An MOT advisory is a warning that a part passed the test but is wearing and may fail in future. It is not a fail, but it signals maintenance you should plan and monitor.
Last reviewed: June 2026
What an MOT advisory actually means
An advisory is the tester's way of telling you that a part of your vehicle still meets the legal standard on test day, but it is showing wear or early signs of a fault that could deteriorate before the next inspection. Unlike a defect that causes a fail, an advisory does not stop the certificate being issued. It sits on the record as a flag, a prompt to keep an eye on the component and budget for repair when it crosses the line.
- An advisory is a note from the tester that a component passed but is wearing or may need attention before the next test, and it does not cause a fail.
- DVSA introduced the current defect categories of dangerous, major, minor and advisory in May 2018.
- Only dangerous and major defects cause an MOT fail; minor defects and advisories are recorded on a pass certificate.
- All advisories are stored on the DVSA database and can be viewed free through the GOV.UK check MOT history service.
- The maximum MOT fee for a car is £54.85, so reading advisories carefully helps you plan repairs before the next paid test.
The advisory system exists because roadworthiness is not a simple pass or fail switch for every part. A brake disc that is lightly scored, a tyre with a few millimetres of tread left, or a small oil weep are all conditions that are acceptable now but trending in the wrong direction. The tester records what was seen so the owner has an honest picture of the vehicle's condition rather than a bare pass mark with no detail.
How advisories sit alongside the May 2018 defect categories
In May 2018 DVSA reformed how MOT faults are described, replacing the older pass-or-fail-with-advisories model with a graded set of categories. The categories are dangerous, major, minor and advisory. Dangerous and major defects both cause a fail. A dangerous defect means the vehicle should not be driven until repaired because it presents a direct risk to safety or the environment. A major defect also fails the test and must be put right, though it does not carry the same immediate do-not-drive warning.
Minor defects and advisories both appear on a pass certificate. A minor defect is a fault that has been identified as needing repair but is not serious enough to fail the vehicle, whereas an advisory is closer to a heads-up about wear that may become a problem later. The practical difference matters when you read your certificate, because the wording and the category tell you how urgently you should act.
| Category | Result | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous | Fail | Direct and immediate risk to safety or the environment; do not drive until repaired. |
| Major | Fail | A serious fault that must be repaired before the certificate is issued. |
| Minor | Pass | A fault recorded on a pass certificate that should be repaired as soon as possible. |
| Advisory | Pass | A note of wear or early deterioration to monitor before the next test. |
How to read the advisory section of your certificate
The MOT certificate and the digital record both list any advisories under a clearly headed section, separate from defects that affected the result. Each entry names the component, describes what the tester observed and, where relevant, notes the location on the vehicle such as nearside front or offside rear. The language is standardised, which means the same wording appears across different test centres for the same condition.
Reading the advisories carefully is worthwhile because they form a running history of the vehicle. If the same advisory appears two years in a row and the description worsens, that is a clear sign the part is approaching the point of a fail. Because every advisory is held on the DVSA database, you can compare across years through the GOV.UK check MOT history service and spot trends rather than relying on memory.
A walk-through of common advisories
Some advisories appear far more often than others because they relate to parts that wear steadily with normal use. Brakes are a frequent example: a tester may record that a brake disc is worn, pitted or scored, meaning the friction surface is no longer smooth but still within limits. That specific notice is covered in detail in the guide on a brake disc worn, pitted or scored advisory.
Tyres are another common source of advisories. The minimum legal car tyre tread is 1.6mm across the central three-quarters of the tread and around the whole circumference, and a tester will often flag a tyre that is approaching that figure even though it still passes. The guide on a tyre worn close to the legal limit explains how to judge when replacement is due. Corrosion advisories are also widespread on older vehicles, where surface rust on the underbody or brake pipes is noted but has not yet weakened a structural area; the detail is set out in the guide on corrosion advisories.
Steering and suspension generate their share of advisories too. A small amount of play in the steering rack, slight wear in a track rod end, or a worn anti-roll bar bush may all be recorded. Play in the steering is explained in the guide on a steering rack play advisory. Beyond these, testers commonly note bulbs that work but are dim, light oil leaks that are not dripping onto hot parts, and exhaust components beginning to corrode. None of these stops the pass, but each is a maintenance signal worth tracking.
Why advisories are a maintenance signal, not a verdict
The most useful way to treat advisories is as a free condition report rather than a list of problems to ignore because the car passed. A part flagged as an advisory has not failed any test, but the tester is drawing on experience to predict where the next failure is likely to come from. Acting on that information at a convenient time is usually cheaper and safer than waiting for the component to deteriorate into a major or dangerous defect.
There is no legal requirement to repair an advisory immediately, and a vehicle with several advisories remains perfectly legal to drive on a valid certificate. The judgement call is about timing and safety. A tyre advisory close to the limit may warrant prompt action, while a note of light surface corrosion might simply be monitored. The point is to make that decision deliberately, using the recorded detail, rather than discarding the certificate the moment you see the word pass.
What action to take after an advisory
Start by reading every advisory in full and noting the component and severity of the description. Where the wording suggests the part is close to a fail, such as a tyre near the tread limit or a brake disc heavily worn, arrange a quote and plan the work before it becomes a fail next year. For milder notes, monitor the part and revisit it at your next service. Keeping a simple log of advisories year on year turns a one-off note into a maintenance plan.
If you are unsure how serious an advisory is, the test centre that issued it can usually explain the finding, and an independent mechanic can inspect the component and advise on cost. Because the advisory is already on the DVSA record, any garage can pull the history and see exactly what was flagged. That transparency is one of the strengths of the system: the information follows the vehicle rather than living only on a piece of paper.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an MOT advisory?
An MOT advisory is a note from the tester that a component passed the test but is wearing or beginning to deteriorate. It is recorded on the pass certificate and the DVSA database as a prompt to monitor or repair the part before it becomes a defect. It does not affect the result of the test.
Is an MOT advisory a fail?
No. Only dangerous and major defects cause an MOT fail. An advisory appears on a pass certificate, which means the vehicle met the required standard on test day. The advisory simply flags wear that may need attention before the next inspection.
Do I have to fix MOT advisories?
There is no legal obligation to repair an advisory straight away, and the vehicle remains legal to drive on a valid certificate. However, advisories often warn of parts approaching a fail, so addressing them at a convenient time can prevent a more serious and costly defect later. The urgency depends on the component and the severity described.
Where do I find my MOT advisories?
Advisories are listed on your MOT certificate and are also held on the DVSA database. You can view the full history, including advisories from previous years, free of charge through the GOV.UK check MOT history service using your vehicle registration. This lets you compare advisories across multiple tests.
What is the difference between a minor defect and an advisory?
A minor defect is a recognised fault that should be repaired as soon as possible, while an advisory is closer to a heads-up about wear that may become a problem in future. Both appear on a pass certificate and neither causes a fail. The minor defect generally carries slightly more urgency than an advisory.
