What MOT advisory notices mean

Since the 2018 defect categories, testers record problems as dangerous, major, minor or advisory. Dangerous and major defects fail the test. Minor defects are recorded on a pass. Advisories sit beneath that: not a fail today, but close enough that the tester wants it on the public record.

Can you drive with advisories?

Yes, if the test was a pass and there is a valid certificate. Advisories do not cancel the MOT. They also do not give you a free pass if the component later becomes illegal. A tyre that was “close to the limit” in March can be below 1.6mm in June. At that point you are driving on an illegal tyre even though the MOT is still in date.

Insurers and courts care about roadworthiness, not just the paper certificate. If you crash and a worn tyre or leaking shock that was already advised contributed to the incident, “but it passed” is a weak defence.

What typical advisories are trying to tell you

• Tyres close to limit — budget replacements now. Do not wait for the next test.
• Brake pads or discs worn — performance can drop quickly once the last of the material goes. Get a measurement, not a guess.
• Oil leak, not excessive — leaks tend to grow. They also attract dirt, dry out mounts, and can become an environmental fail.
• Corrosion, not excessive — the tester has already put a marker on a structural or safety-related area. Photograph it and monitor it. Next year it may be a major.
• Play in a joint or rack — wear does not reverse. It is a steering or suspension item that will eventually fail the play test.
• Light misting on a damper — the shock is starting to leak. Handling and tyre wear suffer before the MOT does.

Minor defects versus advisories

A minor defect is a recorded fail-to-meet-the-ideal that still allows a pass — for example a damaged windscreen outside the critical zone, or a lamp that works but is slightly insecure. An advisory is often more predictive: the item works, but wear is obvious. In practice, both should go on your job list. The difference is legal category, not whether you should spend the money.

Repeated advisories are a character study

Open five years of history. If “n/s front tyre close to limit” appears three times, someone has been rolling the same tyre down to the wire. If a leak is advised annually and never disappears, it was never fixed. That pattern is useful when you negotiate. It is also useful when you own the car: the next MOT tester will see the same notes and will be less generous if the wear has moved on.

Sellers sometimes say advisories are “just the tester being picky”. Some testers are more descriptive than others. A note that names a side, a component and a standard is rarely invented. Believe the specific ones.

What to do the week you get an advisory

1. Copy the wording into a note on your phone so you do not rely on memory.
2. Ask an independent garage for a measurement or photo, not a vague “it’ll be fine”.
3. Price the repair while the MOT is still valid, so you are not hostage to a fail later.
4. Keep the invoice. The next buyer, and the next tester, will want to see that the item was addressed.

Buying a car that is covered in advisories

A long advisory list is not automatically a reason to reject the car. A well-used vehicle can collect honest notes. Add up the work at independent labour rates. If the list is £400 of tyres and blades, that is a discount conversation. If it is corrosion on sills, a leaking rack and a misting damper on each corner, you are looking at a project. Walk the car with the printout in your hand and inspect those exact points.

Never let a seller tell you advisories “don’t matter because it passed”. They matter precisely because it passed. The tester chose not to fail it, and still wanted the next person to know.

Dangerous defects are a different universe

If a defect is marked dangerous, stop. The vehicle should not be driven until it is repaired, even if a previous certificate has not expired. That is the bright line. Advisories live on the other side of it — legal to drive, unwise to ignore.