MOT advisories vs failures: what each result means
The difference between an MOT advisory, a minor defect, a major fail and a dangerous fail, and which ones should change how you view a used car.
Updated
An MOT advisory is a note, not a fail. It means the tester saw something near the point of failure, or worth mentioning, on the day of the test, and the car still passed. A minor defect also passes. A major or dangerous defect fails the test, and a dangerous one means the car must not be driven until it is repaired. For a buyer, one advisory on its own says little. The same advisory year after year says a lot.
The four categories at a glance
Since 20 May 2018 the tester puts every defect into a category. The category decides whether the car passes.
| Category | Pass or fail | What it means | What the owner should do |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advisory | Pass | Not a defect, but near the point of failure or worth noting | Monitor it and repair it if necessary |
| Minor | Pass | No significant effect on safety or the environment | Repair it as soon as possible |
| Major | Fail | May affect safety, put other road users at risk or harm the environment | Repair it immediately |
| Dangerous | Fail | A direct and immediate risk to road safety, or a serious impact on the environment | Do not drive the car until it is repaired |
The certificate or the refusal notice lists each item with its category. The GOV.UK MOT history service shows failed items and minor problems for tests in England, Scotland and Wales.
Advisories
The DVSA inspection manual says it is good practice for the tester to tell the person presenting the car about any items that are near to, but have not reached, the point of failure. These are recorded as advisories. Typical examples are a tyre worn close to the legal limit, a corroded brake pipe that is not yet bad enough to fail, or a light oil misting on a shock absorber.
An advisory does not legally have to be fixed. Nothing stops the car passing again next year with the same note. It is a warning, though, and many advisories turn into fails if they are left.
Some advisories also tell you what the tester could not see. The test is done without dismantling the car, so a note that a part could not be fully inspected means it was hidden on the day, not that it was fine.
Minor defects
A minor defect is a real fault that does not have a significant effect on the safety of the car or on the environment. The inspection manual also uses the category for other minor non-compliances. The car passes, but the owner should repair it as soon as possible, and the same part can be graded major at a later test if it gets worse.
Major defects
A major defect fails the test. It may affect the car's safety, put other road users at risk or have an impact on the environment. Brake pads worn past the minimum mark, tyre tread below the legal minimum and exhaust emissions over the limit are typical examples in the inspection manual.
If the old MOT is still valid and no dangerous defect was listed, the owner may take the car away. It must still meet the minimum standards of roadworthiness. Our guide to MOT retest rules explains when the retest is free.
Dangerous defects
A dangerous defect is a direct and immediate risk to road safety, or has a serious impact on the environment. The car fails, and it must not be driven until it is repaired, even if the old MOT has time left on it. GOV.UK says you can be fined up to £2,500, banned from driving and given 3 penalty points for driving a car that failed its MOT with a dangerous problem.
Why repeated advisories matter more to a buyer
A single advisory is common, and what matters is the pattern.
- The same item on several tests in a row. The owner was warned and chose not to act. Ask why.
- An advisory that became a fail. It confirms the warning was real. Ask what was repaired and ask for the invoice.
- Corrosion advisories that spread. Rust on brake pipes, subframes or near suspension mounts tends to get worse with time.
- Advisories that disappear without a fail. This can mean the part was fixed between tests, which is a good sign if the owner can show it.
Tyres, wiper blades and bulbs are wear items. They come and go and are cheap to put right. Brakes, suspension, steering and structural corrosion deserve more attention. Our guide on how to read MOT history has a full step-by-step method.
Putting one car's results in context
An advisory list means more when you know what is normal for the model at that age. Our MOT fail rates by model pages compare each model's fail rate with all cars of the same age, using DVSA's anonymised MOT data. If you are unsure what a line on the certificate means, look up the wording with the MOT advisory checker. The example Buying Report shows, for a made-up example car, how we turn an MOT history into questions for the viewing.
Frequently asked questions
Can a car pass its MOT with advisories?
Yes. Advisories and minor defects are recorded, but the car still passes. Only major and dangerous defects fail the test.
Do you have to fix an MOT advisory?
No law says you must fix an advisory before the next test. It is a warning that the part may fail later. The car must still be kept roadworthy at all times, so a part that gets worse needs fixing.
What is the difference between a major and a dangerous defect?
Both fail the test. A major defect may affect safety or the environment and must be repaired before the car can pass. A dangerous defect is a direct and immediate risk, so the car should not be driven until it is repaired.
Should I avoid a car with lots of advisories?
Not on numbers alone. Look at what they are and whether they repeat. A list of tyre and wiper notes is very different from brake pipe corrosion that has been advised for three years running.