Pass rate by make
| Make | Initial tests | Pass rate |
|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen | 231,807 | 49.5% |
| Toyota | 227,840 | 50.6% |
| Ford | 174,701 | 45.1% |
| Nissan | 116,484 | 44.4% |
| Audi | 108,134 | 54.1% |
| Hyundai | 101,155 | 51.6% |
| BMW | 93,340 | 53.4% |
| Škoda | 80,400 | 56.5% |
| Renault | 68,249 | 43.6% |
| Mercedes-Benz | 64,690 | 53.5% |
| Kia | 58,797 | 51% |
| Peugeot | 57,456 | 44.7% |
| Opel | 54,979 | 47.7% |
| Honda | 42,919 | 49.5% |
| SEAT | 31,290 | 53.3% |
| Mazda | 26,685 | 49.4% |
| Volvo | 26,047 | 51.5% |
| Citroën | 23,041 | 37.3% |
| Vauxhall | 21,987 | 36.9% |
| Suzuki | 18,682 | 49.8% |
| Dacia | 17,042 | 44.9% |
| Fiat | 13,292 | 43.5% |
| Mini | 12,361 | 52% |
| Mitsubishi | 12,299 | 44.9% |
| Lexus | 10,583 | 59.2% |
| Land Rover | 10,499 | 55.5% |
| Jaguar | 5,355 | 49.2% |
| Saab | 2,414 | 37.1% |
| Subaru | 2,371 | 41.3% |
| Tesla | 1,838 | 45.4% |
| Alfa Romeo | 1,617 | 43% |
| Chevrolet | 1,361 | 25.7% |
| Porsche | 1,318 | 61.1% |
| MG | 1,072 | 74.6% |
Best-performing models (5,000+ tests)
- Toyota C-HR: 80%
- Škoda Kodiaq: 77%
- Hyundai Kona: 74.1%
- Hyundai Tucson: 69.4%
- Volkswagen Tiguan: 67.3%
- Toyota RAV 4: 66.8%
- Ford Kuga: 64.5%
- Audi A1: 62.5%
- Land Rover Range Rover: 60.4%
- Renault Captur: 60.2%
Lowest pass rates (5,000+ tests)
- Peugeot 207: 32.5%
- Citroën C4: 32.9%
- Renault Fluence: 35.2%
- Volkswagen Jetta: 36.4%
- Hyundai Santa FE: 36.4%
- Vauxhall Insignia: 36.5%
- Ford S-max: 37.3%
- Hyundai IX35: 38.3%
- Peugeot 308: 38.4%
- Vauxhall Astra: 38.4%
Models with low pass rates are mostly older cars still on the road in large numbers. A well-maintained car of any make can pass first time.
Frequently asked questions
Which car make has the best NCT pass rate?
Among makes with at least 5,000 tests in 2025, Lexus had the highest first-time pass rate (59.2%). Makes with younger fleets do better, so age matters as much as brand.
Where does this data come from?
From the Road Safety Authority (RSA) 2025 Make and Model Data, which covers initial NCT tests only. Small groups are excluded for data protection.
What is the overall NCT pass rate?
49.3% of cars passed the full NCT at the first attempt in 2025, across the make and model data.
Related guides
Pass rate by car age
How much age matters.
Most common fail reasons
Where cars fail.
Pass rates by centre
All 50 centres.
Sources: RSA NCT statistics. NCT Centres is independent and not affiliated with the NCTS or the RSA. Fees and rules can change: confirm on ncts.ie before you book.