47% of Cars Walk Out of Coes Road Without a Cert
Nearly half. That’s the national NCT fail rate right now — 49.2% in 2025, the worst in five years. And if you’re sitting in the queue at the Dundalk NCT centre on Old Coes Road, you’re probably already wondering if she’ll pass.
Here’s the thing. Dundalk is actually one of Ireland’s fastest NCT centres. The Sun listed it among the top 10 shortest wait times in the country. But “fast” in NCT terms is relative — and those short waits don’t last.
Slots at Coes Road Industrial Estate fill up the moment they appear. Louth drivers from Ardee to the Cooley Peninsula are all funnelling into the same two-lane centre. And with 2016-reg cars now hitting their annual test cycle, the pressure is only getting worse.
Our NCT cancellation slot scanner monitors the Dundalk calendar 24/7 and pings you the second a cancellation drops. No refreshing. No ringing the 01 number that never answers.
Dundalk NCT: The Numbers You Need
| Metric | Dundalk (Coes Road) | National Average |
|---|---|---|
| Full Test Pass Rate (Jan 2026) | ~53% | 53% |
| Fail Dangerous Rate | ~7.2% | 6.6% |
| Retest Pass Rate | ~90% | 90% |
| Full Test Cost | €60 | €60 |
| Retest Cost (within 21 days) | €40 | €40 |
| Free Retest Items | Wipers, reg plates | Wipers, reg plates |
The January 2026 figures from NCTS show 152,960 full tests nationally with a 53% pass rate. That’s up from 49.2% in 2025 — but don’t get comfortable. Almost 10,144 cars got a Fail Dangerous in January alone.
The Border Town Problem: Why Dundalk Fills Fast
Dundalk isn’t just any NCT centre. She’s the last stop before the border.
Drivers coming off the M1 from Dublin, lads heading south from Newry and South Armagh, commuters cutting through the Castletown Road roundabout — they all end up on Old Coes Road. The centre sits tucked into the industrial estate, past the Dundalk Retail Park and down beside the old railway line.
Sound familiar? You’ve probably driven past the Louth County Hospital on the Dublin Road, turned up past McDonalds at the Marshes Shopping Centre, and wound your way through to the test centre wondering if you’d even find it.
The problem is simple: Louth has two NCT centres — Dundalk and Drogheda. Between them, they serve the entire county plus overflow from Monaghan, Armagh, and south Down. That’s a fierce amount of pressure on two small centres.
And with Drogheda’s Donore Road centre backed up for months, the smart money has been heading north to Dundalk. Which is exactly why those “short” wait times are disappearing.
What’s Failing at Coes Road?
The 2025 national data tells the story:
- Tyres — 14% of all failures. Baldy tyres, cracked sidewalls, wrong speed ratings. Check the four-digit date code on the sidewall — if it says 2018 or earlier, change them before the test.
- Front suspension — 11%. Wishbones, bushings, drop links. The Louth roads between Dundalk and Carlingford will banjax your suspension faster than you’d think.
- Brakes — 8%. Discs, pads, and that handbrake you haven’t touched since 2022.
(Spoiler: your man at the test centre will catch the headlamp alignment too. That’s the one nobody checks.)
The Real Fear: What Happens If She Fails Dangerous?
This is the one that keeps Dundalk drivers up at night. Fail Dangerous means you can’t legally drive her home from the test centre. Full stop.
In 2025, 132,964 cars nationwide got that red sticker. That’s one in every 13 tested. Cavan had the worst rate at 11.4%, and Louth’s neighbours in Meath were at 9.4%. Not exactly reassuring when you’re parked up at Coes Road waiting for the verdict.
And here’s the catch — if she fails dangerous, you need a retest slot fast. You’ve got 21 days to rebook, or you pay the full €60 again. But you can’t drive her there unless the dangerous item is fixed first. So you’re looking at a tow truck or a mobile mechanic.
Your insurance might not cover you either. If you crash on the way home from a Fail Dangerous result, your insurer can — and does — void your policy. That’s the reality in 2026.
How to Skip the Dundalk Queue
Look. The NCTS booking site shows you roughly one-third of available slots. The other two-thirds open up two weeks before the test date. That means cancellations and last-minute slots appear constantly — but they vanish in minutes.
Three options:
- The Priority List: Add yourself during booking. NCTS says they’ll get you in within 28 days. Sometimes they do. Sometimes they don’t.
- The Refresh Method: Check the NCTS site at 11pm–midnight when the calendar tends to update. Tedious, but it works if you’ve nothing better to do.
- The Bot: Our NCT cancellation slot scanner watches the Dundalk calendar around the clock. When a slot drops, you get an instant alert. Done and dusted.
Check the full list of available centres on our locations page — Dundalk, Drogheda, and 45 other centres across Ireland.
Dundalk NCT Centre: What You Need to Know
Address: Coes Road Industrial Estate, Old Coes Road, Dundalk, Co. Louth, A91 FV1C
Nearest landmarks: Dundalk Retail Park, Louth County Hospital (Dublin Road), The Marshes Shopping Centre
Getting there from the M1: Exit at Junction 16 (Dundalk South), follow signs for town centre, then Coes Road Industrial Estate.
Parking: Limited — arrive 10 minutes early. Don’t block the test lanes or your man will tell you about it.
What to bring:
- Vehicle Registration Certificate (VRC / Logbook)
- Driving Licence or Public Services Card
- €60 payment (card accepted)
FAQ
How long is the NCT wait in Dundalk right now?
Dundalk (Coes Road) is currently one of Ireland’s fastest NCT centres, often showing wait times of 2–4 weeks. But this fluctuates — 2016-reg cars hitting annual testing and border overflow from Drogheda are pushing waits longer. Use the Dundalk booking page or our bot to find the first available slot.
How much is the NCT re-test fee in 2026?
The NCT re-test costs €40 if booked within 21 days of your original test. If you miss that window, you’ll pay the full €60 for a fresh test. Minor visual items — wipers, reg plate lights — are retested for free.
Can I use Dundalk NCT if I live in Drogheda or Monaghan?
Yes. You can book any NCT centre in Ireland regardless of where you live. If Drogheda’s Donore Road centre is backed up — which it usually is — Dundalk is about 30 minutes up the M1. Monaghan drivers often find Dundalk faster than their local centre too. That’s the job.
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