Pádraig Mac Lochlainn (Donegal North East, Sinn Fein)
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635. To ask the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport if he will ensure that when a motorist avails of an early national car test appointment, as invited to do so in ongoing media advertisements, that the new certificate will be dated from the date the previous certificate was due to expire, rather than from when the car was tested. [40704/15]

Paschal Donohoe (Dublin Central, Fine Gael)
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​​The RSA has statutory responsibility for the NCT. There are two options available to motorists who wish to have their vehicles tested before their NCT due date. They may either have their vehicle tested up to 90 days in advance of their test due date without affecting the validity period of the test certificate issued or the next test due date. Alternatively, a vehicle may be submitted for voluntary early testing more than 90 days in advance of the test due date. Under this voluntary early testing option, depending on the age of the vehicle, that is whether the vehicle is subject to biennial or annual testing, the certificate issued will be valid for either two years or one year from the date of a successful test. 

The RSA informs me that the National Car Testing Service (NCTS) makes every effort to ensure that customers understand the implications involved in taking a voluntary early test. When such a test is booked online, the NCTS website clearly displays a message to this effect. NCTS call centre agents also provide this information to customers. Additionally, the Voluntary Early Test letters issued by the NCTS to customers clearly states that availing of the option to test early is completely voluntary and asks customers to note that their test due date for future years will be reset to the date their vehicle passes. 

With the vast majority of vehicles registered in the first half of the year, traditionally this has proved to be a particularly busy period for the NCTS. Enabling motorists to opt for early testing is a demand levelling measure which assists in spreading demand for tests more evenly across the year.