A Waterford driving instructor is appealing to learner drivers to make sure they have a valid NCT before sitting their test.
All cars presenting for tests now must have a valid NCT.
Some leeway was given during the Covid-19 pandemic but the rules have now returned to normal.
Kieran Kennedy says the move was sudden - but the blame does not lie with the Road Safety Authority themselves.
"It's not their issue, it's the backlog in the NCT that is the problem," he said.
Kieran also described backlogs across the country as ''sickening" and outlined some issues within the system.
The average wait time in Waterford is about four weeks, whereas some counties have no availability until 2023.
Kieran said his wife's car was due an NCT in February but could only get an appointment for June.
Kids now are so anxious to do their tests that they may not even realise that this change has happened.
As of today, the closest test date is October 6th, three weeks away. There are 11 slots available on that day.
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