Scam websites impersonating the National Car Test (NCT) booking system operated for several months and evolved from charging inflated fees to carrying out outright fraud, according to internal Road Safety Authority (RSA) records. The documents reveal a pattern of increasingly sophisticated clone sites that repeatedly resurfaced even after official warnings and takedown attempts.
Multiple fraudulent websites mimicked the legitimate NCT booking portal so convincingly that motorists believed they were securing genuine appointments. In several cases, victims were charged between €60 and €89 for tests that did not exist. One driver was defrauded of more than €600, while another reported two separate transactions totalling €660.
The RSA first became aware of the scam earlier this year and issued a public warning. However, internal emails show that shortly after one fraudulent site was shut down—following what staff described as a “suite of complaints”—a second clone site remained active. Although the RSA managed to block this site from scraping vehicle data used to make the platform appear legitimate, the operators continued to lure unsuspecting motorists.
Despite multiple warnings issued by the RSA, these sites were able to keep on scamming people.
“This will significantly inhibit their website booking flow,” one internal message noted, adding that no further reports had been received that day from affected customers. But the reprieve was short-lived.
Within days, a third “new and more advanced” website appeared, again offering bogus NCT appointments.
Copies of complaints submitted to the RSA illustrate the scale and emotional impact of the fraud.
One motorist wrote that they had been charged €89 and questioned whether the fee should have been €60, adding: “I’m concerned I have been the victim of fraud.” Another described attempting to book a test twice after the authentication process appeared to fail. “€600 was taken,” they said. “Then I checked my account… €60 was taken and also a second amount of €600. I can ill afford it.”
Some victims only discovered the scam when they arrived at an NCT centre with printed confirmation forms, only to be told their appointments did not exist. Others urged the RSA to take stronger action to warn the public, with one person suggesting that all motorists due for a test in 2026 should receive direct communication about potential scams.
One complainant said the fraudulent site was a “perfect mimic” of the official page. “You would not have noticed anything was amiss,” they wrote. Another pleaded for the information to be made public “so no one else is scammed as things are costly enough in the current climate.”
In response to queries about the internal records, an RSA spokesperson said motorists should remain vigilant when booking services online, warning that “highly convincing NCT clone sites” are increasingly targeting drivers. They advised the public to be cautious of sponsored search results or third-party services offering “secure” booking slots.
“Taking a moment to double-check the website address could prevent significant financial loss,” the spokesperson said.
