Meath gets a second NCT centre — and it’s about time
A second NCT centre opened in Navan on Monday 5 July 2026 — right at Unit 2A, Mullaghboy Industrial Estate off the old Athboy Road. If you’ve been staring down a 25-week wait in Kells, that number should start dropping now that Meath has two centres running.
That said, don’t think you can stroll in next Tuesday. Slots at new centres disappear fierce fast — usually within hours of going live on the NCTS booking system. You’ll want eyes on the calendar before the rest of Meath figures it out.
The NCT cancellation slot scanner watches the booking system around the clock and alerts you the moment a slot opens up at Navan or any other centre. Worth setting up now before she books out entirely.
| Detail | Navan (New) | Kells |
|---|---|---|
| Address | Unit 2A, Mullaghboy Industrial Estate, Athboy Road, Navan | Virginia Road, Kells, Co. Meath |
| Opened | 5 July 2026 | Existing centre |
| Access road | Old Athboy Road / R147, off the M3 | Virginia Road (N52) |
| Area served | Navan town, Dunboyne, Trim, Enfield | Kells, Oldcastle, Cavan border |
| Full test fee | €60 | €60 |
| Re-test (lane) | €40 | €40 |
| Visual recheck | Free | Free |
| No-show fee | €24 | €24 |
Why this matters for Meath drivers
Meath has had one of the worst NCT backlogs in Leinster for years. Check our piece on the NCT booking backlog — at peak, Kells was out beyond 25 weeks. That’s half a year. Plenty of Meath drivers were heading to Drogheda, Clonee, or even Finglas just to get a slot inside two months.
The Navan centre should take the pressure off. Mullaghboy Industrial Estate is well signposted off the old Athboy Road, and the M3 puts most of the county within 20–25 minutes of the gate. If your reg is up and you’re anywhere between Trim and Dunshaughlin, this is your nearest centre now.
Still, capacity means nothing if the slots are banjaxed by bots and quick-refresh merchants. The NCTS calendar typically opens weeks at a time, and the first release at a new centre tends to be swallowed in under an hour. Check out the NCT locations page to see live availability across all Meath centres.
What to expect at the new Navan centre
The Navan test centre runs the standard NCTS lane setup — two test lanes, standard inspection equipment, the works. Bring the car in reasonably clean, make sure she has no warning lights on the dash, and confirm your reg plate is clean and legible. Those are the three things that catch people out on the day.
Fees are the standard national rate: €60 for a full test, €40 if you’re going back for a re-test on a lane, and a visual recheck is free if it’s a minor item. Miss your slot without cancelling 24 hours in advance and you’re looking at a €24 charge — grand waste of money when you’re already waiting months for a date.
The centre is off the R147 (old Athboy Road), which runs west from Navan town centre. Mullaghboy Industrial Estate is about 2km out — follow the NCT signs once you’re on the estate road. There’s plenty of forecourt space, which is more than can be said for some of the older centres.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the NCT re-test fee in 2026?
The lane re-test fee is €40. This applies when your car fails on a specific item and you return for a re-test of that item only. A visual recheck — where the inspector checks a minor item without running the car through the full lane — is free. A no-show without 24 hours’ notice costs €24, regardless of whether you had a test or re-test booked.
Where is the new Navan NCT centre located?
The new Navan NCT centre is at Unit 2A, Mullaghboy Industrial Estate, Athboy Road, Navan, Co. Meath. It opened on 5 July 2026. Access is off the old Athboy Road (R147), which runs west out of Navan town. The M3 motorway is a short drive away via the Navan interchange.
Does Meath have more than one NCT centre?
Yes. Meath now has two NCT centres: the new Navan centre at Mullaghboy Industrial Estate on the Athboy Road, and the existing Kells centre on the Virginia Road. The Navan centre opened on 5 July 2026 and is the county’s second test centre.
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