All centres ranked, 2019
| # | Centre | County | Pass rate 2019 | Change on 2018 | Initial tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portlaoise | Laois | 59% | +2.7 | 25,161 |
| 2 | Ballinasloe | Galway | 58.1% | +5 | 16,736 |
| 3 | Deansgrange | Dublin | 57.7% | +0.4 | 99,265 |
| 4 | Kilkenny | Kilkenny | 57% | -1 | 28,667 |
| 5 | Tullamore | Offaly | 55.4% | +1.9 | 20,586 |
| 6 | Killarney | Kerry | 54.7% | +1.3 | 19,316 |
| 7 | Abbeyfeale | Limerick | 54.3% | -0.8 | 15,813 |
| 8 | Charleville | Cork | 53.8% | +3.8 | 16,667 |
| 9 | Cork-Little Island | Cork | 53.7% | +1.7 | 63,669 |
| 10 | Waterford | Waterford | 53.3% | -0.1 | 37,558 |
| 11 | Cahirciveen | Kerry | 53.2% | +2.2 | 3,199 |
| 12 | Westport | Mayo | 52.7% | +3 | 20,678 |
| 13 | Tralee | Kerry | 52.2% | 0 | 21,650 |
| 14 | Mullingar | Westmeath | 51.5% | +3.1 | 20,127 |
| 15 | Arklow | Wicklow | 51.1% | +1.9 | 27,105 |
| 16 | Macroom | Cork | 51% | -0.1 | 16,360 |
| 17 | Youghal | Cork | 50.9% | +0.4 | 15,992 |
| 18 | Galway | Galway | 50.7% | +1.2 | 55,075 |
| 19 | Greenhills (Exit 11, M50) | Dublin | 50.4% | +2.5 | 64,143 |
| 20 | Kells | Meath | 50% | +1.2 | 34,650 |
| 21 | Naas | Kildare | 50% | +0.8 | 44,985 |
| 22 | Limerick | Limerick | 49.9% | +0.5 | 48,879 |
| 23 | Ennis | Clare | 49.8% | +1.4 | 29,484 |
| 24 | Athlone | Westmeath | 49.3% | +2 | 18,279 |
| 25 | Cahir | Tipperary | 49.3% | +3.1 | 28,558 |
| 26 | Cork-Blarney | Cork | 49.2% | +0.6 | 42,815 |
| 27 | Carndonagh | Donegal | 49% | -3 | 7,225 |
| 28 | Drogheda | Louth | 49% | +0.5 | 38,968 |
| 29 | Dundalk | Louth | 48.9% | 0 | 21,985 |
| 30 | Letterkenny | Donegal | 48.9% | +1.4 | 21,036 |
| 31 | Nenagh | Tipperary | 48.8% | +0.7 | 22,433 |
| 32 | Ballina | Mayo | 48.5% | +0.5 | 17,175 |
| 33 | Donegal Town | Donegal | 48.4% | -1.9 | 11,168 |
| 34 | Longford | Longford | 48.1% | +1.2 | 14,399 |
| 35 | Northpoint 2 (Exit 4, M50) | Dublin | 47.9% | +0.2 | 85,921 |
| 36 | Sligo | Sligo | 47.7% | -0.1 | 18,935 |
| 37 | Enniscorthy | Wexford | 45.6% | -3.2 | 36,821 |
| 38 | Fonthill | Dublin | 45.2% | +1.6 | 91,038 |
| 39 | Northpoint 1 (Exit 4, M50) | Dublin | 45.2% | -1.2 | 59,119 |
| 40 | Skibbereen | Cork | 44.9% | -0.5 | 15,970 |
| 41 | Carrick-on-Shannon | Leitrim | 44.2% | +1.5 | 12,987 |
| 42 | Derrybeg | Donegal | 43.5% | +0.4 | 5,452 |
| 43 | Monaghan | Monaghan | 43.1% | +1.6 | 13,886 |
| 44 | Clifden | Galway | 42.8% | +0.8 | 4,355 |
| 45 | Cavan | Cavan | 40.6% | +0.1 | 14,946 |
| 46 | Castlerea | Roscommon | 38.5% | -1.9 | 14,563 |
| 47 | Carlow | Carlow | 38.1% | -4.5 | 26,787 |
The busiest centre was Deansgrange with 99,265 initial tests. The biggest improvement on 2018 was at Ballinasloe (+5 points) and the biggest drop at Carlow (-4.5 points). In 2020 the national rate was 43.7%: see the 2020 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 2019?
50% of initial NCT tests were passes in 2019, across 1,390,586 tests at 47 centres (up 0.8 points on 2018).
Which NCT centre had the best pass rate in 2019?
Portlaoise (59%), followed by Ballinasloe (58.1%) and Deansgrange (57.7%). The lowest was Carlow (38.1%).
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 2019 (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.