Your car passed its MOT but the tester has noted several advisories. What do they actually mean, and do you need to act on them straightaway?
What is an MOT advisory
An advisory is an item the tester spotted that does not yet meet the threshold for a failure but is approaching it. The car has passed and is legally roadworthy, but the advisory item should be monitored and addressed before the next annual test.
Common examples include: a tyre approaching the minimum tread depth but not yet below it; minor surface corrosion on a brake disc that has not yet affected performance; a small oil leak that is not yet dripping onto the ground; slight play in a steering component that is not yet excessive.
Are advisories compulsory to fix
No. An advisory is not a legal requirement to repair before you can drive the car. However, leaving advisory items unaddressed can allow them to develop into MOT failures or, more seriously, into genuine safety problems.
How advisories appear on your MOT certificate
Your MOT result is recorded on the DVSA database and is publicly visible via the free MOT history check at check-mot.service.gov.uk. Each advisory is listed with a description and a reference number. You and any future buyer of the car can see the full advisory history going back to 2005.
The same advisory appearing twice or more
If the same item appears as an advisory on two or three consecutive MOTs and has never been repaired, that is a flag both for safety and for resale value. It tells a potential buyer that the car has been driven with a known issue repeatedly ignored. It also means the item is very likely to become a failure at the next test.
What to do with advisories
Ask your garage to explain each advisory in plain language. Some can wait until the next service. Others, particularly anything related to brakes, steering or tyres, should be addressed promptly. At Steins Garage we explain every advisory on the test result before you collect your car, and we give you a quote for any repairs at the same time. Book your MOT here or call 0131 554 3423.