All centres ranked, 2021
| # | Centre | County | Pass rate 2021 | Change on 2020 | Initial tests |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Portlaoise | Laois | 60.2% | +11.1 | 30,548 |
| 2 | Deansgrange | Dublin | 59.4% | +7.6 | 91,813 |
| 3 | Cork-Little Island | Cork | 58.8% | +4.9 | 61,117 |
| 4 | Kilkenny | Kilkenny | 58.6% | +13.4 | 31,110 |
| 5 | Abbeyfeale | Limerick | 58.3% | +13.7 | 15,926 |
| 6 | Ballinasloe | Galway | 58.3% | -2.5 | 14,889 |
| 7 | Tullamore | Offaly | 57.6% | +13.3 | 24,625 |
| 8 | Waterford | Waterford | 57.6% | +8.8 | 42,309 |
| 9 | Charleville | Cork | 57.1% | +14 | 17,135 |
| 10 | Killarney | Kerry | 57% | +4.2 | 20,650 |
| 11 | Tralee | Kerry | 56.7% | +14.1 | 23,489 |
| 12 | Cork-Blarney | Cork | 56.3% | +12.6 | 51,245 |
| 13 | Macroom | Cork | 55.6% | +15.4 | 15,929 |
| 14 | Nenagh | Tipperary | 55% | +15.3 | 24,048 |
| 15 | Athlone | Westmeath | 54.8% | -1.3 | 19,632 |
| 16 | Mullingar | Westmeath | 54.3% | +14.5 | 20,756 |
| 17 | Cahirciveen | Kerry | 54% | +10.7 | 3,236 |
| 18 | Limerick | Limerick | 53.8% | +8.1 | 52,375 |
| 19 | Youghal | Cork | 53.7% | +14.1 | 15,948 |
| 20 | Arklow | Wicklow | 53.4% | +17 | 29,237 |
| 21 | Kells | Meath | 53.3% | +13.1 | 28,651 |
| 22 | Westport | Mayo | 53.1% | +11.9 | 21,388 |
| 23 | Naas | Kildare | 52.9% | +13.8 | 55,319 |
| 24 | Drogheda | Louth | 52.8% | +14.9 | 36,503 |
| 25 | Cahir | Tipperary | 52.3% | +16 | 24,381 |
| 26 | Navan | Meath | 52.1% | — | 9,958 |
| 27 | Donegal Town | Donegal | 51.9% | +13 | 12,718 |
| 28 | Ennis | Clare | 51.6% | +12.8 | 31,500 |
| 29 | Northpoint 2 (Exit 4, M50) | Dublin | 51.4% | +1 | 81,540 |
| 30 | Dundalk | Louth | 51.3% | +13.1 | 19,121 |
| 31 | Greenhills (Exit 11, M50) | Dublin | 51.3% | +15 | 62,635 |
| 32 | Skibbereen | Cork | 51.2% | +4.6 | 17,735 |
| 33 | Galway | Galway | 50.5% | +4.7 | 47,993 |
| 34 | Carndonagh | Donegal | 50% | +18.2 | 7,713 |
| 35 | Sligo | Sligo | 49.1% | +12.5 | 21,239 |
| 36 | Letterkenny | Donegal | 49% | +0.6 | 19,309 |
| 37 | Longford | Longford | 48.7% | +11.6 | 12,862 |
| 38 | Northpoint 1 (Exit 4, M50) | Dublin | 48.5% | +8.2 | 55,025 |
| 39 | Tuam | Galway | 48.5% | — | 11,354 |
| 40 | Fonthill | Dublin | 47.9% | +5.6 | 82,684 |
| 41 | Ballina | Mayo | 47.6% | -3 | 17,875 |
| 42 | Enniscorthy | Wexford | 47.5% | +3 | 41,073 |
| 43 | Monaghan | Monaghan | 45.8% | +12.7 | 14,813 |
| 44 | Derrybeg | Donegal | 44.5% | +5.3 | 5,202 |
| 45 | Carrick-on-Shannon | Leitrim | 44.3% | +8.1 | 14,157 |
| 46 | Clifden | Galway | 44% | +9.6 | 5,290 |
| 47 | Carlow | Carlow | 41.5% | +12.2 | 24,647 |
| 48 | Cavan | Cavan | 41.1% | +13.1 | 15,460 |
| 49 | Castlerea | Roscommon | 38.1% | +6 | 13,956 |
The busiest centre was Deansgrange with 91,813 initial tests. The biggest improvement on 2020 was at Carndonagh (+18.2 points) and the biggest drop at Ballina (-3 points). In 2022 the national rate was 54.3%: see the 2022 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 2021?
52.8% of initial NCT tests were passes in 2021, across 1,418,118 tests at 49 centres (up 9.1 points on 2020).
Which NCT centre had the best pass rate in 2021?
Portlaoise (60.2%), followed by Deansgrange (59.4%) and Cork-Little Island (58.8%). The lowest was Castlerea (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 2021 (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.