MOT Advisories: What They Mean and Should You Worry?

Got an MOT advisory? Here's what it means, whether you need to act on it, and how to check your full MOT history for free.

MOT Advisories: What They Mean

An MOT advisory is a heads-up from the tester. Your car has passed, but something is showing early signs of wear that could become a failure point next time.

Advisory vs failure

• Pass with advisory: Your car is road-legal. The item noted is not yet bad enough to fail, but it's heading that way.
• Fail: The item doesn't meet the legal minimum standard. It must be fixed before the car can pass.

Common advisories

• "Tyre wearing close to legal limit" — replace within a few months
• "Brake disc worn, close to minimum" — budget for new discs before next MOT
• "Slight oil leak" — monitor it, fix if it worsens
• "Corrosion on subframe" — watch for structural deterioration
• "Shock absorber has slight leak" — will likely fail next year

Should you fix advisories?

Yes, usually. Advisories become next year's failures. Fixing them early is almost always cheaper than waiting — a worn brake disc advisory costs £80 to fix now, but if it damages the caliper it's £250 later.

Check your full advisory history

Our paid report shows every MOT test, every advisory, and every failure your vehicle has ever had. You can see patterns — like recurring suspension advisories that suggest a bigger underlying issue.

Get your full MOT history