Quick answer
An MOT advisory means the vehicle passed the MOT, but the tester noticed an issue that may need attention soon. It is not a fail, but it is still important because it can show wear, deterioration, leaks or future repair costs.
The most important advisories usually involve tyres, brakes, steering, suspension, corrosion, fluid leaks and warning lights. These areas can affect safety, future MOT results and repair costs.
Do not judge an MOT by “pass” alone. Read the advisories. They often show what the car may need next and whether the owner has been keeping up with maintenance.
What I normally see with MOT advisories
In real workshop situations, many drivers treat advisories like they do not matter because the car passed. That is the wrong way to look at it. Advisories are often the tester’s early warning that something is wearing, corroding or starting to deteriorate.
One light advisory may not be a big problem. What worries me is a pattern: the same tyre, brake, suspension, corrosion or oil leak advisory coming back year after year. That usually means the issue has been ignored instead of repaired.
When buying a used car, advisories are very useful. They can tell you where to inspect more carefully, what repairs may be coming and whether the seller is being honest about the car’s condition.
A pass with advisories is still a pass, but it is not the same as a clean bill of health. Always read the advisory wording properly.
What does an MOT advisory mean?
An MOT advisory is a note recorded by the MOT tester when an item is not bad enough to fail the test at that time, but still deserves attention.
In plain English, the car has passed, but the tester is warning you that something is worn, deteriorating, close to a limit, leaking slightly or worth monitoring before it becomes a bigger problem.
The car passed
An advisory is not the same as an MOT failure.
The issue was noticed
The tester spotted wear, deterioration, a leak or possible future concern.
You should monitor it
Some advisories become future failures if they are ignored.
Are MOT advisories serious?
Some MOT advisories are minor. Others are early warnings of safety-related faults or expensive future repairs. The seriousness depends on what part is affected, how the advisory is worded and whether it has appeared before.
Lower priority
Slight wear, light deterioration or minor non-urgent notes that need monitoring.
Medium priority
Tyres getting low, brake wear, suspension wear, small leaks or corrosion starting.
High priority
Anything linked to tyres, brakes, steering, suspension, corrosion, leaks or road safety.
The wording matters. “Slightly worn” is normally less urgent than “worn close to limit”, “excessively corroded”, “leaking”, “deteriorated” or “insecure”.
Which MOT advisories should you fix first?
Fix advisories in safety order, not convenience order. Anything that affects control, stopping distance, visibility, structural strength or fluid loss should be treated seriously.
Tyres
Low tread, cracks, cords, bulges or uneven wear should be dealt with quickly.
Low tyre tread MOT guide →Brakes
Brake pads, discs, pipes, hoses and imbalance advisories should not be left too long.
Brake pads MOT guide →Steering
Steering play, damaged joints or power steering leaks can become safety issues.
Steering rack MOT guide →Suspension
Worn bushes, ball joints, springs or shock absorbers can affect control and tyre wear.
Suspension MOT guide →Corrosion
Rust should be checked early, especially near sills, subframes or suspension mountings.
Rust MOT guide →Leaks
Oil, coolant, brake fluid or power steering leaks can worsen and become costly.
Oil leak MOT guide →Common MOT advisory examples
Tyre tread wearing low
The tyre may still be legal, but it is moving closer to needing replacement.
Tyre tread guide →Brake pads wearing thin
The brakes passed, but the pads may need replacing before the next MOT.
Brake pad cost guide →Brake discs corroded
Light corrosion may be noted before it becomes a braking performance issue.
Brake MOT failure guide →Suspension bush worn
Wear may not yet be excessive, but it can affect handling and tyre wear later.
Lower arm MOT guide →Corrosion noted
Rust may not yet fail, but it should be watched carefully on older vehicles.
Rust MOT failure guide →Oil leak noted
A minor leak may pass, but leaks can worsen and may hide bigger faults.
Oil leak MOT guide →MOT advisory wording clues
Do not only count advisories. Read the wording carefully. Two cars can both have three advisories, but one may be much riskier than the other.
“Slightly worn”
Usually early wear. Monitor it and ask when replacement may be needed.
“Worn close to limit”
More urgent. The item may soon become a failure or safety concern.
“Corroded”
Needs careful checking, especially near brakes, suspension, sills or structural areas.
“Leaking”
Leaks can worsen quickly. Identify the fluid and source before it becomes expensive.
“Deteriorated”
Often means rubber, metal or mounting condition is declining and may need future repair.
Repeated wording every year
Repeated advisories suggest the issue has been left unresolved.
What happens if you ignore MOT advisories?
Ignoring an advisory does not automatically make the car illegal if it passed the MOT, but it can lead to bigger problems later.
- !Tyre advisories can become illegal tread or unsafe tyre damage.
- !Brake advisories can become poor braking, grinding or MOT failure.
- !Suspension advisories can cause knocks, poor handling and uneven tyre wear.
