Gwen Loughman’s recent experience with Ireland’s National Car Testing Service (NCT) has highlighted ongoing issues with the vehicle inspection system, as reported by The Journal on Saturday.
Loughman’s routine retest evolved into a stressful ordeal, involving what she described as “box breathing” techniques to manage anxiety, and navigating a busy testing center alongside delivery vehicles. The incident underscores a growing frustration among vehicle owners regarding the NCT process.
The NCT has faced scrutiny in recent months, including accusations of incorrectly passing unsafe vehicles. In February 2025, the Irish Times reported on a case where a 2006 Toyota Yaris, certified by the NCT in September 2021, was later found to be unfit for the road. This followed earlier concerns about the thoroughness of inspections.
A recent YouTube discussion on Newstalk, published January 7, 2025, suggested a broader issue of inadequate vehicle maintenance among drivers, with one commentator stating, “You’re supposed to maintain the car properly rather than relying on the NCT.” This perspective suggests that the NCT is often seen as a last resort check rather than a component of regular vehicle upkeep.
The NCT’s challenges occur against a backdrop of broader developments in automotive safety and medical research. A clinical trial, NCT04133636, is currently underway investigating JNJ-68284528, a chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, though this is unrelated to the NCT vehicle inspection system. Similarly, research into CAR-armored-cell therapy for solid tumor treatment, published in November 2024, is a separate field of scientific inquiry.
The Journal is currently seeking support from readers to maintain its independent journalism, citing insufficient advertising revenue to cover operational costs. The organization is appealing for contributions to ensure continued reporting on issues like the NCT.
