Motorists still covered despite NCT lift issue

The failure of NCT centres to issue motorists with full NCT certs “will not impact their motor insurance and Insurance Ireland members will be pragmatic and understanding in their approach to this issue” the insurance governing body has told The Anglo-Celt.
In January the operators of the NCT centres, Applus, suspended the use of lifts at its 47 test centres around the country due to concerns over cracking. Inspections were halted after “signs of cracking” were found in almost 50 lifts in the North.
The same company supplies lifts in the Republic of Ireland and an initial inspection by the NCT has found cracks in one lift. Initially there were 85 of the country's 106 NCT vehicle lifts found to be in need of repair.
NCTS made the decision to discontinue the use of vehicle inspection lifts across the NCTS network until a full condition survey of all lifts is completed. 
In a statement to The Anglo-Celt, the operator of the NCT centres confirmed that the underbody inspection at Cavan NCT is still temporarily discontinued due to a safety concern when small hairline fractures were noticed on the scissor lift. At present a number of centres have reinstated vehicle inspection lifts however, lifts at these locations will be used primarily for those drivers who are due to undergo a driving test and NCT taxi roadworthiness test.

The advice for customers is to continue to book and turn up for their NCT as normal. The test will be completed with the omission of the underbody inspection. However if the vehicle fails on another element of the test, they must present their vehicle for retest as normal.
The statement concluded by saying: “Where customers are solely waiting to undergo an underbody retest inspection, we ask that they please refrain from making any further bookings until NCTS confirm on the NCTS website that the vehicle inspection lift in your centre has returned to full operation. NCTS would like to apologise to you for this inconvenience and we are endeavouring to restore normal service as soon as possible."
Insurance Ireland, the body that represents almost 130 companies providing insurance domestically in Ireland and internationally from Ireland, said that the situation will not affect motorists cover. 
“In relation to the current issue with car lift equipment used in the National Car Test (NCT) which is resulting in motorists being unable to fully complete their NCT and receive an up to date certificate, Insurance Ireland would like to reassure the public that this will not impact their motor insurance and Insurance Ireland members will be pragmatic and understanding in their approach to this issue,” they said in a statement to the Anglo Celt.
Insurance Ireland's advising motorists is to continue to book and attend NCT appointments as normal when your car is due for an NCT.
“We are further advising motorists to return to complete the outstanding elements of the test once the lift issue is resolved at which time you will receive your NCT certificate and window disk. Please heed the advice given to you by the NCTS on how to do this at the appropriate time,” they said.

Time frame
The time frame for the full restoration of testing centres has yet to be determined: “Our aim is to ensure that we have lift availability in most centres as soon as possible. We expect that 50% of test lanes will be operating by the end of March and 100% by the end of April... The NCTS can also confirm that the replacement programme for all repaired lifts will commence in June 2020,” Grant Henderson, the general manager of the NCTS, told the Celt. 
“Our NCTS staff are working very hard to try and accommodate all customers who are presenting for inspection and where possible they are doing their best to inspect customer’s vehicles in full. NCTS would like to apologise to all our customers for this inconvenience and we ask that customers please bear with us through this as we are endeavouring to restore normal service as soon as possible,” he concluded.