Two different appointments. Two different bodies. Two different jobs. There's a lot of confusion out there — plenty of drivers think they're the one thing. They're not. Here's the plain-English version for every Irish taxi driver.
Ask around any rank and you'll hear drivers use "the test" to mean one of two completely separate things — and half of them reckon it's the one appointment. It isn't. Your vehicle suitability inspection and your taximeter verification (sealing) are run by different authorities, they check different things, and they're triggered on different schedules. Passing one does not cover the other.
| Suitability Inspection | Taximeter Sealing | |
|---|---|---|
| The question | Is the car fit to carry passengers? | Is the meter accurate and sealed? |
| Who runs it | National Transport Authority (NTA) | NSAI Legal Metrology, through Applus |
| What triggers it | Licensing and each licence renewal | Any new or updated fare programme (and other seal-affecting events) |
| Who does the work | NTA suitability inspection | Installer programmes it; Applus verifies & seals it |
| Booking | Via the NTA licensing process (NCT via NCTS: 01 413 5960) | legalmetrology.ie or 01 413 5951 |
| Bring with you | Your licensing paperwork & valid NCT | Your electronic TTI form from your installer |
| Tied to | Your vehicle licence | The fare and your meter |
There is no routine or annual meter test. Your meter must be verified only when a specific event occurs:
In every one of those cases the meter is programmed to the correct fare and then verified and sealed again before it's used. Once sealed, it needs nothing further until the next triggering event.
Both can happen at Applus / NCT-branded centres, both are compliance checkpoints, and both are needed to work legally — so they blur into one in people's heads. But they answer different questions (is the car fit? versus is the meter accurate?), they're run by different authorities, and they run on different clocks. A car can sail through its suitability inspection and still be illegal to work if the meter isn't sealed to the current fare — and the other way around. Keep them separate in your head and you'll never be caught short.
Operating with a taximeter that isn't properly calibrated and verified can attract an NTA fine from €60 up to €250 depending on the circumstances, and possible prosecution under the Metrology Act. If a new fare order comes in, get your meter programmed to the new fare and verified before you carry another passenger.
This guide is general information for Irish SPSV drivers. Always follow the current guidance from the NTA and NSAI Legal Metrology, as procedures can change. Sources: National Transport Authority (nationaltransport.ie) and NSAI Legal Metrology (nsai.ie).
Pulsar Europe is Ireland's only official ATA distributor. We supply, programme and calibrate your meter to the current national tariff, issue your TTI form, and get you ready for your Applus verification. One call handles everything.