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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
National
Cathal Ryan

Irish NCT driver warning over defect that could land you with €5,000 fine or in prison

Irish motorists are being urged to be aware of a number of rules in place on roads, which if broken could land them a fine in the thousands.

The state of your vehicle is one of the most important things to be aware of, as driving a vehicle that is defective can cost you a pretty penny, even driving with some worn-out tyres can cost drivers a few hundred.

Although every vehicle in the country has to undergo an NCT to make sure that it is roadworthy, ensuring that Ireland is only full of roadworthy vehicles - sometimes people let this slip, which can endanger themselves and others.

READ MORE: 'I tried to book my NCT online but can't get a test until November or even next year'

According to Citizens Information, it is against the law to drive a “dangerously defective” vehicle - something which could land you a €5,000 fine or jail time if caught.

Citizens Information wrote: "Dangerously defective means that the vehicle is a danger to the public because of its condition.

“The penalty for this offence is a fine of up to €5,000 and/or imprisonment of up to three months."

Furthermore, driving a car with worn-out tyres could cost up to €120 if you are not careful.

They added: “It is an offence to drive a vehicle in a public place with defective or worn tyres. The initial fixed charge amount is €80 (increasing to €120 if you do not pay within 28 days) and you will also get two penalty points.

“Four penalty points and a more significant fine can be imposed if it goes to court because of non-payment.”

Lastly, driving without a current NCT certificate could result in a €90 fine.

Citizens Information continued: “It is an offence to drive a vehicle in a public place without a current NCT certificate.

“This applies to vehicles from the fourth anniversary of their first registration. The initial fixed charge amount is €60 (increasing to €90 if you do not pay within 28 days) and you will also get three penalty points.

“Five penalty points and a more significant fine and/or imprisonment can be imposed if it goes to court because of non-payment.”

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