NCT Waiting Times by Centre (September 2026)

All centres, shortest wait first

#	Centre	County	1st free slot	2nd free slot
1	NCT Enniscorthy	Wexford	7.3 days	8.6 days
2	NCT Cork-Little Island	Cork	7.8 days	9.3 days
3	NCT Waterford	Waterford	7.9 days	9.5 days
4	NCT Youghal	Cork	8.0 days	9.7 days
5	NCT Cork-Blarney	Cork	8.6 days	9.9 days
6	NCT Charleville	Cork	8.7 days	9.9 days
7	NCT Macroom	Cork	8.8 days	10.0 days
8	NCT Abbeyfeale	Limerick	8.9 days	10.6 days
9	NCT Killarney	Kerry	9.1 days	10.1 days
10	NCT Castleisland	Kerry	9.4 days	10.3 days
11	NCT Dundalk	Louth	9.4 days	10.9 days
12	NCT Carlow	Carlow	9.4 days	11.3 days
13	NCT Limerick	Limerick	9.7 days	11.3 days
14	NCT Deansgrange	Dublin	9.7 days	11.8 days
15	NCT Kilkenny	Kilkenny	9.8 days	11.1 days
16	NCT Northpoint 1 (Exit 4, M50)	Dublin	9.8 days	12.1 days
17	NCT Derrybeg	Donegal	9.8 days	10.8 days
18	NCT Tralee	Kerry	9.9 days	11.2 days
19	NCT Cavan	Cavan	9.9 days	11.0 days
20	NCT Arklow	Wicklow	10.0 days	12.2 days
21	NCT Skibbereen	Cork	10.4 days	12.4 days
22	NCT Northpoint 2 (Exit 4, M50)	Dublin	10.6 days	13.0 days
23	NCT Monaghan	Monaghan	11.0 days	12.9 days
24	NCT Donegal Town	Donegal	11.2 days	12.1 days
25	NCT Naas	Kildare	11.3 days	12.8 days
26	NCT Tullamore	Offaly	11.4 days	13.0 days
27	NCT Kells	Meath	12.0 days	13.4 days
28	NCT Drogheda	Louth	12.4 days	14.3 days
29	NCT Portlaoise	Laois	12.5 days	14.2 days
30	NCT Ballinasloe	Galway	12.5 days	14.1 days
31	NCT Fonthill	Dublin	12.5 days	14.5 days
32	NCT Navan	Meath	12.6 days	13.8 days
33	NCT Greenhills (Exit 11, M50)	Dublin	12.8 days	14.8 days
34	NCT Nenagh	Tipperary	13.0 days	15.1 days
35	NCT Athlone	Westmeath	13.1 days	14.7 days
36	NCT Mullingar	Westmeath	13.2 days	16.0 days
37	NCT Ennis	Clare	13.3 days	15.8 days
38	NCT Letterkenny	Donegal	13.5 days	15.1 days
39	NCT Cahir	Tipperary	13.7 days	15.6 days
40	NCT Galway	Galway	14.2 days	16.1 days
41	NCT Longford	Longford	14.4 days	16.3 days
42	NCT Tuam	Galway	14.4 days	15.7 days
43	NCT Castlerea	Roscommon	14.9 days	16.5 days
44	NCT Carrick-on-Shannon	Leitrim	15.0 days	16.7 days
45	NCT Sligo	Sligo	15.0 days	16.8 days
46	NCT Clifden	Galway	15.2 days	18.1 days
47	NCT Westport	Mayo	16.2 days	17.9 days
48	NCT Ballina	Mayo	16.3 days	18.2 days
49	NCT Cahirciveen	Kerry	16.3 days	18.5 days
50	NCT Carndonagh	Donegal	16.4 days	18.2 days

Average number of days between asking for an appointment and the first or second available date, for September 2026, as published by the NCTS. Waits change month to month and with demand; this page is updated when the NCTS publishes new figures.

How to get an earlier NCT

Check nearby centres: each centre page lists closer alternatives with shorter waits.
Join the priority list when booking: you get offered cancellations at your chosen centre.
Be flexible on time: many centres test early in the morning and late in the evening.
Book well ahead of your due date. Check when your NCT is due.

Frequently asked questions

Why do I only see dates months away online?

The NCTS says the slots shown online are only about a third of real appointments; the other two thirds open around two weeks ahead. The averages on this page measure the wait people actually got, so check again closer to the date or join the priority list.

What is the NCTS target waiting time?

Its customer charter aims for an average lead time of 15 days or less at each centre, 10 days for retests, and a free test if no appointment can be offered within 28 days (with exceptions).

How long is the wait for an NCT?

In September 2026 the average wait for the first available NCT appointment was 11.09 days across Ireland, and 12.89 days for the second available slot.

Which NCT centre has the shortest wait?

Enniscorthy (7.3 days on average in September 2026), followed by Cork-Little Island and Waterford. The longest wait was at Carndonagh (16.4 days).

Can I book an NCT at any centre?

Yes. You can choose any of the 50 centres when you book on ncts.ie or by phone, so driving to a nearby centre with a shorter wait is an option.

How is the waiting time measured?

The NCTS calculates it as the average number of days between the moment someone asks for an appointment and the first (or second) next available date, or the date they confirm.

What if my NCT is about to expire?

Book the earliest date you can and ask to join the priority list in case an earlier slot opens. Bookings line: 01 413 5992.

NCT waiting times by centre

All centres, shortest wait first

How to get an earlier NCT

Frequently asked questions

Related guides

How to book

When is my NCT due?

What to bring