VTN (Vehicle Testing Network) is the official brand name of the Countrywide Network of Vehicle Tester Members who are members of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry. They are part of the wider RSA CVRT Network of independently owned test centres which are authorised and supervised by the Road Safety Authority and are completely separate from the National Car Testing Service (NCT) network which only test cars.

When choosing a VTN Test Centre the public can be assured of:

• VTN Quality Management System – ISO 9001:2015 inc. CITA 9 B certified
• Competent personnel who undergo annual CPD Training.
• Appropriate and independently calibrated test equipment.
• Friendly, courteous and well-trained staff to meet your requirements

What is the Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test? (CVRT)

The Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test (CVRT) is a roadworthiness inspection for all commercial vehicles, buses with more than eight passenger seats and ambulances, all over one year old. The CVRT confirms that a vehicle satisfies basic safety standards on the day the inspection is carried out.  CVR Test Personnel will only inspect what is accessible and visible. This test does not confer a warranty as regards the condition of the vehicle.

All commercial vehicles must be tested when they are over one year old and annually after that.

Commercial Vehicle Testing is one component of the preventative measures we need to have safer vehicles on our roads. In order to ensure that vehicles are kept in good and safe condition through their life, it is essential that they are regularly maintained and serviced. Commercial Vehicle Operators now have explicit obligations to have maintenance systems in place and to conduct daily walk-around checks.

Prospective purchasers of used vehicles should always have the vehicle thoroughly and independently checked by a qualified person prior to purchase or else buy from an authorised dealer with a warranty.

There are two types of commercial vehicle tests, one for Light Commercial Vehicles (LCVs) and one for Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCVs).

The LCV test is for:

• all small goods vehicles with a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 3,500 kg or less

The HCV test covers all other commercial vehicles including:

• goods vehicles over 3,500 kg GVW
• goods trailers over 3,500 kg GVW
• buses with more than eight passenger seats
• ambulances

Only components that are visible and accessible can be assessed at the CVRT. These include:

• Brakes
• Lights and markings
• Wheels and tyres
• Steering and suspension
• Chassis and underbody
• Tachograph
• Speed limiter
• Exhaust emissions
• Electrical systems
• Glass and mirrors

Further information on the CVRT test items can be found in the relevant testers manuals.

Please prepare for the test by ensuring that:

1. You check your vehicle engine for oil and water and ensure the windscreen washer is topped with water.
2. Seats and cargo area are clear of personal belongings such as tool kits and that the cargo area is accessible to complete certain parts of the test.
3. The vehicle is reasonably clean (especially the under body).
4. Wheel hubcaps are removed (in particular where it is not physically possible to otherwise check the wheel nuts) and the tyres are inflated to the correct pressure.
5. The engine is in a fit state to be tested e.g. Timing belt/chain has been replaced in line with your manufacturer`s guidance. You may be asked to sign a disclaimer at your chosen test centre.
6. You check that the safety belts/ buckles are visible and working correctly. In the case of buses and other passenger vehicles you should make sure that you check belts and buckles for all passenger seats.
7. Your registration plates are clean and comply with current regulations.
8. The person who brings the vehicle for inspection brings identification with them in the form of a driving license or passport as failure to provide the required identification will result in the vehicle not being issued a CRW should the vehicle pass the test.
9. Your vehicles temperature gauge is showing as “normal” prior to arriving at the test centre for inspection.

There are different fees applicable for different types of vehicles. The relevant fees are set out in the table below:

Details of all test fees applicable from 01/01/2025 are prescribed in Statutory Instrument S.I. No. 674 of 2024

Retest Fees
A visual re-test is free, but a retest that requires a test lane has a fee as outlined above.

All retests must be completed within 21 calendar days and within 4,000 kms of the initial test or you'll need to repeat the full test. 
You should repair the vehicle's fail items immediately and present the vehicle for re-test as soon as possible.

What does the Test Fee include?
The test fee covers the following elements:

• Your commercial vehicle test 
• Your certificate of roadworthiness – printing and postage of your CRW (no longer have to travel to your motor tax office)
• A Road Safety Levy – note the Road Safety Levy does not apply to re-tests. However, if the vehicle is not brought back within 21 days and within 4,000Km limit then the vehicle will require a full test and you will be charged a further levy.

