The Road Safety Authority (RSA ) are reminding vehicle owners to take "year-round responsibility" for maintaining their cars rather than relying on the NCT to identify faults.
The NCT is designed to ensure vehicles are roadworthy and safe to use at the point in time which the test is taken. There was a total of 1.7 million vehicles tested in 2024, an increase of 144,000 vehicles from 2023.
"Maintaining your vehicle is a year-round responsibility," said Brendan Walsh, chief operations officer of the RSA.
"We use our vehicles for work and to transport our families, so ensuring our vehicles are maintained to a high standard should be a year-round focus not something to focus on only before your NCT," added Walsh.
In 2024, 7.4 per cent of vehicles tested received a 'Fail Dangerous' result. This is an increase from the 2023 figure of 6.9%.
"Regular upkeep ensures your car is safe, roadworthy, and operating efficiently at all times. Proactively addressing known issues before your test improves your chances of passing and helps the NCT system operate more efficiently, freeing up capacity for others," said Walsh.
Tyres are the leading cause of 'Fail Dangerous' results, often due to tread depths being below the legal limit of 1.6mm.
