NCT due but appointment only available in 3 weeks

My NCT is due in two days but the earliest appoinment I could book is in 3 weeks.

Does this mean i cannot drive my car until after the appoinment or can I drive it on basis that appoinment is made and i have opted onto the "priority list"? I have an email re this.

Thanks.

National Car Test (NCT)

It is an offence to drive a vehicle in a public place without a current NCT certificate. This applies to vehicles from the fourth anniversary of their first registration. The initial fixed charge amount is €60 (increasing to €90 if you do not pay within 28 days) and you will also get 3 penalty points. 5 penalty points and a more significant fine and/or imprisonment can be imposed if it goes to court because of non-payment.

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I drive it once I have the booking email in the glovebox.
If you keep check on the website in the mornings about 9/10am and in the evening too.
I booked mine at the start of June and the earliest available was August but managed to get a cancellation for the same week.

My understand is the powers that be will turn a blind eye to it once you have an appointment booked once it's relatively close to the expiry of your cert
I've done it a couple of times myself but in recent times I make sure to book well in advance now just in case that understanding changes

Depends on the humour of the garda you meet on the day I'd say! If you are flexible it's pretty easy get a last minute appointment, I'm lucky as I live a stone's throw from the centre so always manage to get one quickly.

@ArthurMcB You wont have any problem if you can show you have an appointment or waiting for one.
Mine was in February and I could not go that day so they pushed it until June themselves! They never said to me I could not drive mean time.
There is no issue if you can show that your booking is in process coz they know of the delays themselves.
Don't worry. Not your fault if they do not have capacity for that particular centre.

If you cannot make your appointment or you think it is too late, you can add your booking in the priority list as you have done it. They are very fast in giving you a new one. They always keep spaces for those that need to redo the NCT as it needs to be done before a month expires.
Good Luck with it!

VInterested said:

They never said to me I could not drive mean time.

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It's not up to them to tell you that it's an offence to drive without an valid NCT.