What Does an MOT Advisory Mean? Should You Worry?

Advisories, minor, major and dangerous

Since 2018 MOT results sort problems into categories. Dangerous and major defects are failures. Minor defects are passes, but the fault is recorded on your certificate. Advisories are passes too — they are things the tester has noticed that could become a problem.

An advisory is the tester's way of saying "keep an eye on this". It is not a legal requirement to fix it, but it is a good early warning.

Common advisories we see

Typical advisories include tyres close to the legal limit, slight corrosion on brake pipes, minor oil leaks, worn brake discs, and suspension bushes starting to perish. Each one is something that will usually turn into a failure at a later MOT if it is left.

You can see the advisories from your previous tests on the government MOT history service. It is worth checking before you buy a used car, too.

Which ones to fix first

Anything affecting tyres or brakes is the priority, because those parts keep you safe today, not in a year's time. Corrosion and leaks can usually be planned in at your next service.

We go through each advisory with you after the test and tell you honestly which can wait and which should not. You decide, and nothing is done without your approval.

Get your advisories checked in Brierley Hill

Bring your last MOT certificate or just your registration and we will look at the advisories and quote for anything worth doing. Call us on 01384 936310.