stays yearly.
Is a car over 40 exempt from the NCT?
Yes, if it is not used commercially. Citizens Information says a car over 40 that is used for commercial reasons, such as wedding hire, still needs a test.
Does my NCT due date change if the car was off the road?
No. NCTS says periods of non-use do not affect the due date. If the car was off the road or untaxed for more than three months, ring NCTS on 01 413 5992 before booking.
Sources
Read on 24 September 2026. Fees, deadlines and phone numbers above come from these pages.