Motorists are being urged to remain on high alert after reports of a fraudulent website impersonating the National Car Test (NCT) booking service, designed to mislead people into making payments without actually securing any test appointment.
This scam site has been reported as closely resembling the legitimate NCT booking pages and is understood to be appearing through search engine results, where drivers searching to book a test may be diverted to the counterfeit platform.
Recent reports indicate victims have been charged amounts ranging from approximately €60 up to €600 for what is presented as an “NCT booking” or “service fee”, but no valid booking is then made.
Only use the official NCT booking site.
The only official and legitimate website for booking or managing an NCT appointment is: ncts.ie
Motorists are advised to type the address directly into their browser rather than clicking on sponsored links or unfamiliar results.
How to protect yourself – Key advice for motorists
Book only via ncts.ie (avoid lookalike sites and “booking agents” charging extra fees).
Check the web address carefully before entering any personal or payment details.
Be cautious of sites that demand unexpected additional payments or apply pressure to pay quickly.
If in doubt, leave the page and go directly to ncts.ie in a fresh browser window.
If you think you have been scammed!
Anyone who believes they may have made a payment to a fraudulent site should act immediately:
Contact your bank or card provider without delay to report the transaction and seek advice on stopping or disputing payment.
Report the matter to your local Garda station, bringing any relevant evidence (screenshots, emails, transaction confirmations, and the web address used).
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