Buying a car
MOT advisories: what they mean and what to ask
An advisory is something the MOT tester noticed that was not bad enough to fail the car. A car can pass with a long list of them. For a buyer they are some of the most useful lines in the MOT history, because they point to what is likely to need work next.
Updated
What is an MOT advisory?
An MOT advisory is an item the tester thinks could become more serious in the future. It doesn’t fail the car. GOV.UK’s advice is to monitor it and repair it if necessary. Advisories are printed on the MOT certificate and kept in the car’s MOT history, so a buyer can read them too.
Advisories and defects side by side
| On the MOT | What it means | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous | A direct and immediate risk to road safety or a serious impact on the environment | Fail. Do not drive it until it is repaired |
| Major | It may affect safety, put other road users at risk or harm the environment | Fail. Repair it straight away |
| Minor | No significant effect on safety or the environment | Pass. Repair it as soon as possible |
| Advisory | It could become more serious in the future | Pass. Monitor it and repair it if necessary |
These grades apply to tests from 20 May 2018. Older tests in a car’s history list its failures and advisories without them.
What advisories usually cover
Advisories are mostly about wear. The tester is saying a part meets the standard today but is on its way to not meeting it.
- Tyres wearing towards the legal limit or starting to crack
- Brake pads, discs or pipes that are worn or corroded
- Corrosion underneath the car or near the suspension mounts
- Oil leaks from the engine or gearbox
- Suspension joints and bushes that have started to wear
None of these failed the car on the day. Each one is a part that will need attention. The history tells you whether it got any.
How to read the advisories on a car you might buy
- Open the MOT history and read every test, starting with the oldest.
- Look for an advisory that comes back test after test. It usually means nobody dealt with it.
- Look for an advisory that became a failure at the next test. That suggests the owner left it until the MOT forced a repair.
- Look for advisories that disappear. If one is gone at the next test, ask for the invoice for the work.
- Check when the MOT runs out. If the next test is weeks away, any advisory left from the last one is a repair you may be paying for soon.
Find when a car’s MOT runs outCheck the mileage at each test
Questions to ask about the advisories
- What was done about each advisory on the last test?
- Can I see the invoices for that work?
- Why has the same advisory appeared at test after test?
- Does the asking price allow for the work still to do?
The Car Health Check reads the MOT history for you and turns this car’s own advisories into questions for the seller.
Questions to ask when buying a used carSee what each report includes
An advisory on your own car
Nothing has to be done about an advisory to keep the MOT. A minor defect also passes, but GOV.UK says to repair that as soon as possible.
The car has to stay roadworthy between tests whatever the certificate says. An advisory left alone for a year can be a failure at the next test.
FAQ
Questions people ask
Do I have to fix MOT advisories?
Not to keep the MOT: the car has passed. It still makes sense to have the part looked at before the next test comes round.
Can a car fail on an advisory?
Not at the test that records it. If the part wears further, a later test can find a major or dangerous defect there, which fails the car.
Is a car with lots of advisories a bad buy?
Not on its own. What matters is whether they were dealt with. A list that repeats unchanged from one test to the next is the warning sign.
Where can I see a car’s MOT advisories?
In its MOT history. The free check lists every test on record with its advisories, failures and mileage. GOV.UK’s own MOT history service shows the same tests.
How is an advisory different from a minor defect?
Both pass. A minor defect is a fault the tester found that should be repaired as soon as possible. An advisory is something that could turn into a problem later.
The checks in this guide
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