MOT advisories

MOT advisories,
explained.

An MOT advisory is a note from the tester about something that wasn’t bad enough to fail the test, but could become more serious in the future. An advisory on its own doesn’t make the car fail. Below is what the DVSA’s wording means, some common advisories, the point at which the MOT manual makes each one a fail, and how to tell us about them when you sell.

General information from the DVSA MOT inspection manual, not advice about your car.

Advisory, minor, major or dangerous?

Since May 2018 every problem found at an MOT is put in one of these groups. This is the DVSA’s own table, word for word:

MOT defect categories (DVSA)
Category	What the DVSA says	MOT result
Dangerous	A direct and immediate risk to road safety or has a serious impact on the environment. Do not drive the vehicle until it’s been repaired.	Fail
Major	It may affect the vehicle’s safety, put other road users at risk or have an impact on the environment. Repair it immediately.	Fail
Minor	No significant effect on the safety of the vehicle or impact on the environment. Repair as soon as possible.	Pass
Advisory	It could become more serious in the future. Monitor and repair it if necessary.	Pass
Pass	It meets the minimum legal standard. Make sure it continues to meet the standard.	Pass

Source: GOV.UK: MOT rule changes, 20 May 2018

Advisory or minor defect: what’s the difference?

Minor defects and advisories are both passes, but they aren’t the same thing. The MOT inspection manual says the tester must record a minor defect wherever one applies: “Unlike advisory items, the use of minor defects, where appropriate, is mandatory.”

An advisory is the tester’s note about an item that “is not sufficiently deteriorated to justify rejection”. The manual calls it best practice to tell the person presenting the car about “any items which are near to, but which have not yet reached the point of test failure”.

Common MOT advisories, in plain English

The wording below is how these advisories usually appear on an MOT certificate or in the MOT history. Next to each one is what it means in plain English, and the point at which the DVSA’s inspection manual for cars makes it a fail.

“Tyre worn close to legal limit / worn on edge”

What it means: The tread is still deeper than the legal minimum, but getting close to it, or the tyre is wearing more on one edge than the other.
When it becomes a fail: For cars, the tread must be at least 1.6mm deep across the central three-quarters of its width, all the way round. Tread that doesn’t meet that is a dangerous defect.
MOT manual: Section 5.2.3 Tyres

“Brake pad(s) wearing thin”

What it means: The brake pads still have enough friction material to pass, but they have worn down.
When it becomes a fail: A pad “worn down to wear indicator” is a major defect, and a pad “worn below 1.5mm” is a dangerous defect.
MOT manual: Section 1.1.13 Brake linings and pads

“Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened”

What it means: The surface of a brake disc shows wear, small pits or grooves, but not enough to fail.
When it becomes a fail: A disc that is “significantly and obviously worn” is a major defect. One that is “insecure, fractured or otherwise likely to fail” is a dangerous defect.
MOT manual: Section 1.1.14 Brake discs and drums

“Brake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other material”

What it means: The metal pipes that carry brake fluid have surface corrosion, or dirt or grease on them, but not enough to fail.
When it becomes a fail: A brake pipe that is “damaged or excessively corroded” is a major defect. One “at imminent risk of failure or fracture” is a dangerous defect.
MOT manual: Section 1.1.11 Rigid brake pipes

“Oil leak, but not excessive”

What it means: The tester saw an oil leak, but not at a level the manual fails.
When it becomes a fail: Fluid “leaking excessively and likely to harm the environment or to pose a safety risk to other road users” is a major defect. Fluid “leaking continuously and likely to pose a serious risk to road safety” is a dangerous defect.
MOT manual: Section 8.4.1 Fluid leaks

“Shock absorber has a light misting of oil”

What it means: There is a thin film of oil on the outside of a shock absorber (damper).
When it becomes a fail: The manual says “Slight seepage causing a film of fluid on a shock absorber is not a reason for rejection.” A shock absorber damaged so that it doesn’t work, or “showing signs of severe leakage”, is a major defect.
MOT manual: Section 5.3.2 Shock absorbers

“Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement”

What it means: A rubber bush or joint in the suspension has some wear (you may also see “ball joint has slight play”), but it hasn’t reached the fail point.
When it becomes a fail: “A suspension pin, bush, joint or bearing excessively worn” is a major defect. One “likely to become detached” is a dangerous defect.
MOT manual: Section 5.3.4 Suspension joints, pins and bushes

