NCT lights fail
Lights are the most common — and cheapest — NCT failure category: aim, bulbs, lenses and washers. Most of it is fixed in minutes by a local garage before the retest.
What you might be seeing
- Fail sheet cites headlamp aim, a specific bulb, or lens condition
- One-eyed driving you had not noticed
- Misty or crazed headlamp lenses
The likely causes, honestly ranked
- Headlamp aim drifted (or changed by a new bulb fitted askew)
- Blown bulbs — including the number plate light nobody checks
- UV-hazed lenses scattering the beam
- Washer jets blocked where fitted with headlamp washers
Do this now
- Have aim set on a beam-setter — garages do this in minutes, and it is the top lights fix
- Walk around the car with everything switched on, including plate lights and fogs
- Hazed lenses can often be polished; badly crazed ones are replacement
What to avoid
- Fitting mismatched "LED upgrade" bulbs in halogen housings before a test — beam pattern failures follow
- Guessing aim by a wall
Who fixes this
Related problems
Fix problems like this for a living?
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Frequently asked questions
Is a lights retest free?
Minor visual items rechecked without the test lane are free per NCTS; anything needing the lane pays the retest fee. Confirm on ncts.ie when booking.
Why did new bulbs fail on aim?
A bulb seated slightly off, or an upgrade bulb with the element in the wrong place, moves the whole beam. Setting aim after bulb changes is the pro habit.
Do daytime running lights count?
The test covers the lighting the car was type-approved with — testers check function and condition. If something lights when it should not (or not when it should), it is on the sheet.
Written and reviewed by the Escargo team · Updated 9 August 2026 · Escargo shows real local businesses only — where none is listed yet, the page says so honestly.