MOT advisories explained: what they mean when buying a car
A car's MOT history is free to see and tells you a lot about how it's been looked after. The advisories (problems that weren't bad enough to fail) are often the most useful part.
In short
- Dangerous and major defects mean the car failed.
- Minor defects and advisories mean it passed, but something needs attention.
- The same advisory year after year suggests a problem that's been left.
- An MOT doesn't check the condition of the engine, clutch or gearbox.
The four types of MOT result
Since May 2018, problems found at an MOT are put into these groups:
| Result | What it means | Pass or fail? |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous | A direct risk to road safety or the environment. The car shouldn't be driven until it's repaired. | Fail |
| Major | Could affect safety or the environment. Must be repaired. | Fail |
| Minor | No significant effect on safety or the environment, but should be repaired as soon as possible. | Pass |
| Advisory | Something to keep an eye on that could get worse and need repair in future. | Pass |
Which advisories matter when you're buying?
Usually not a big deal
- Tyres “close to the legal limit” or slightly worn. Budget for new ones.
- Brake pads or discs “wearing”: normal maintenance.
- Wiper blades, bulbs and minor oil “misting”.
Worth a closer look
- Corrosion, especially on the sills, subframes, brake pipes or suspension. Light surface rust is common on older cars, but corrosion to the car's structure can be expensive to put right.
- Oil leaks rather than “misting”.
- Suspension and steering wear, such as worn joints, bushes or play in the steering.
- Exhaust leaks or emissions close to the limit.
Other things to look for in the MOT history
- Mileage: the reading should go up at every test. A drop is a red flag: see how to spot a clocked car.
- Gaps: a missing year can mean the car was off the road (perhaps after an accident) or driven without an MOT. Ask why.
- Fails and retests: a fail followed by a quick pass is normal. Repeated fails for the same thing are less reassuring.
What an MOT doesn't tell you
An MOT is a safety and emissions check on the day. It doesn't check the condition of the engine, clutch or gearbox, and it isn't a guarantee for the next 12 months. Use it alongside a test drive, the service history and a full buying checklist.
See a car's full MOT history
Enter a registration in the Your Car Data free check to see every MOT test on record: passes, fails, advisories and mileage. It highlights problems that keep coming back and any gaps in the history, and tells you when the next MOT is due.
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