- !Corrosion advisories can become structural MOT failures.
- !Leaks can worsen and cause low oil, low coolant, brake fluid loss or power steering faults.
- !Repeated advisories can reduce buyer confidence when selling the car.
Why MOT advisories matter when buying a used car
MOT advisories are useful because they show more than whether a car passed. They can reveal maintenance habits, repeated issues and upcoming repair costs.
One minor advisory
Not always a problem, especially on an older car if the price and condition are fair.
Several safety advisories
Tyres, brakes, steering and suspension advisories should affect your buying decision.
Repeated advisories
The same issue appearing year after year can suggest neglect or delayed repairs.
Advisories disappear suddenly
Ask for repair evidence. Sometimes work was done; sometimes wording changed.
Before buying, use our used car inspection checklist, used car test drive checklist and MOT history check guide.
Can advisories lead to repair costs?
Yes. Advisories often highlight parts that are wearing out. Fixing them early can sometimes prevent a larger bill later.
- ÂŁBrake advisories: see brake pad replacement cost UK.
- ÂŁSuspension advisories: see can suspension fail MOT?
- ÂŁRust advisories: see can rust fail MOT?
- ÂŁWheel bearing play: see wheel bearing replacement cost UK.
- ÂŁGeneral repair prices: see our car repair costs guide UK.
Repeated MOT advisories: why they matter
One MOT advisory is not always a big problem. The bigger warning sign is when the same advisory appears year after year. Repeated advisories usually mean the issue has been ignored, delayed or only partly repaired.
Repeated tyre advisories
Can suggest poor tracking, worn suspension or a car that is not being maintained properly.
Repeated brake advisories
Can mean pads, discs, pipes or hoses are being left until they eventually become MOT failures.
Repeated rust advisories
Often become more expensive because corrosion normally gets worse every year if left untreated.
A single MOT advisory is rarely a reason to walk away from a car. However, the same advisory appearing year after year often suggests the owner has delayed maintenance or ignored developing problems.
MOT advisory vs minor defect vs major defect
Advisory
The vehicle passes, but an issue has been noted for monitoring or future repair.
Minor defect
A defect exists but is not serious enough to fail the MOT. It should still be repaired.
Major or dangerous defect
The vehicle fails the MOT and needs repair before a valid pass is issued.
For more detail, read common MOT failure reasons UK and MOT retest rules UK.
What should you do after an MOT advisory?
- âś“Read the advisory wording carefully instead of just counting how many there are.
- âś“Prioritise anything related to tyres, brakes, steering, suspension, corrosion or leaks.
- âś“Ask a garage how urgent the issue is if you are unsure.
- âś“Plan repairs before the advisory becomes a failure.
- âś“Keep receipts if you fix the issue, especially when selling the car later.
- âś“Check old MOT history to see whether the same advisory appears repeatedly.
If your MOT is due soon, use our how to prepare for MOT test UK guide.
Best mechanic-style advice
Do not ignore advisories just because the car passed. MOT advisories are often the tester’s way of saying: “This is not a fail today, but it is heading that way.”
If the advisory affects tyres, brakes, steering, suspension, corrosion or leaks, treat it as a repair planning warning rather than a note to forget.
When buying a used car, repeated advisories are more important than one isolated advisory. Repetition tells you the issue has probably been left, delayed or only partly dealt with.
Related MOT and used car guides
Frequently asked questions
What does an MOT advisory mean?
An MOT advisory means the car passed, but the tester noticed an issue that should be monitored, maintained or repaired before it becomes worse.
Does an MOT advisory mean the car failed?
No. An advisory means the car passed. It is not a failure, but it is still worth taking seriously.
Can I ignore an MOT advisory?
You can legally continue driving if the car passed, but ignoring advisories can lead to future failures, repair bills or safety issues.
Should I fix MOT advisories straight away?
Safety-related advisories such as tyres, brakes, steering, suspension, corrosion and leaks should be prioritised. Less urgent items may be monitored, but should not be forgotten.
Are MOT advisories bad when buying a used car?
Not always. A few minor advisories may be normal on an older car, but repeated or serious advisories should affect your decision and the price.
Do MOT advisories show online?
Yes. MOT history normally shows previous advisories, failures and mileage records, which can help you judge how well a car has been maintained.
Can an advisory become a failure next year?
Yes. Wear, corrosion, leaks, tyre condition and brake issues can get worse and become MOT failures later.
Should I buy a car with many MOT advisories?
Only with caution. Check what the advisories are, whether they repeat, how expensive they may be and whether the price reflects the risk.
What advisories are most urgent?
Tyres, brakes, steering, suspension, corrosion, leaks and safety-related advisories should be treated as the highest priority.
Can MOT advisories help negotiate price?
Yes. If advisories point to upcoming repairs such as tyres, brakes, suspension, corrosion or leaks, they can be used when discussing the price.