MOT Advisories Explained: What They Mean When Buying a Used Car
A car can pass its MOT and still have problems. That's what advisories are for. They're the MOT tester's way of saying "this passed today, but keep an eye on it."
For anyone buying a used car, advisories are one of the most useful things in the MOT history. They tell you what the tester noticed, when they noticed it, and whether the previous owner ever bothered to fix it.
What is an MOT advisory?
An MOT advisory is a note added to the test record when a tester spots something that isn't bad enough to fail the car, but is worn, deteriorating, or worth monitoring.
The car passes. The advisory is logged. The owner is technically informed but under no legal obligation to fix it.
That last part is important. Advisories are optional repairs. Some owners fix them promptly. Others ignore them for years. The MOT history tells you which kind of owner you're dealing with.
Advisories vs failures vs major defects
No issues, or only minor items noted. The car is road legal and in good condition.
The car passed but something needs monitoring or will likely need attention soon. No legal obligation to fix, but worth knowing about.
The car failed its MOT. A major defect must be fixed before driving legally. A dangerous defect means the car should not be driven at all until repaired.
Common MOT advisories: how worried should you be?
The wipers aren't clearing the screen cleanly. A £10-20 fix. It does suggest the owner isn't on top of basic maintenance, so consider what else they might have let slide.
A bulb has gone or is going. Cheap to replace. Not a structural concern, but again points to an owner who doesn't stay on top of basics.
One or more tyres are close to the 1.6mm minimum. Budget for replacements soon. If this advisory appears across multiple years with no sign of new tyres, the owner has been running the car on borderline-legal rubber for a long time.
The brakes are working but the pads or discs are getting thin. Budget for replacement. If this advisory has appeared two or three years in a row, the owner has been ignoring it. Worn-through pads become a dangerous defect and a much more expensive repair.
Worn bushes, corroded springs, loose anti-roll bar links, or play in ball joints. The tester spotted movement or deterioration but it hasn't crossed the failure threshold yet. Get a quote for the specific component and factor it into your offer.
The tester spotted evidence of a leak from the engine, gearbox, or steering system. A very minor weep from an old gasket might be manageable. A more significant leak left unaddressed leads to low fluid levels and overheating. Ask the seller and check for fresh staining under the engine bay at the viewing.
The steering system has play or is showing signs of age. Steering issues are worth taking seriously. If there's play in the wheel, get it checked by a mechanic before handing over any money.
Rust on body panels is cosmetic. Rust on a structural or load-bearing component is a different matter. This advisory means the tester has noticed corrosion that isn't bad enough to fail the car yet, but is progressing. Structural corrosion gets worse over time, especially in the UK climate. A car with this appearing repeatedly is one to think carefully about.
How to use advisories when buying a used car
Look for patterns, not just individual items
One advisory for worn brake pads isn't alarming. The same advisory appearing on three consecutive MOTs with no sign of repair tells you the owner has been ignoring maintenance for years. That car likely has other deferred work you can't see.
Check if advisories were resolved
The best sign is an advisory appearing once and then disappearing in the next test. That means the owner got it fixed. The worst sign is an advisory growing in severity year on year, moving from "monitored" to "failure."
Use advisories as a negotiating tool
If a car has a current advisory for something that needs attention, you have legitimate grounds to negotiate the price down. Get a quote for the work and take it off your offer.
Ask the seller directly
If there's an active advisory on the most recent MOT, ask the seller what they've done about it. A straight answer with receipts is reassuring. Vagueness is not.
See the full advisory history before you buy
The full MOT history including every advisory going back years is publicly available through the DVSA. Checking it manually means copying the plate and searching the government site for every car you look at.
Don't Buy A Lemon does this automatically on every listing you browse, so you can see the advisory history, pass and fail records, and mileage timeline without lifting a finger.
Frequently asked questions
Does an MOT advisory mean the car is unsafe? No. A car with an advisory has passed its MOT and is road legal. The advisory is a note that something needs monitoring, not that the car is dangerous right now.
How long do I have to fix an MOT advisory? There's no legal deadline. Advisories are not compulsory repairs. However, leaving them unaddressed means they may become failures at the next test.
Can an advisory become a failure? Yes. An advisory notes something that is deteriorating. If it's not addressed, the same item may fail the following year as the condition worsens.
Do MOT advisories affect insurance? Not directly. However, if you have an accident and an unresolved advisory is found to be a contributing factor, it could complicate a claim.
How do I check a car's full advisory history? Through the DVSA's free MOT history checker at check.mot.gov.uk, or automatically on every listing using the Don't Buy A Lemon Chrome extension.