What Does an MOT Advisory Mean?

You've just picked your car up from its MOT test. It passed, but the paperwork lists an "advisory" next to one of the checks. The tester said it was fine to drive away, but is it really? Do you need to fix it? Will it fail next year? Here's exactly what advisories mean, when to act, when to wait, and when to get a second opinion.

The short answer

An MOT advisory is a note from the tester saying that something on the vehicle is not yet bad enough to fail the test, but is showing signs of wear or damage that will likely turn into a fail in the future. Your car is legal to drive. It is not dangerous at the time of the test. However, the tester wants you to be aware so you can plan a repair before it becomes a problem.

Think of it like a yellow card in football. Not a red, but a formal warning.

How advisories fit into the MOT scoring system

Since May 2018, the DVSA replaced the old "pass with advisories" system with a clearer five-tier grading:

• Pass — no defects found at all.
• Minor — a defect that does not affect safety or the environment. The vehicle passes, but the minor must be repaired as soon as practical.
• Advisory — an item that is starting to wear or show damage but is not yet a defect. The vehicle passes, and you decide when to repair.
• Major — a defect that affects safety or the environment, or puts other road users at risk. The vehicle fails.
• Dangerous — a defect that presents a direct and immediate risk. The vehicle fails, and you are warned not to drive it away.

The crucial difference: a minor is a defect that exists now, whereas an advisory is warning you about something that is likely to become a defect soon. Both allow the car to pass, but minors are officially recorded as defects and advisories are not.

What kinds of things get flagged as advisories?

The most common advisories UK drivers see on their certificates include:

• Tyres worn close to the legal limit — still above 1.6 mm tread depth but not by much.
• Brake pads or discs worn but within limits — still functional but nearing the point where they will need replacement.
• Corrosion in non-critical areas — surface rust on subframes, exhaust heat shields, or suspension components that hasn't yet compromised structural integrity.
• Play in steering or suspension joints — detectable movement but still within tolerance.
• Oil leaks that are not yet dropping onto the ground — seeps and weeps that will eventually become drips.
• Windscreen damage outside the driver's central view — small chips or cracks in the passenger-side area.
• Bulbs operating intermittently — lights that work but are flickering or slow to illuminate.

Each advisory on your certificate will include a short description of what the tester saw, along with the specific part of the vehicle affected.

Should I fix every advisory straight away?

Not necessarily. Advisories sit on a spectrum. The correct response depends on how close the item is to becoming a fail and whether it poses any safety risk even in its current state.

Fix immediately:

• Any advisory involving tyres, brakes, or steering. These are safety-critical systems and the line between "advisory" and "dangerous" can be thinner than you think. A tyre at 2 mm tread is legal but performs poorly in the wet, and will be illegal in a few thousand miles.
• Anything the tester or a mechanic has verbally flagged as "getting close" even if it made it onto the certificate as an advisory.
• Oil or fluid seeps that could worsen over a cold winter.

Plan to fix within a few months:

• Worn but functional components like bushes, drop links, or anti-roll bar mounts.
• Surface corrosion on non-structural parts.
• Minor exhaust leaks.

Monitor and reassess at the next service or MOT:

• Early-stage wear items that are not safety-critical.
• Chips or minor cosmetic damage.

When in doubt, ask the MOT tester directly or get a second opinion from an independent garage. A reputable mechanic will tell you honestly whether an advisory is urgent or can wait.

What if my advisory from last year shows up again?

If the same advisory appears in two or more consecutive years, that is a strong signal the underlying problem is being ignored. Eventually it will turn into a major or dangerous defect and the car will fail. If you are looking at buying a used car, this is one of the clearest red flags in the MOT history. Either the previous owner has been kicking the can down the road, or they have tried a cheap fix that did not hold.

Every year you leave a repeat advisory, you are:

1. Making the eventual repair more expensive (wear compounds on wear).
2. Increasing your risk of an expensive MOT fail and retest fee.
3. Reducing the resale value of the car (savvy buyers check the history).
4. Potentially driving with deteriorating safety performance.

Can I see advisories from previous years?

Yes, and you do not need to pay for a report. Every MOT test result including its advisories is held on the DVSA's public database going back to 2005 for most vehicles. You can check the full history on our free car history check in 30 seconds using just the registration plate. The list below each test shows everything the tester noted, tagged as ADVISORY, MINOR, MAJOR, or DANGEROUS.

This is particularly useful when buying second-hand. A dealer or private seller might tell you "the MOT history is clean" but the paperwork tells the real story. Running a history check takes seconds and could save you thousands.

The bottom line

An MOT advisory is not a fail and it is not a reason to panic. It is, however, a free piece of expert advice from a qualified tester who has just spent 45 minutes under your car. Treat it as useful information, triage it by severity, and deal with the important ones before they escalate. Your wallet, your safety, and your next MOT will all thank you.

If you have just bought a car or are thinking about one, check its full MOT history for free before you hand over any money.