Explanation: both apply – you must be back within 21 days for a re-test and also you cannot have done more than 4,000 kms

VAT Calculation on Fees
No vat is applied on the proportion of the fee passed on to the RSA (i.e. the road safety levy)

Certificate of Roadworthiness costs
The CRW cost that was paid by vehicle owners to the motor tax office is now included in the test fees above and the CRW certificate and detachable disc will be automatically posted to the current registered owner of the vehicle.

Pass pending recheck of Minor Deficiencies – fees

There is no fee for a recheck if the test result for your vehicle is Pass pending recheck of minor deficiencies. 

There is also no 21 day and 4,000 km rule for completing the recheck. However, we recommend that you get all minor deficiencies rectified and rechecked at the testing centre as soon as possible. 

We cannot send out a CRW until the testing centre has confirmed that the minor deficiencies have been rectified.

What does the Test Fee include?

The test fee covers the following elements:

• Your commercial vehicle test
• Your certificate of roadworthiness – printing and postage of your CRW
• A Road Safety Levy – also known as the Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness (CVR) levy.

Since 20 May 2018, fast tractors must undergo periodic tests and must display a certificate of roadworthiness (CRW).​
 
A ‘fast tractor’ is defined as a wheeled tractor in category T with a maximum design speed exceeding 40 km/h. If you use a fast tractor and you are unsure of its maximum design speed, you should consult its vehicle manufacturer or an authorised Irish tractor distributor. 

Exemptions

A fast tractor will not have to undergo a commercial vehicle test if it is used:

• ​for the purposes of agricultural, horticultural, forestry, farming or fishery activity solely within the State and mainly on the land where such activity takes place, including agricultural roads, forestry roads or agricultural fields
• exclusively on a small island. This exclusion from the requirement for compulsory testing will apply to all of the islands off the Irish coast.

It is important to note that an exemption from undergoing a commercial vehicle test is not an exemption from the requirement to ensure your vehicle is in a roadworthy condition when it is used on a public road.

I am not sure if my Tractor is required to undergo a Roadworthiness Test? 

To assist tractor owners who maybe unsure as to whether your vehicle is required to undergo a Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Test RSA have prepared an info graphic​ entitled "Does my Fast Tractor require a Certificate of Roadworthiness (PDF)".​​ We recommend you view this document in the first instance and if you are still unsure please send us an email  at cvrtadmin@rsa.ie outlining how and where you use your tractor and we will be happy to issue you with a clarification. 

Where can I get my Fast Tractor Tested? 

Fast tractors are tested within the Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Testing (CVRT) network in a number of authorised heavy commercial vehicle (HCV) testing centres. Details of test centres currently authorised to test fast tractors are available at Find a Test Centre

How frequently must I test my fast tractor? 

The first test will be due when your vehicle is four years old, i.e. from the fourth anniversary of first registration. After that it must be tested every two years. 

What if my tractor is already more than four years old on 20 May 2018? 

You must book it in for a test as soon as possible. If it passes the test, the CRW we send you will be valid for two years from the date of the test provided that the test is carried out before 20 August 2018, i.e. a three-month grace period has been included in the Amendment Regulations.

Is there any advantage to delaying testing my fast tractor? 

No. If your fast tractor is subject to compulsory testing and is over four years old on 20 May 2018 and is tested later than 20 August 2018, it will receive a CRW with an expiry date of 20 May 2020.

Is it necessary to test agricultural trailers? 

No agricultural trailers which are not commercial trailers in category 03 or 04 do not require a test.  However, under road traffic law, a trailer must be roadworthy at all times if you use it on a public road.  

If a fast tractor is used for both exempted and non-exempted activities, should it be tested? 

The requirement to test a fast tractor is based on its use. Any fast tractor which is used for a non-exempted activity requires a CRW. 
 
Examples of fast tractors which require testing include those used for:

• local authority work
• construction industry
• quarry industry
• manufacturing industry
• mining industry
• road construction/road works

​What is the penalty for using a vehicle without a valid CRW? 

If you use a vehicle without a valid CRW, it may result in a court appearance whereby on conviction a fine not exceeding €5,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or both, may be imposed. Five penalty points would also apply on conviction.

How much does it cost to test a fast tractor?

The test fees are as follows and mirror ​tho​se applicable to HCVs with a similar design gross vehicle weight (DGVW):

What does the test entail?

The test is a maintenance and condition check of your vehicle. It includes a check of the items necessary to assure a minimum standard of roadworthiness of your vehicle, i.e. braking, lighting, steering, and suspension systems, etc. Essentially, it mirrors the test currently carried out on HCVs but modified where necessary to suit the design characteristics of fast tractors.