What Does an MOT Advisory Mean? Advisories, Minors, Majors and Dangerous Defects

The MOT defect categories

Since 2018, MOT defects have been sorted into categories. Dangerous and major defects are fails. Minor defects are recorded on the certificate but the car still passes. Advisories are items the examiner wants you to know about that are not yet defects.

All of these appear on your MOT certificate and on the public MOT history, so anyone checking your car later can see them.

Dangerous defects

A dangerous defect is a direct and immediate risk to road safety or the environment. The car fails and should not be driven until it is repaired. Driving with a dangerous defect can lead to a fine and penalty points.

Major defects

A major defect may affect safety, put other road users at risk or have an impact on the environment. The car fails and must be repaired before it can pass. If your previous MOT has not yet run out you may be able to drive it, but only if it is roadworthy, so it is best to get it fixed promptly.

Minor defects and advisories

Minor defects have no significant effect on safety but should be repaired as soon as possible. Advisories are the examiner telling you something is wearing, such as tyres close to the legal limit, slight corrosion on a brake pipe or a minor oil leak.

An advisory is not a fail, but it is a good guide to what might fail next year. It is usually cheaper to plan for them than to be caught out.

Which advisories to deal with first

Anything to do with tyres, brakes, steering and suspension should come first, because they can deteriorate quickly and affect safety. Corrosion advisories are worth watching, as corrosion can go from advisory to fail in a year.

If you are not sure how urgent an advisory is, bring the car in and ask. We would rather tell you something can wait than have you worry about it.

MOT and repairs in Oldbury

We test cars at our DVSA-approved Class 4 centre in Oldbury for £40, and we will talk you through any advisories in plain English. Call 0121 544 3736 to book.