MOT advisories explained: what they mean and what to fix first

You've passed your MOT, but the certificate lists three or four "advisories". What do they actually mean, and do you need to do anything? You're far from alone: in DVSA's 2023 data, 50% of cars left their MOT with at least one. Below is how they work, what the common ones mean and how to decide what to fix first.

What an advisory is

An advisory is a note from the tester about something that's worn, deteriorating or close to a limit, but not bad enough to fail the test today. It sits below the three defect categories (dangerous, major and minor) and never causes a fail on its own.

Testers record advisories so you can plan ahead. They're also stored permanently on the DVSA database, which means anyone who checks your vehicle's history, including future buyers, can see them.

For how advisories sit alongside dangerous, major and minor defects, see our guide to MOT defect categories.

The most common advisories, decoded

Tyres

Typical wording includes "worn close to legal limit", "worn on edge" or "slightly damaged/cracking or perishing".

• Close to the legal limit means the tread is approaching 1.6mm. Budget for new tyres within weeks, not months, especially before winter.
• Worn on edge suggests the wheel alignment or tyre pressures are off. Fix the cause, or new tyres will wear the same way.
• Cracking or perishing is common on older or rarely used tyres. Check the tyre age (the four-digit date code on the sidewall).

Brakes

Typical wording includes "brake pads wearing thin", "brake disc worn, pitted or scored" and "brake hose slightly deteriorated".

Pads and discs wear out, so an advisory here is routine. Pitting or scoring can mean the car has been standing for a while or used lightly. A deteriorating brake hose is worth looking at sooner, because hoses can fail suddenly.

Corrosion

The key phrase is whether corrosion is "not seriously affecting structure". Surface rust on the underside is common on older cars and often cosmetic. Corrosion on brake pipes, subframes, sills or suspension mounts is more serious and can be expensive to repair properly.

Suspension and steering

Typical notes mention worn bushes, slight play in a ball joint, or a split gaiter. Rubber components perish with age. They rarely need urgent attention, but worn suspension accelerates tyre wear and will eventually become a fail.

Oil and fluid leaks

"Oil leak, but not excessive" is one of the most common advisories on higher-mileage cars. A slight seep may never need fixing. A leak that grows from test to test, or a fluid leak near the brakes, needs investigating.

What to fix first

Not every advisory is equally urgent. This simple order helps you spend sensibly:

A practical approach:

1. List every advisory from your last test.
2. Mark each with a priority from the table above.
3. Get one quote for the whole list, rather than piecemeal, so labour can be shared.
4. Do the priority 1 items straight away.
5. Book priority 2 items before your next MOT window opens.
6. Ask your mechanic to check priority 3 and 4 items at the next service.

Driving on tyres below the legal limit can cost up to £2,500 and 3 penalty points per tyre, so tyre advisories deserve attention even though they didn't fail the test.

Repeated advisories: the real warning sign

One advisory is a note. The same advisory three years running is a pattern. It tells you the problem was known, cheap enough to ignore and never fixed. On your own car, that's a sign it's time to act. On a car you're thinking of buying, it's a sign to ask questions.

PlateWise groups repeated advisories by area (tyres, brakes, suspension, lights, corrosion, exhaust and other) so long-running problems stand out. Try it on any vehicle with our MOT advisories check.

Advisories when buying or selling

If you're buying

• Read the advisories from the last two tests. They describe the car as it is now.
• Ask the seller what's been fixed since, and ask for invoices.
• Use unresolved advisories in your negotiation. A set of tyres or a pair of brake discs is a real cost.
• Look at the flagged areas yourself at the viewing.

Our guide to reading a car's MOT history before buying covers this step by step.

If you're selling

Fixing advisories doesn't remove them from the record, but keeping receipts lets you show buyers they were dealt with. A folder of invoices next to the V5C turns a potential worry into evidence of a careful owner.

Talking to your garage about advisories

A list of advisories is a good starting point for a conversation with your mechanic. These questions help you get clear answers:

1. "How long have I got?" Ask for an honest estimate in months or miles, not just "it'll need doing".
2. "What happens if I leave it?" Some items only get gradually worse. Others, like a split CV joint gaiter, can lead to a much bigger repair if left.
3. "Can it be combined with my next service?" Sharing labour between jobs can save money.
4. "Can you show me?" A good garage will happily show you the worn part, or send a photo.
5. "Is this a repair or a replacement?" Some issues, such as slightly corroded brake discs, can sometimes be improved without fitting new parts.

Getting a second opinion is reasonable for anything expensive, particularly if the garage that tested the car is also quoting for the repair.

Advisories on older and newer cars

What counts as normal depends on the car's age and use.

• Cars at their first or second MOT rarely have more than one or two advisories, usually tyres. Several advisories on a three-year-old car can point to hard use or neglected maintenance.
• Cars between five and ten years old commonly collect advisories for brakes, suspension bushes and minor leaks. That's wear and tear, not a red flag.
• Older cars often carry corrosion advisories. The question is whether the wording says it's "not seriously affecting structure" and whether it's getting worse each year.
• Low-mileage cars often show brake disc corrosion, because the brakes aren't used enough to keep the discs clean.

Keeping a record

Keep a simple note of every advisory and what you did about it, with the date and mileage. A photo of each invoice in a phone album is enough. It helps you spot items that keep returning, and it gives a future buyer clear evidence that problems were dealt with rather than ignored.

Advisories and insurance

You don't normally need to tell your insurer about advisories. But your policy requires the car to be roadworthy, and if an advisory item fails and contributes to an accident, an insurer may question the claim. Treat safety-related advisories as a to-do list, not a footnote.

Summary

Advisories are early warnings, not failures. Fix safety items like tyres and brake hoses straight away, plan for the things that will fail next year, and keep an eye on the rest. On a used car, the pattern of advisories across several tests tells you more than any single result.