All centres ranked, 2016
| # | Centre | County | Pass rate 2016 | Change on 2015 | Initial tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kilkenny | Kilkenny | 55% | -0.3 | 28,712 |
| 2 | Killarney | Kerry | 54.1% | -1.9 | 20,023 |
| 3 | Portlaoise | Laois | 53.9% | -1.1 | 25,104 |
| 4 | Deansgrange | Dublin | 53.7% | -0.3 | 99,145 |
| 5 | Abbeyfeale | Limerick | 53.4% | +1.5 | 16,330 |
| 6 | Ballinasloe | Galway | 52.8% | +1.5 | 15,329 |
| 7 | Tralee | Kerry | 52.2% | -4 | 23,307 |
| 8 | Tullamore | Offaly | 51.9% | -0.2 | 22,488 |
| 9 | Carndonagh | Donegal | 51.6% | +3.5 | 7,195 |
| 10 | Macroom | Cork | 51.2% | -1.7 | 16,810 |
| 11 | Cahirciveen | Kerry | 50.9% | +0.4 | 3,598 |
| 12 | Cork-Little Island | Cork | 50.8% | -1.2 | 69,959 |
| 13 | Drogheda | Louth | 50.1% | -0.8 | 38,126 |
| 14 | Donegal Town | Donegal | 49.5% | -0.7 | 11,128 |
| 15 | Charleville | Cork | 49.3% | +1.8 | 17,728 |
| 16 | Waterford | Waterford | 48.9% | -2.2 | 39,798 |
| 17 | Nenagh | Tipperary | 48.5% | +1 | 24,869 |
| 18 | Cahir | Tipperary | 48% | -1.6 | 30,694 |
| 19 | Westport | Mayo | 47.5% | -1.3 | 22,066 |
| 20 | Youghal | Cork | 47.3% | -0.8 | 16,467 |
| 21 | Skibbereen | Cork | 47.1% | -0.1 | 16,474 |
| 22 | Limerick | Limerick | 46.3% | -1.6 | 55,202 |
| 23 | Cork-Blarney | Cork | 45.9% | -0.6 | 44,721 |
| 24 | Kells | Meath | 45.9% | 0 | 33,984 |
| 25 | Athlone | Westmeath | 45.8% | -3 | 19,031 |
| 26 | Galway | Galway | 45.7% | +0.8 | 59,882 |
| 27 | Greenhills (Exit 11, M50) | Dublin | 45.7% | -1.9 | 64,046 |
| 28 | Letterkenny | Donegal | 45.6% | +1.7 | 22,204 |
| 29 | Sligo | Sligo | 45.4% | 0 | 20,267 |
| 30 | Ennis | Clare | 45.3% | -0.7 | 32,704 |
| 31 | Enniscorthy | Wexford | 45.2% | -1.6 | 38,155 |
| 32 | Ballina | Mayo | 45.1% | -2.1 | 17,909 |
| 33 | Northpoint 1 (Exit 4, M50) | Dublin | 45.1% | -0.8 | 63,157 |
| 34 | Northpoint 2 (Exit 4, M50) | Dublin | 45.1% | -1.5 | 98,051 |
| 35 | Arklow | Wicklow | 44.8% | -4.2 | 28,496 |
| 36 | Dundalk | Louth | 44.6% | -0.7 | 22,534 |
| 37 | Carrick-on-Shannon | Leitrim | 44.4% | -1.3 | 13,208 |
| 38 | Mullingar | Westmeath | 44.3% | -0.4 | 19,855 |
| 39 | Naas | Kildare | 44.3% | -1.4 | 49,955 |
| 40 | Castlerea | Roscommon | 44.2% | -1.2 | 14,940 |
| 41 | Fonthill | Dublin | 43.2% | -1.3 | 97,972 |
| 42 | Carlow | Carlow | 43% | -1.9 | 28,966 |
| 43 | Cavan | Cavan | 42.6% | -0.2 | 15,978 |
| 44 | Derrybeg | Donegal | 42.1% | -0.7 | 5,792 |
| 45 | Longford | Longford | 41.4% | -0.1 | 14,691 |
| 46 | Monaghan | Monaghan | 38% | +0.9 | 14,135 |
| 47 | Clifden | Galway | 37.8% | +1.6 | 4,517 |
The busiest centre was Deansgrange with 99,145 initial tests. The biggest improvement on 2015 was at Carndonagh (+3.5 points) and the biggest drop at Arklow (-4.2 points). In 2017 the national rate was 48.5%: see the 2017 ranking.
Pass rate = cars that passed at the initial test divided by initial tests, from the table by centre in the NCTS annual review. From 2018, "pass pending recheck" (minor items fixed without a retest) counts as a pass, as in the RSA open data. Retests are excluded.
Frequently asked questions
What was the NCT pass rate in 2016?
47.2% of initial NCT tests were passes in 2016, across 1,465,702 tests at 47 centres (down 0.9 points on 2015).
Which NCT centre had the best pass rate in 2016?
Kilkenny (55%), followed by Killarney (54.1%) and Portlaoise (53.9%). The lowest was Clifden (37.8%).
Related guides
Pass rates by car
Make and model, 2025.
Fail reasons
What fails most.
All centres
Addresses, map and hours.
Sources: NCTS annual review 2016 (table by centre). 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.