MOT Advisories and Failures Explained: What They Mean for Your Car

Summary

• Advisory: A minor issue that didn't fail the test but could become a problem. No action required immediately, but keep an eye on it.
• Minor defect: A small issue that passed but needs attention. Won't fail your MOT but is recorded.
• Major defect: A serious problem that fails the MOT. Must be fixed before the car is road legal.
• Dangerous defect: An immediate safety risk. Fails the MOT and you cannot drive the car at all.

Got your MOT results back and confused by the different categories?

You're not alone. The MOT system uses specific terms that can be confusing if you don't know what they mean.

This guide explains exactly what advisories, minor defects, major defects, and dangerous defects mean. And what you should do about each one.

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What Are MOT Advisories?

An advisory is a note from the MOT tester about something that's not perfect but didn't cause a fail.

Think of it as a heads-up. The part is still legal, but it's showing wear or could become a problem later.

Common Advisory Examples

• Tyres wearing: Tread is legal but getting low (e.g., "Tyre worn close to legal limit")
• Brake pads thinning: Still working fine but will need replacing soon
• Minor corrosion: Surface rust that hasn't affected structural parts
• Small windscreen chip: A chip that's not in the driver's direct view
• Slight oil leak: Minor seepage that's not dripping

What to Do About Advisories

You don't have to fix advisories immediately. But you should:

1. Take note of what was flagged
2. Plan to address it before it becomes worse
3. Factor it into your maintenance budget
4. Fix it before next year's MOT to avoid a fail

Pro tip: If you're buying a used car, check its MOT history for recurring advisories. The same issue appearing year after year suggests it's never been properly fixed.

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MOT Defect Categories Explained

Since May 2018, the MOT uses a defect classification system. Here's what each category means:

Category	What It Means	Can You Drive?
Pass	No problems found	Yes ✓
Advisory	Minor issue to monitor	Yes ✓
Minor defect	Small issue, car still passes	Yes ✓
Major defect	Serious issue, car fails	Yes, but repair needed
Dangerous defect	Immediate safety risk, car fails	No ✗

Minor Defects

A minor defect is a small problem that doesn't affect safety enough to fail the test. It's recorded on your MOT certificate, but you still pass.

Examples: A slightly damaged wiper blade, minor bodywork corrosion, small exhaust leak.

Major Defects

A major defect means your car fails the MOT. The issue poses a risk to safety, the environment, or other road users.

You can still drive the car (carefully) to get it repaired. But it's not road legal until fixed and retested.

Examples: Worn brake pads below minimum thickness, bald tyres, faulty headlights, excessive emissions.

Dangerous Defects

A dangerous defect is an immediate safety risk. Your car fails and you cannot drive it at all. Not even to a garage.

The car must be repaired on-site or transported by trailer/flatbed truck.

Examples: Severely worn brakes with almost no stopping power, steering about to fail, wheels loose.

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What to Do If Your Car Fails the MOT

Don't panic. Around 40% of cars fail their first MOT attempt. Here's what to do:

1. Understand Why You Failed

The tester will give you a failure certificate listing exactly what's wrong. Read it carefully. Ask questions if anything is unclear.

2. Decide on Repairs

You have options:

• Fix at the same garage: Many MOT centres do repairs. If fixed the same day, they may retest for free.
• Take it elsewhere: You can drive to another garage (if it's a major, not dangerous, defect) and get it fixed there.
• Partial retest: Return to the same test centre within 10 working days and pay a reduced retest fee.

3. Get a Retest

Once repairs are done, the car needs retesting. If you go back to the same centre within 10 working days, you'll pay for a partial retest (only the failed items). After 10 days, you'll pay for a full test again.

For more details, see our guide on how the MOT test works.

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Most Common Reasons for MOT Failure

These are the top reasons cars fail the MOT each year:

1. Lights and signalling: Blown bulbs, faulty indicators, dim headlights (about 30% of failures)
2. Suspension: Worn shock absorbers, damaged springs, loose components
3. Brakes: Worn pads/discs, poor efficiency, imbalanced braking
4. Tyres: Tread below 1.6mm, damage, wrong size
5. Driver's view: Cracked windscreen, worn wipers, obstructed vision
6. Emissions: Exhaust system faults, high CO2 readings

Most of these are easy to check yourself before the test. Replace any blown bulbs. Check your tyre tread. Listen for strange noises from the suspension.

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How to Check Previous Advisories and Failures

You can view all past MOT advisories and failures online for free:

1. Go to gov.uk/check-mot-history
2. Enter the registration number
3. View full history including all advisories and failure reasons

This is especially useful before buying a used car. Recurring advisories suggest ongoing problems. Multiple failures might indicate poor maintenance.

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Common Questions

Do I have to fix MOT advisories?

No. Advisories don't stop you passing. But they're warnings that something needs attention soon. Ignoring them could mean a fail next year.

Can I drive with a major defect?

Technically yes, but only to get repairs. The car has no valid MOT, so you're not covered by insurance for normal driving. Get it fixed ASAP.

Can I drive with a dangerous defect?

No. A dangerous defect means the car is not safe to drive at all. It must be repaired on-site or transported by trailer.

How long does the retest take?

A partial retest only checks the failed items. It typically takes 10-15 minutes compared to 45-60 minutes for a full test.

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Final Thoughts

MOT advisories are early warnings. Pay attention to them and you'll avoid failures next year.

If you fail, don't stress. Get the repairs done, get a retest, and you're back on the road. It happens to millions of cars every year.

The key is understanding what each category means so you know how urgently you need to act. Now you do.

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