“Wheel bearing has slight play”

What it means: There is a little movement in a wheel bearing, but not enough to fail.
When it becomes a fail: “A wheel bearing with excessive play” or one that is “excessively rough” is a major defect.
MOT manual: Section 5.1.3 Wheel bearings

“Drive shaft joint constant velocity boot damaged but preventing the ingress of dirt”

What it means: The rubber boot that covers a driveshaft joint is worn or damaged, but it still keeps dirt out of the joint.
When it becomes a fail: A boot that is “severely deteriorated” is a minor defect (still a pass). One that is “missing, split or insecure so that it no longer prevents the ingress of dirt” is a major defect.
MOT manual: Section 6.1.7 Transmission

“Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened”

What it means: There is rust on the sub-frame or another part of the car’s structure that hasn’t reached the point the manual fails. The same wording is used for other parts, such as the underside.
When it becomes a fail: Structure “corroded to the extent that the rigidity of the assembly is significantly reduced” is a major defect. Around the load-bearing areas where parts such as the suspension are mounted (the “prescribed areas”, within 30cm of a mounting), corrosion fails if it has made a hole in the metal or the area doesn’t feel firm when pressed with a finger and thumb. The manual asks testers to tell the presenter about any corrosion that isn’t bad enough to fail.
MOT manual: Section 6.1.1 Vehicle structure and Appendix A: Structural integrity and corrosion

Windscreen chips and damage

What it means: Small chips or marks on the glass are often noted at the MOT. Depending on their size and position, they can be an advisory, a minor defect or a fail.
When it becomes a fail: Damage that affects the driver’s view of the road is a major defect; damage that doesn’t is a minor defect. To judge it, the manual uses two sizes: more than 10mm across in zone A (an area 290mm wide, centred on the steering wheel, inside the area the wipers sweep), or more than 40mm elsewhere in the swept area.
MOT manual: Section 3.2 Condition of glass

Wiper blades

What it means: A wiper blade that is starting to perish or smear may be noted.
When it becomes a fail: A “wiper blade defective” is a minor defect. A blade that is “missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen”, or a wiper that isn’t working, is a major defect.
MOT manual: Section 3.4 Windscreen wipers

Selling your car with MOT advisories

You don’t need to get anything done before you sell to us. When you type your reg on our homepage, we show the advisories from your car’s most recent MOT and ask where each one stands:

Not done. It’s still as the tester found it.
Done – I have the invoice. Just show the invoice to our driver on the day.
Done – no invoice. That’s fine. Our driver checks the work when they see the car.

Your answers are used to work out your price, and your price page shows what was taken into account.

Check your car’s MOT history

GOV.UK’s Check MOT history service shows whether each test was passed or failed, the mileage recorded, and what failed or had minor problems at each test. All you need is the registration number. In the MOT history, advisories are listed under “Monitor and repair if necessary (advisories)”.

Check the MOT history of a vehicle on GOV.UK

Questions people ask

What does an MOT advisory mean?

It’s a note from the tester about something that passed but could get worse. The DVSA’s wording for an advisory is: “It could become more serious in the future. Monitor and repair it if necessary.”

Is an MOT advisory a fail?

No. Advisories and minor defects are both passes. Only major and dangerous defects fail the MOT.

What is the difference between an advisory and a minor defect?

Both are passes. Testers must record a minor defect wherever one applies, while an advisory is an optional note about an item that is near to, but hasn’t reached, the point of failure.

Where can I see my car’s MOT advisories?

On the MOT certificate, and in GOV.UK’s Check MOT history service, which needs only the registration number.

Do I need to fix advisories before I sell my car to you?

No. When you get your price, tell us whether each advisory is Not done, Done with the invoice or Done without one. Our driver checks on the day.

What if the work was done but I don’t have the invoice?

Choose “Done – no invoice”. Our driver checks the work when they see the car.

Sources

General information from the DVSA MOT inspection manual, not advice about your car. Checked against the manual on 1 November 2026.

More guides: Free car check by reg · Cambelt or timing chain? · What year is my number plate? · All our car tools · How selling to us works

Selling your car?

Tell us what’s been sorted and get your price. Most cars get a price online in a couple of minutes.

Get my price →

MOT advisories,explained.

Your car’s MOT advisories, explained