CRW Expiry Dates

​A certificate of roadworthiness (CRW) valid for 12 months is only issued when the vehicle is tested on time ! 
Why is my CRW valid for less than 12 months?

Your CRW is valid for less than 12 months because your Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness (CVR) test was overdue and our system for  creating CRWs takes into account your obligation to have your commercial vehicle tested every year. You will not benefit from delaying having your vehicle tested. 

I have just bought this vehicle and the CRW is valid for less than 12 months.

The CRW is valid for less than 12 months because the vehicle you purchased did not have a valid CRW at the time of its CVR test. Anyone purchasing a used vehicle should ensure it has a valid CRW at the time of purchase, otherwise the vehicle will be overdue its test and will receive a CRW valid for less than 12 months.

It is important to note that a CRW is proof that a vehicle met a set of basic safety requirements on the day it passed its test. Only  test items that are visible and accessible can be assessed at the CVR testing centre. A CRW should therefore not be regarded as a warranty for your vehicle.

So if you are considering purchasing a used vehicle, you should have it independently assessed by a qualified mechanic before purchasing it  or else buy from an authorised dealer who can provide a warranty. Visit the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission website for further information.

You can find out when a vehicle is due its CVR Test by clicking on the “Check my CRW” button bellow.

I imported this vehicle and it has a current roadworthiness certificate issued by another EU Member State which is still valid. Is this Out-of-State roadworthiness certificate valid in Ireland? 

If your vehicle has a valid roadworthiness certificate issued by another EU Member State , from 20 May 2018 you can have it exchanged  for an Irish-issued EU recognition certificate. You must complete the roadworthiness certificate recognition application form and send it to us. Once the foreign CRW is validated and in order, we will then send you an EU recognition certificate. The expiry date will then be aligned to the expiry date on the out-of-state certificate of roadworthiness. Visit our mutual recognition of EU roadworthiness certificates page for further information.

I imported a vehicle and it does not have a current out-of-state roadworthiness certificate. 

From 20 May 2018, if you import a second-hand vehicle that is more than one year old, the test due date will be aligned to the date of first registration of the vehicle in Ireland. The CRW expiry date is calculated based on that date rather than on the date the test was passed . 
If you import a second-hand vehicle that is less than one year old, then the test due date will be aligned to the date of first registration in the country of origin. 
 

My vehicle has just passed the test, but, I am going to get a CRW for just a few days or weeks, do I really need to get my vehicle tested again now?

Yes, you need to get your vehicle tested again. Your vehicle received a CRW valid for just a few days or weeks because your vehicle test was almost a year overdue. Our system for creating CRW's calculates the CRW expiry date by reference to your test due date.  

Under current legislation – S.I. No.347 of 2013 Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness (Vehicle Testing) (No.2) Regulations 2013 (PDF)  CRW’s for a 12 month period are only issued where the vehicle is tested on time.

 It is your obligation to have your vehicle tested on time each year. Under Section 5 of the Road Safety Authority (Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Act) 2012 (PDF) , it is an offence to use a commercial vehicle on the public road without a valid CRW. A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a class A fine.
  
There are no exceptions for vehicles which are temporarily off the road, and the requirement is not determined by the period that the vehicle is or has been in use. 

Can I test my vehicle early?

Yes. You can have your vehicle tested up to 1 month early without changing the test anniversary date.
 
You can also have your vehicle tested more than 1 month early.  This will change your test due date to a date 12 months after your vehicle passed the test.  We've introduced this facility to give businesses the opportunity to change their test due date to a time of the year that better suits their business needs. 

I got my vehicle converted from M1 passenger vehicle to N1 goods vehicle and it passed its commercial vehicle test but I did not receive a CRW valid for 12 months. 

From 20 May 2018, where a vehicle is converted, for example from an M1 passenger vehicle to an N1 goods vehicle, the test due date for the vehicle is aligned to the ‘date of conversion’ as recorded by the motor tax office (MTO) on the National Vehicle and Driver File. The CRW expiry date is calculated based on that date rather than on the date the test was passed. You will not benefit from delaying having your converted vehicle tested. 

If your vehicle has a valid CRW or NCT roadworthiness certificate at the time of conversion, this certificate is deemed null and void and the vehicle will be required to undergo a roadworthiness test immediately after conversion and before it is used in a public place. 
 

I have a vintage vehicle. What are the CRW expiry rules for vintage vehicles? 

From 20 May 2018, the following rules apply for vintage vehicles:

• ​If your vehicle was registered before 1 January 1980 and you are not using your vehicle for commercial purposes, it is exempt from having to undergo a roadworthiness test and having a valid CRW.
• If your vehicle is aged 30–39 years (based on your vehicle’s date of first registration) and you are not using your vehicle for commercial purposes, it only has to undergo a roadworthiness test every two years instead of annually. To avail of this exemption you will have to sign a declaration at your CVR testing centre confirming that your vehicle is not being used for commercial purposes.

Important Note: If you are using your vehicle for commercial purposes, for example as a wedding hire vehicle, there is no change to the test frequency and you must continue to have your vehicle tested annually.

Odometer Readings

Your CRW shows your vehicle’s mileage history. Where available,  the mileage history will comprise of the reading taken during your vehicle's three most recent CVR tests. As this is a new system, it will only show mileage recorded during tests conducted from September 2013 onwards.
 
Where an earlier recorded odometer reading is higher than a later one this could be for a legitimate reason, for example, a speedometer replacement. Alternatively it might suggest evidence of previous ‘clocking’ or tampering of the vehicle’s mileage which is an offence under the Road Traffic Act 2014. Visit the page on purchasing a used commercial vehicle ​for further information.  

I received my CRW but  the odometer reading recorded on the cert is incorrect.

Where an odometer is fitted the CVR tester must record the odometer reading at the time of the test. When your test report or pass statement is presented to you, you should verify that the odometer reading is correct, and if it is not, you should immediately tell the tester. If this is not checked by you on the day of the test result was given to you, the odometer reading cannot be subsequently amended. Therefore check the pass statement or test report before leaving the test centre

What are the rules for displaying CRW discs in commercial vehicles?

Your CRW includes a detachable disc which must be displayed on the windscreen of your vehicle.  In the case of a goods trailer the CRW disc needs to be displayed as close as possible to the registration plate or where it can be easily inspected.
 
You are legally obliged to clearly display a CRW disc on your vehicle.  The RSA and An Garda Síochána will be checking the display of CRW discs as part of roadside enforcement and operator premises inspections​