What does an MOT advisory mean?
An advisory is a note from the MOT tester. It means the item was not bad enough to fail the test, but it may need repair, replacement or monitoring soon.
One advisory may simply be normal wear. The same advisory appearing year after year can suggest the owner ignored maintenance.
MOT defect types explained
| Type | Meaning | Buyer risk |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous | Immediate safety or environmental risk. | High. Do not ignore it. |
| Major | The car failed and the defect had to be fixed. | Medium to high if repeated. |
| Minor | A defect that should be repaired but did not fail the car. | Usually lower, but still part of the pattern. |
| Advisory | Tester warning for future monitoring. | Important if recurring or linked to expensive areas. |
Advisories worth checking carefully
Pay close attention to advisories for corrosion, brake pipes, brake discs, tyres, suspension arms, ball joints, emissions and oil leaks. These can be ordinary wear items, but repeated mentions can point to expensive ownership.
Check MOT advisories by registration
Run a free MOT history check to see advisories, failures, mileage and previous MOT test results.
Check MOT history