MOT advisories explained: what they mean and what to do
Why advisories matter when you are buying
A pass certificate only says the car was roadworthy on the day. The advisories tell you what is coming. Three years of "tyre worn close to legal limit" and "brake pads wearing thin" means the owner fixed nothing until it failed. Advisories that appear one year and vanish the next without a repair are worth a question, because testers do not always check the same things with the same care.
Common advisories and what they cost
| Advisory wording | What it means | Typical fix |
|---|---|---|
| Tyre worn close to legal limit | Tread is approaching 1.6 mm | New tyre, £60 to £200 each |
| Brake pads wearing thin | Pad material is low but above the limit | Pads £80 to £200 an axle, more with discs |
| Corrosion to underside, not excessive | Surface rust on structural parts | Treat now or it becomes a fail on sills, subframes or brake pipes |
| Oil leak, not excessive | Seepage from a seal or gasket | From £50 for a sump plug to several hundred for a rear main seal |
| Play in suspension joint or bush | Ball joint, track rod end or bush is worn | £80 to £250 a corner, plus tracking |
| Undertray loose or missing | Plastic cover under the engine | Cheap, but check why it is missing |
| Nail in tyre | Puncture that is holding air | Repair if in the tread area, otherwise a new tyre |
Dangerous, major and minor
Since May 2018 a defect is recorded as dangerous, major or minor. Dangerous and major fail the car. Minor defects and advisories pass, but both are written on the certificate and stay in the history. A minor is a defined defect with a slight effect on safety; an advisory is the tester's judgement about something that is on its way.
How to read them in the MOT history
Every test since 2005 is on record with the mileage, result, and each item recorded. Read the advisories in date order and look for the same item repeating, for the mileage between tests, and for a sudden drop in mileage, which is the first sign of a clocked car. The free check on BeakCheck shows the full history with advisories against each test.
Questions people ask
Do I have to fix MOT advisories?
No. The car has passed and there is no legal duty to fix an advisory. It is a warning that the item is wearing and will likely fail at the next test, or become dangerous before then.
Can a car fail its MOT on advisories alone?
No. An advisory does not fail the car. If the same item has worsened by the next test it may then be recorded as a major or dangerous defect, which does fail.
Do advisories stay on the record?
Yes. Every advisory is kept in the vehicle's MOT history and anyone can see it with the registration, which is why they matter when you are selling as well as buying.
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