Your car has passed its MOT, but the certificate includes one or more advisories. Should you arrange the repairs straight away, keep an eye on them or simply wait until next year?
An MOT advisory is not a failure, but it should not be ignored. It is a warning that the tester has noticed wear, deterioration or another issue that does not currently justify failing the vehicle.
Some advisories can remain stable for a long time, while others can develop into safety problems or MOT failures surprisingly quickly.
What Is an MOT Advisory?
During an MOT, the tester checks whether your vehicle meets the required road safety and environmental standards on the day of the test.
An advisory is generally recorded when a component is worn or deteriorated but has not yet reached the point at which the vehicle must fail. The wording may describe the item as worn, corroded, deteriorated or close to a legal limit.
Common examples include:
- A tyre worn close to the legal tread limit
- Brake pads wearing thin
- Slight play in a suspension component
- A suspension bush beginning to deteriorate
- A shock absorber showing light misting of oil
- Corrosion that is not yet seriously weakening the vehicle
- A brake disc showing some wear, pitting or scoring
The car can still pass its MOT with advisories, but the tester is drawing your attention to items that may need monitoring or repairing.
Is an Advisory the Same as a Minor Defect?
No. Although both can appear on a passing MOT result, an advisory and a minor defect are not quite the same.
A minor defect is a defined MOT defect that has no significant effect on the safety of the vehicle or the environment. Where the relevant minor defect is found, the tester must record it.
An advisory is normally used when an item has not deteriorated enough to justify rejection, but the tester believes the driver should be made aware of it. Advisories can also cover certain issues with non-testable items noticed during the inspection.
Neither a minor defect nor an advisory causes an MOT failure on its own. Major and dangerous defects do.
When Does an MOT Advisory Become a Failure?
There is no fixed time limit. An advisory does not automatically become a failure at the next MOT, and a tester should not fail an item simply because it appeared as an advisory the previous year.
It becomes a failure when its actual condition reaches the relevant failure standard. This could happen gradually over thousands of miles or much sooner if the component deteriorates quickly.
Tyres Close to the Legal Limit
A car tyre may receive an advisory when its tread is getting low but is still legal. For most cars and light vans, the legal minimum is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tyre and around its complete circumference.
Once the tread drops below the required limit, the tyre is no longer simply an advisory. It will fail the MOT and may also make the car illegal to use on the road.
A tyre can also fail because of serious cuts, exposed cords, bulges or other structural damage, regardless of its tread depth.
Brake Pads and Discs
Brake pads may be advised when they are wearing thin but still have enough material to operate safely at the time of the test. As they continue to wear, braking performance can suffer and the pads may eventually damage the discs.
A braking defect can become an MOT failure when wear, damage or performance reaches the applicable rejection standard.
Because brakes are safety-critical, an advisory involving pads, discs, hoses or other braking components should be assessed promptly rather than left until the next annual test.
Suspension Bushes, Joints and Components
A tester may advise slight wear or deterioration in a bush or joint when it does not yet create excessive movement.
If the wear progresses and the movement becomes excessive, or the security and operation of the component are affected, it can become a major or dangerous defect.
Suspension wear can also affect steering, handling and tyre wear, so repairing it early may prevent further expense.
Shock Absorbers
Light oil misting on a shock absorber may be recorded as an advisory. This is different from a serious fluid leak or a shock absorber that is no longer functioning correctly.
If the leak worsens or the unit stops controlling the suspension properly, the vehicle may fail a later MOT. You may also notice excessive bouncing, poor stability, unusual noises or uneven tyre wear before then.
Corrosion
Surface corrosion does not automatically mean an MOT failure. Its location, severity and effect on the strength of the vehicle are what matter.
Corrosion can become a failure when it seriously weakens a load-bearing structure, braking component, steering mounting or another safety-critical part.
Rust tends to spread rather than improve, so early inspection and treatment can make the difference between a manageable repair and extensive welding later.
Should You Always Get MOT Advisories Fixed?
Not every advisory requires an immediate repair, but every advisory deserves attention.
The sensible response depends on:
- How safety-critical the component is
- How close it is to a legal or MOT limit
- How quickly it is likely to deteriorate
- The mileage you expect to cover
- The type of journeys you make
- Whether delaying the repair could damage other parts
An advisory for a tyre close to the limit before a long motorway journey is more urgent than minor surface corrosion on a non-structural component.
Similarly, worn brake pads may still pass today but could become unsafe well before the next MOT if the car covers high mileage.
Repair Promptly
Safety-related items involving tyres, brakes, steering, suspension or significant corrosion should normally be checked and dealt with promptly.
The same applies when a part is very close to its limit or likely to deteriorate rapidly.
Plan the Repair
Some items are safe for the moment but are likely to need replacement within the coming months.
Planning the work allows you to budget for it and may make it possible to combine the repair with a service, tyre change or other scheduled maintenance.
Monitor the Condition
Other advisories may only need monitoring. Your garage should explain what to watch for and when the item ought to be checked again.
Monitoring means inspecting it at sensible intervals, not forgetting about it until the next MOT.
Can You Ignore an Advisory Until the Next MOT?
You should not assume that a pass means the car will remain safe for another 12 months.
An MOT records the vehicle’s condition at the time it was tested. It is not a guarantee of future roadworthiness and it is not a replacement for servicing and maintenance.
You are responsible for keeping the vehicle roadworthy whenever it is used. A current MOT certificate does not make it acceptable to drive with a dangerous tyre, defective brake or another serious problem that develops after the test.
If the car begins pulling to one side, develops unusual noises, vibrates, handles differently or displays a warning light, do not wait for the next MOT. Arrange an inspection.
Why Fixing Advisories Early Can Save Money
Leaving a worn component in place can cause damage elsewhere.
Thin brake pads can damage discs, worn suspension components can shorten tyre life and untreated corrosion can spread into a much larger repair.
Repeated advisories also remain visible in the vehicle’s online MOT history. If you plan to sell the car, a long list of recurring advisories may suggest neglected maintenance. Receipts showing that advised work was completed can give a prospective buyer greater confidence.
Ask Your Garage to Explain the Priority
An MOT certificate gives you the wording of the advisory, but it does not always tell you how urgently you should act.
A good garage should be able to show you the issue, explain how worn the component is and tell you whether it needs immediate repair, planned replacement or monitoring.
At The Garage in Brentwood, we carry out MOT testing, servicing and vehicle repairs for cars and vans. If your latest MOT includes advisories, we can inspect them, explain which items need attention and help you plan the work sensibly, without replacing parts unnecessarily.
Contact The Garage to book an MOT, vehicle inspection, service or repair in Brentwood.