MOT rules & problems
MOT Advisories Explained: What You Need to Fix and When
An advisory is not a fail and not a legal obligation - but it is usually the most accurate forecast of next year's repair bill you will ever be handed.
Published by the Serviced247 editorial teamLast reviewed 29 August 2026Reviewed on inspection-manual change
Every year, thousands of drivers pass an MOT, put the certificate in the glovebox and never read the advisory list. Then the following year the same items come back as major defects, on a deadline, at a worse moment.
This guide explains what advisories actually are, how they differ from minor defects, which ones matter most, and how to use them as a maintenance plan.
Key takeaways
- Advisories record items that are wearing or approaching a limit but still meet the standard.
- A minor defect is different: it is a recorded defect that still passes, and it should be repaired as soon as possible.
- Advisories on brakes, tyres and suspension deserve immediate attention even though they passed.
- Advisories appear on the public MOT history for your registration, so buyers can see them.
- Acting on advisories early is normally cheaper than acting on them after they become failures.
What an advisory is
An advisory is the tester's note that an item is deteriorating or approaching the point where it would fail, but currently meets the required standard. The vehicle passes. There is no legal requirement to act, and no retest involved.
It is genuine, useful information: the tester has the car on a ramp and can see things you cannot see from the driveway.
Advisory versus minor defect
The distinction confuses people because both appear on a pass. A minor defect is a recorded defect with no significant effect on safety or the environment, and the guidance is to repair it as soon as possible. An advisory is a note about wear or a developing issue rather than a defect against the standard.
In practice, treat both as a to-do list ordered by how safety-critical the component is.
Which advisories to act on quickly
- Brake pads or discs worn close to the limit - braking performance degrades continuously, not on the test date
- Tyres approaching 1.6mm, or wearing unevenly - uneven wear also points to an alignment or suspension issue
- Corrosion noted near a prescribed area - corrosion never improves and repair costs rise steeply
- Play or wear in steering and suspension joints - these can move from advisory to dangerous quickly
- Fluid leaks - a light seep noted this year is often a genuine leak next year
Which can reasonably be planned
- Slight surface corrosion on non-structural areas
- Minor perishing on a component with plenty of life left
- Wear noted as 'slight' with no performance effect, on a non-safety-critical item
Reasonably planned means scheduled at your next service - not ignored for a year. Ask your garage to price the advisories at the next visit so you know what you are deferring.
Advisories are public
The MOT history service shows past results, mileage readings and advisories for any registration. That cuts both ways: it is a superb tool when buying a used car, and it means your own advisory list is visible to a future buyer. A pattern of repeated advisories on the same component tells a story.
Turning advisories into a maintenance plan
- Photograph or save the certificate the day you get it
- Ask your garage to quote the advisory items at your next car service
- Put the safety-critical ones in the diary within three months
- Re-read the list a month before next year's test and use it to build your pre-MOT checklist