RECENT CHANGES to the NCT have led to some motorists failing. The main issue is a new requirement that tyres carry an E mark showing they conform to EU standards. Cars automatically fail if their tyres do not carry the mark.
Applus+, the company that took over the contact for the NCT in January, ahead of the April 1st changes, said there have been few difficulties with the changeover.
The lack of the mark will result in what the spokeswoman termed a “visual failure”, meaning that cars that fail on this issue alone will not have to pay for a retest. However, such drivers will need to spend for up to five new tyres (four plus a spare), and will fail if even one tyre does not carry the mark.
Brendan Byrnes, of Byrnes Tyres in Oranmore in Galway, says that, while garages and dealerships should now only be selling E mark tyres, that this is not necessarily the case.
“People in the motor industry would have known about this change for ages,” he said, and advised anyone who had bought tyres since January to go back to where they bought them to ask for a discount.
Tristan Wheeler, the deputy editor of Modified Motors magazine says that changes will especially affect people with imported Japanese cars, which do not have E mark tyres as standard.
However, David Byrne, the managing director of Merlin Car Auctions, which imports Japanese cars for auction here, says the changes will not affect business. The cars his company imports are smaller, low-cost vehicles, and he does not believe that this new NCT stipulation will put off buyers.
“The cost of buying four new tyres for a small engine car like that, you’re talking €35 per tyre on top of the purchase price. I don’t think that would stop me buying a Japanese car.”
He added that the company’s staff would be informing customers of the new requirement.
Other NCT changes that came into effect on April 1st will affect fewer motorists. For example, cars that emit noise of over 99 decibels will no longer pass.
“There will be some people affected but it will be a minority, and it will be the boy racer brigade and not the dedicated modified car enthusiast,” according to Wheeler.
Another new stipulation is that vehicles with heavily tinted windscreens or front-side windows, specifically those with a light transmission level of less than 65 per cent, will now fail the NCT.
The Applus+ spokeswoman said the only vehicles likely to be affected by this rule are limousines – most cars will not be affected.
Other changes to the NCT that came into effect on April 1st:
– Cars that are fitted with rear fog lamps will be checked to ensure a red light is clearly visible.
– Reverse lights will be checked to ensure white lights are clearly visible.
– Warning lights for air bags, electronic and anti-lock braking systems and electronic stability control will be checked, and the car will fail if a malfunction indicator is not working or indicates a system defect.
– Rear registration plate lamps will be tested. If it is not in working order a “fail advisory” will result – however, the car will not fail the test on this alone.