Updated May 2026

What do MOT advisories actually mean?

An MOT advisory is the tester's formal note that something on your car is wearing or developing a fault but isn't yet bad enough to fail the test. The car still passes and remains legal to drive. Advisories are essentially a free repair forecast — they tell you what'll likely fail next year if you do nothing.

TL;DR

Advisory = pass + warning. Not a failure, not illegal. Take them seriously: they often turn into next year's MOT failures. Check any car's advisories free.

See every advisory ever recorded for a vehicle:

The MOT severity scale

Since May 2018, every defect found at an MOT is classified into one of four categories. Understanding the scale clears up most confusion about what an advisory really is:

Dangerous. Direct and immediate risk to road safety. Result: fail. Driving the car risks the higher penalties for using a vehicle in a dangerous condition.
Major. May affect safety or the environment, or is a defined MOT failure. Result: fail.
Minor. Noted, no significant effect on safety. Result: pass.
Advisory. Component is wearing or could become a problem. Result: pass.

Minor defects and advisories are practically similar — both are notes attached to a passed test. The distinction is partly procedural; buyers reading MOT history can treat them the same way.

Common advisories and what they cost to fix

A few advisories you'll see again and again on UK MOTs, and what they actually mean for your wallet:

Brake pads/discs wearing thin but not below limit. A repair this MOT cycle. Discs and pads come together for most cars and are routine maintenance, not a fundamental problem.
Tyre tread close to legal limit. The legal minimum is 1.6mm; testers often advise from around 2mm. Plan replacement before next MOT.
Slight oil leak. Could be a sump gasket, a rocker cover, or something more involved. Worth investigating to know which.
Suspension bush wear. Common on cars over five years old. Not urgent at advisory stage but tracks the way the car handles.
Light corrosion to brake pipes / underbody. Watch this one. Corrosion accelerates and is a common reason for unexpected MOT failures the following year.

Reading advisories on a used car you're thinking of buying

When checking a vehicle's history before buying, advisories tell you the seller's maintenance habits as much as the car's condition. Things to look for:

Repeated advisories that never become failures. Owner is fixing things proactively. Good sign.
An advisory that became a failure the next year. Owner is letting things deteriorate to MOT-pressure level. Common, but worth pricing into the deal.
The same component flagged year after year. Either the car has a chronic issue or repairs are being done badly. Investigate before buying.
Sudden burst of advisories at the most recent test. Often shows up when an old owner stops investing before sale. The next owner — you — picks up the bill.

See our deeper write-up at MOT advisory vs failure explained and the related advisory vs failure guide.

Brand-specific weak points

Some advisories track the car, but many track the model. Certain makes have known weak points that show up as advisories repeatedly across the fleet — corrosion on certain Land Rovers, brake-pipe rust on older Fords, suspension bushes on French superminis. Our common faults pages map known issues by make and model.

Frequently asked questions

Does an advisory count as a failure?

No. An advisory means the tester noticed wear or a developing fault but it isn't bad enough to fail the MOT. The car still passes and remains legal to drive. Advisories are recorded so the owner is aware and can plan repairs before the next test.

Can I ignore an MOT advisory?

You can, but it's a bad idea. Advisories typically describe items that will fail the next MOT or become safety issues sooner. Brake discs at minimum thickness, near-bald tyres, or corroded brake pipes will all become failures within months — fixing them on advisory pricing is cheaper than fixing them under MOT-fail pressure.

What's the difference between a minor defect and an advisory?

Both pass the MOT. A minor defect is a noted fault classed under the post-2018 categorisation system as not affecting safety enough to fail. An advisory is essentially the same idea by another name and the two terms are often used interchangeably. Both are warnings; neither stops you driving.

Will advisories show up when I sell the car?

Yes. Advisories are part of the public MOT history. Any buyer running a free MOT check will see every advisory ever recorded against the vehicle. Fixing advisories before listing the car for sale, and keeping the receipts, is a good way to defuse buyer concern.

Why do some cars have lots of advisories?

It can mean the car is genuinely worn — a high-mileage car will pick up advisories on suspension, brakes and tyres simply through use. It can also reflect the test station's style: some testers note every observation, others only note the ones approaching failure. Pattern matters more than count.

Can I appeal an MOT failure I think is wrong?

Yes. Submit form VT17 to the DVSA within 14 working days of the test, paying the appeal fee (refundable if upheld). Do not have any of the failed items repaired before the appeal inspection — DVSA needs to see the vehicle in failed state. The DVSA will arrange a re-inspection at a different test station. About 1 in 3 appeals is upheld, according to DVSA figures.

What's the categorisation difference between minor, major, and dangerous?

Three categories were introduced in May 2018. A minor defect is noted but the car passes. A major defect causes immediate failure but you can drive away if your previous MOT is still valid and the car is roadworthy. A dangerous defect causes failure AND it is illegal to drive the vehicle on a public road — even back to your home — until the issue is fixed.