All centres ranked, 2018
| # | Centre | County | Pass rate 2018 | Change on 2017 | Initial tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Kilkenny | Kilkenny | 58% | +1.4 | 26,582 |
| 2 | Deansgrange | Dublin | 57.3% | +2 | 90,211 |
| 3 | Portlaoise | Laois | 56.3% | +2.1 | 23,785 |
| 4 | Abbeyfeale | Limerick | 55.1% | -0.1 | 15,338 |
| 5 | Tullamore | Offaly | 53.5% | +2.4 | 20,007 |
| 6 | Killarney | Kerry | 53.4% | -0.3 | 18,334 |
| 7 | Waterford | Waterford | 53.4% | +2.1 | 37,335 |
| 8 | Ballinasloe | Galway | 53.1% | -0.2 | 15,788 |
| 9 | Tralee | Kerry | 52.2% | -0.2 | 20,919 |
| 10 | Carndonagh | Donegal | 52% | +1.7 | 6,732 |
| 11 | Cork-Little Island | Cork | 52% | +0.1 | 63,918 |
| 12 | Macroom | Cork | 51.1% | -1.9 | 16,074 |
| 13 | Cahirciveen | Kerry | 51% | -0.8 | 3,245 |
| 14 | Youghal | Cork | 50.5% | +2.4 | 15,538 |
| 15 | Donegal Town | Donegal | 50.3% | +4.3 | 10,867 |
| 16 | Charleville | Cork | 50% | -3.1 | 16,490 |
| 17 | Westport | Mayo | 49.7% | +0.7 | 19,732 |
| 18 | Galway | Galway | 49.5% | +1.8 | 53,535 |
| 19 | Limerick | Limerick | 49.4% | +0.3 | 49,488 |
| 20 | Arklow | Wicklow | 49.2% | +2.7 | 26,613 |
| 21 | Naas | Kildare | 49.2% | +2.1 | 42,682 |
| 22 | Dundalk | Louth | 48.9% | +2.5 | 21,143 |
| 23 | Enniscorthy | Wexford | 48.8% | +1.6 | 35,533 |
| 24 | Kells | Meath | 48.8% | +0.9 | 32,431 |
| 25 | Cork-Blarney | Cork | 48.6% | +0.1 | 42,378 |
| 26 | Drogheda | Louth | 48.5% | -1.4 | 35,731 |
| 27 | Ennis | Clare | 48.4% | +2.2 | 30,268 |
| 28 | Mullingar | Westmeath | 48.4% | +4 | 19,384 |
| 29 | Nenagh | Tipperary | 48.1% | -1.3 | 22,723 |
| 30 | Ballina | Mayo | 48% | +1.9 | 17,031 |
| 31 | Greenhills (Exit 11, M50) | Dublin | 47.9% | +1.6 | 63,164 |
| 32 | Sligo | Sligo | 47.8% | +1.4 | 18,774 |
| 33 | Northpoint 2 (Exit 4, M50) | Dublin | 47.7% | +0.7 | 84,581 |
| 34 | Letterkenny | Donegal | 47.5% | +0.8 | 20,122 |
| 35 | Athlone | Westmeath | 47.3% | +2.9 | 18,167 |
| 36 | Longford | Longford | 46.9% | +4.6 | 14,036 |
| 37 | Northpoint 1 (Exit 4, M50) | Dublin | 46.4% | 0 | 58,757 |
| 38 | Cahir | Tipperary | 46.2% | 0 | 28,390 |
| 39 | Skibbereen | Cork | 45.4% | -4.2 | 15,562 |
| 40 | Fonthill | Dublin | 43.6% | -0.8 | 82,234 |
| 41 | Derrybeg | Donegal | 43.1% | -1.5 | 5,272 |
| 42 | Carrick-on-Shannon | Leitrim | 42.7% | -4.7 | 12,562 |
| 43 | Carlow | Carlow | 42.6% | -2.5 | 25,924 |
| 44 | Clifden | Galway | 42% | +1.1 | 4,222 |
| 45 | Monaghan | Monaghan | 41.5% | +4 | 13,174 |
| 46 | Cavan | Cavan | 40.5% | -2 | 15,072 |
| 47 | Castlerea | Roscommon | 40.4% | -4.7 | 13,912 |
The busiest centre was Deansgrange with 90,211 initial tests. The biggest improvement on 2017 was at Longford (+4.6 points) and the biggest drop at Castlerea (-4.7 points). In 2019 the national rate was 50%: see the 2019 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 2018?
49.2% of initial NCT tests were passes in 2018, across 1,343,760 tests at 47 centres (up 0.7 points on 2017).
Which NCT centre had the best pass rate in 2018?
Kilkenny (58%), followed by Deansgrange (57.3%) and Portlaoise (56.3%). The lowest was Castlerea (40.4%).
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 2018 (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.