MOT advisory check
Check a vehicle's MOT advisories and understand what they mean. An advisory is not a failure, but recurring notices can reveal maintenance patterns worth investigating before you buy.
What does an MOT advisory mean?
An advisory is a note from the MOT tester. It means the item was not bad enough to fail the test, but it may need repair, replacement or monitoring soon.
One advisory may simply be normal wear. The same observation across several dates is a reason to check its present condition and any repair records. The MOT history alone does not establish whether maintenance was carried out.
MOT defect types explained
| Type | Meaning | Buyer risk |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous | Immediate safety or environmental risk. | High. Do not ignore it. |
| Major | The car failed and the defect had to be fixed. | Medium to high if repeated. |
| Minor | A defect that should be repaired but did not fail the car. | Usually lower, but still part of the pattern. |
| Advisory | Tester warning for future monitoring. | Important if recurring or linked to expensive areas. |
Advisories worth checking carefully
Pay close attention to advisories for corrosion, brake pipes, brake discs, tyres, suspension arms, ball joints, emissions and fluid leaks. These can be ordinary wear items, but repetition can indicate deferred maintenance or an approaching repair.
Tyres and brakes
Check tread, cracking, uneven wear, brake-disc condition and whether the same axle appears repeatedly.
Suspension and steering
Repeated wear in bushes, joints or arms can affect handling and may involve several related components.
Corrosion
Ask where the corrosion is located and whether it is cosmetic, structural or close to a mounting point.
Emissions and leaks
Recurring emissions or leak observations deserve investigation, particularly when they later become failures.
What repeated MOT advisories can tell you
One advisory is a snapshot. The same observation over several tests is more informative because it may show that an item was monitored rather than repaired. Look at the wording, dates and mileage together: similar descriptions can refer to the same underlying component even when the wording changes slightly.
A later clean test may mean the item was repaired, but the MOT record does not document invoices or prove exactly what work was completed. Ask for receipts and inspect the vehicle's present condition.
Example: a tyre described as worn close to the legal limit one year and deteriorated the next deserves an immediate physical check, even if the latest MOT subsequently passed.
Should you buy a car with MOT advisories?
An advisory is not automatically a reason to reject a vehicle. Common wear items are expected as cars age. The more useful questions are whether the item is safety-related, whether it keeps returning and whether the asking price reflects any work likely to be needed.
- Compare the advisory with later MOT results.
- Ask the seller for repair invoices or service records.
- Inspect tyres, brakes, suspension and corrosion in person.
- Obtain a professional inspection when the risk or purchase price justifies it.
- Budget for unresolved wear rather than assuming a recent pass removed it.
Frequently asked questions
What does an advisory mean on an MOT?
It records an item the tester believes should be monitored or repaired, although it was not serious enough to cause that test to fail.
Does an MOT advisory need to be fixed immediately?
Not every advisory is urgent, but safety-related items and anything close to a legal limit should be checked promptly. Follow the tester's wording and obtain professional advice if unsure.
Do advisories remain on the MOT history?
Yes. The advisory remains part of that historical test record even if the item is later repaired.
Can a car pass with advisories?
Yes. Advisories do not themselves cause a failure, although the same component could deteriorate and fail at a later test.
How do I check MOT advisories by registration?
Use RegAdvisor's free MOT check and enter the registration. The available test history shows advisories and defects recorded for each test.
Check MOT advisories by registration
Run a free MOT history check to see advisories, failures, mileage and previous MOT test results.
Check MOT advisoriesMOT defect categories checked 14 September 2026 against GOV.UK MOT test results.