Have your car emptied of everything inside, out of manners alone the car should be clean. My sister failed hers because of dog hair and had to reschedule the test for another day. I took a look at hers before the test, told her about the smell of dogs from it but she never got the smell at all, didn't put in any fragrance or fabreze, but the car wasn't in any way dirty. I just wonder was it the smell that failed the test?
Key Post Pre-NCT tips and FAQ
- Thread starter Sue Ellen
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Brendan Burgess
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Can anyone tell dumb Sue Ellen how to do this
That's a big change over the years! You have found out how to clean the undercarriage.
Brendan
RetirementPlan
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I've never been asked for the Vehicle Registration Certificate. Do you really need to bring this? Not sure where it would be, tbh.
I was once, but only because the VIN on the chassis didn't match their records.
Its quite an important document to have misplaced, surely its needed for eventual sale of car.
I always keep my VRC in the file with the insurance documents but I spent 2 hrs yday looking for a VRC for a car I am scrapping, I cannot believe that I cannot find it as my filing is system is good, or was anyway! So annoyed that I will have to get a replacement one costing 12 quid just to be destroyed and that's not even the biggest nuisance, garda has to sign form and I have to send off cheque or postal order with it! The cost and hassle of getting draft/postal order, surely in this day and age there should be an online option.
Anyway I have never been asked for VRC other than when I brought someone else's car for NCT, it's like once it's your own car they don't bother but if someone elses it's another check I presume.
Anyway I have never been asked for VRC other than when I brought someone else's car for NCT, it's like once it's your own car they don't bother but if someone elses it's another check I presume.
RetirementPlan
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Yes, it is indeed important. I don't remember it being a big issue last time, when I was trading in rather than selling.
Anyway, I don't have any short term plans for changing, so I'll see if it appears in the meantime.
Brendan Burgess
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I have added this to the list
- Your glove compartment is unlocked & clear of personal belongings, this is to allow for OBD (On board diagnostic) testing
Might be worth checking the port location prior to this. On my last two cars the port was by the base of the steering column.
Yes, its location varies but is usually in the glove box or somewhere in the driver's or front passenger's foot well.
I normally clear the car of all personal possessions just to be polite and on the safe side. And the spare wheel in the boot just in case that might become a potential point of failure.
I normally clear the car of all personal possessions just to be polite and on the safe side. And the spare wheel in the boot just in case that might become a potential point of failure.
They only check the condition of the spare if fitted. It's not required to have one and many new cars don't come with one so they can save the cost and weight for emissions testing. You could remove it altogether but then Sod's law would see you get a puncture on the way to the testAnd the spare wheel in the boot just in case that might become a potential point of failure.
You mean installed on one of the four wheels? That's not what I read before somewhere. I understood that if it's on the car then they check it.
Edit: ok, I guess that I was mistaken. Although I'm not sure about the second bullet point. From the current NCT manual...
I still take my spare out because I'm not sure if it's supposed to be bolted/screwed into the boot well. Anyway, one less chance for them to raise issues.
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Yeah, I meant that if it's not in the car they can't raise any issues. I'd assume the second bullet means they can't fail such a spare for failing to meet the full load characteristics of the vehicle.
Des Pondent
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I don't know either, but it should be bolted / screwed. The spare wheel unsecured could be lethal in an accident.
My car, like many today, only comes with a fairly useless inflation kit. I bought a spare wheel and the bolt to secure it in the boot.
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Good to see this being highlighted. I brought my car to the NCT yesterday and only noticed this new requirement at the last minute. Luckily I had time to clear it out before the test.
OBD testing by the NCT was introduced in 2021.
www.rsa.ie
Changes to NCT Service
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Same here, never clear out my glove box but then my OBD is under the steering wheel, maybe yours is not in the glove box
I've never unscrewed or if I'm honest checked my spare in years and it's never been a problem but I presume there's always a first time
I've watched as they tested a few times and while I've seen them checking in the boot, I've never seen them remove a spare and check it over. I'm guessing they just give it a quick visual and assume if the visible area suggests it hasn't been used they just move on.