NCT attitude to cracks in lights

[Brendan Burgess]

My car is 21 years old and the mechanic told me not to bother with a pre-NCT service as it's better to get a list of things to fix.

As both rear lights are cracked in a few places, he said that it would probably fail. That they have got stricter on this recently.

But I am just back with my lovely new NCT certificate.

I asked the tester - after I got the all clear - and he said that they don't mind cracks but will fail the car if there is a hole in the covering.

I had the car valeted on Monday and it must make a difference for the tester to sit into a clean, nice smelling car.

 

[getting_on]

That car owes you absolutely NOTHING!

 

[ClubMan]

https://www.rsa.ie/docs/default-source/road-safety/nct/national-car-test-(nct)-manual-2023.pdf

I guess that they decided that they weren't "badly cracked" whatever that means exactly.

 

[mathepac]

Congratulations Brendan! Mine is 18 since last August and the scheduled oil & filter service fell due a few days before the NCT last Sunday. The mechanic replaced the driver's side wiper-blade, the only extra he spotted. I got that done in preparation for winter and on Saturday I scooted around the interior with the Dyson and washed the windscreen and back window - saloon no rear wash-wipe. Nice crispy PASS cert after 20/25 minute exam. €160 spent all told, good for another 12 months.

 

[Sue Ellen]

I had the car valeted on Monday and it must make a difference for the tester to sit into a clean, nice smelling car.

This is something that I have encouraged for many years for people going to get their test done especially using a car wash that cleans the underside of the car. It is usually the most expensive of the car washes but it has to make a difference to testers.

the mechanic told me not to bother with a pre-NCT service as it's better to get a list of things to fix

Another thing that I would encourage people to do. My late father always went for a pre-test and many times afterwards it failed or had to go for a re-test. Let them give you a list of the necessary repairs and bring that along to your garage. IMHO the pre-test is a waste of money.