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Motorists rush to avoid fixed NCT penalty points 28.10.14

DONEGAL motorists have been urged to get their cars tested soon to avoid new on-the-spot fines and penalty points for not having a valid NCT disc.
A major rush on NCT centres is expected as new rules, to be introduced in early December, see three penalty points imposed on drivers' licences for expired and invalid NCTs.
Previously, NCT offences were dealt with through the district courts. But the new legislation will allow gardaí to impose fixed charge notices including three penalty points and a fine for such breaches.
National Car Test operators, Applus, have now advised people with overdue or soon-to-expire discs to get their cars tested without delay.
"The penalty points system is changing. From early December 2014 driving a vehicle without a valid NCT will be a fixed charge offence attracting three penalty points," the company said in a statement.
"You can have your vehicle tested 90 days before your test due date without affecting when your NCT would normally expire.
"You can also opt for a Voluntary Early Test (and) get your vehicle tested more than 90 days in advance of the due date and get a certificate for one or two years from the date of the successful test, depending on the age of vehicle," Applus added.
Some 1,058,811 vehicles were tested at NCT centres nationally from January to the end of last month.
Of those, 541,333 (51.1%) failed while 513,620 (48.5%) passed the roadworthiness test.
A worrying 3,858 cars were deemed too dangerous to drive away from the NCT centre.
Meanwhile, of the 533,108 vehicles that underwent a re-test, slightly over 91% passed while almost 9% failed second time around.
A total of 657 vehicles were still deemed too dangerous to drive following the re-test.
Cars going through the NCT this year carry the registrations 2010, 2008, 2006, 2004 and older.
This year's figures to date continue the rising trend in the number of older cars presented for testing in the downturn.
Almost 500,000 more cars were put through the NCT in 2013 compared to at the height of the boom in 2007. However, consumer confidence appears to be returning with the Society of the Irish Motor Industry predicting new vehicle sales of potentially 120,000 in 2015.
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