All centres ranked, 2020
| # | Centre | County | Pass rate 2020 | Change on 2019 | Initial tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ballinasloe | Galway | 60.8% | +2.7 | 12,177 |
| 2 | Athlone | Westmeath | 56.1% | +6.8 | 15,834 |
| 3 | Cork-Little Island | Cork | 53.9% | +0.2 | 47,691 |
| 4 | Killarney | Kerry | 52.8% | -1.9 | 14,864 |
| 5 | Deansgrange | Dublin | 51.8% | -5.9 | 69,550 |
| 6 | Ballina | Mayo | 50.6% | +2.1 | 14,571 |
| 7 | Northpoint 2 (Exit 4, M50) | Dublin | 50.4% | +2.5 | 59,533 |
| 8 | Portlaoise | Laois | 49.1% | -9.9 | 18,233 |
| 9 | Waterford | Waterford | 48.8% | -4.5 | 27,184 |
| 10 | Letterkenny | Donegal | 48.4% | -0.5 | 17,103 |
| 11 | Skibbereen | Cork | 46.6% | +1.7 | 12,945 |
| 12 | Galway | Galway | 45.8% | -4.9 | 38,680 |
| 13 | Limerick | Limerick | 45.7% | -4.2 | 41,388 |
| 14 | Kilkenny | Kilkenny | 45.2% | -11.8 | 19,220 |
| 15 | Abbeyfeale | Limerick | 44.6% | -9.7 | 11,464 |
| 16 | Enniscorthy | Wexford | 44.5% | -1.1 | 26,666 |
| 17 | Tullamore | Offaly | 44.3% | -11.1 | 14,980 |
| 18 | Cork-Blarney | Cork | 43.7% | -5.5 | 38,104 |
| 19 | Cahirciveen | Kerry | 43.3% | -9.9 | 2,120 |
| 20 | Charleville | Cork | 43.1% | -10.7 | 11,378 |
| 21 | Tralee | Kerry | 42.6% | -9.6 | 17,177 |
| 22 | Fonthill | Dublin | 42.3% | -2.9 | 61,396 |
| 23 | Westport | Mayo | 41.2% | -11.5 | 14,355 |
| 24 | Northpoint 1 (Exit 4, M50) | Dublin | 40.3% | -4.9 | 42,095 |
| 25 | Kells | Meath | 40.2% | -9.8 | 23,071 |
| 26 | Macroom | Cork | 40.2% | -10.8 | 11,263 |
| 27 | Mullingar | Westmeath | 39.8% | -11.7 | 13,919 |
| 28 | Nenagh | Tipperary | 39.7% | -9.1 | 16,906 |
| 29 | Youghal | Cork | 39.6% | -11.3 | 11,524 |
| 30 | Derrybeg | Donegal | 39.2% | -4.3 | 4,690 |
| 31 | Naas | Kildare | 39.1% | -10.9 | 36,357 |
| 32 | Donegal Town | Donegal | 38.9% | -9.5 | 7,722 |
| 33 | Ennis | Clare | 38.8% | -11 | 22,732 |
| 34 | Dundalk | Louth | 38.2% | -10.7 | 15,303 |
| 35 | Drogheda | Louth | 37.9% | -11.1 | 26,664 |
| 36 | Longford | Longford | 37.1% | -11 | 9,119 |
| 37 | Sligo | Sligo | 36.6% | -11.1 | 12,582 |
| 38 | Arklow | Wicklow | 36.4% | -14.7 | 19,123 |
| 39 | Cahir | Tipperary | 36.3% | -13 | 19,148 |
| 40 | Greenhills (Exit 11, M50) | Dublin | 36.3% | -14.1 | 41,883 |
| 41 | Carrick-on-Shannon | Leitrim | 36.2% | -8 | 9,448 |
| 42 | Clifden | Galway | 34.4% | -8.4 | 3,231 |
| 43 | Monaghan | Monaghan | 33.1% | -10 | 9,085 |
| 44 | Castlerea | Roscommon | 32.1% | -6.4 | 10,219 |
| 45 | Carndonagh | Donegal | 31.8% | -17.2 | 4,670 |
| 46 | Carlow | Carlow | 29.3% | -8.8 | 19,790 |
| 47 | Cavan | Cavan | 28% | -12.6 | 9,824 |
The busiest centre was Deansgrange with 69,550 initial tests. The biggest improvement on 2019 was at Athlone (+6.8 points) and the biggest drop at Carndonagh (-17.2 points). In 2021 the national rate was 52.8%: see the 2021 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 2020?
43.7% of initial NCT tests were passes in 2020, across 1,006,981 tests at 47 centres (down 6.3 points on 2019).
Which NCT centre had the best pass rate in 2020?
Ballinasloe (60.8%), followed by Athlone (56.1%) and Cork-Little Island (53.9%). The lowest was Cavan (28%).
Why was the pass rate so low in 2020?
NCT testing was suspended for several weeks during the 2020 Covid-19 restrictions, which disrupted the usual flow of cars through the centres. Treat 2020 as an outlier when comparing years.
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 2020 (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.