MOT advisories are warnings recorded during an MOT test when an issue isn’t serious enough to cause the vehicle to fail, but may need attention in the future.
They can cover anything from worn tyres and brakes to suspension components, lights and corrosion. Although an advisory doesn’t necessarily mean your car is immediately unsafe to drive, ignoring one can allow a developing problem to become more serious, more expensive to repair or potentially dangerous.
That’s why it’s worth treating MOT advisories as an early warning rather than something to forget about until the next test.
If you want to keep your car safe, roadworthy and properly maintained, visit our Car Maintenance Guidance hub.
What Are the Most Common MOT Advisories?
MOT advisories can cover a wide range of developing faults, but some parts of a car naturally attract more attention because they wear as the vehicle is used.
Common advisory areas include:
- Tyres approaching their legal tread limit or showing signs of wear
- Brake pads, discs or components beginning to deteriorate
- Suspension components showing wear or corrosion
- Lights, lenses and electrical components needing attention
- Corrosion that isn’t yet serious enough to cause an MOT failure
- Windscreen, wiper or visibility issues
An advisory doesn’t automatically mean the vehicle is unsafe. It means the tester has identified something worth monitoring or repairing before it develops into a more serious problem.
If you want to understand your responsibilities for keeping a vehicle roadworthy, read our guide to legal vehicle maintenance requirements.
What Happens If You Ignore an MOT Advisory?
An MOT advisory isn’t the same as an MOT failure, but that doesn’t mean it should be ignored.
Some advisories simply need monitoring, while others can develop into faults that affect the safety or roadworthiness of the vehicle. A worn tyre, deteriorating brake component or suspension problem, for example, may become considerably more serious if it continues to worsen.
Ignoring an advisory can potentially lead to:
- A more expensive repair later
- The vehicle failing its next MOT
- Reduced braking, handling or visibility
- A breakdown or further mechanical damage
- A vehicle becoming unsafe or unroadworthy
The sensible approach is to ask the garage or MOT tester how urgently the advisory needs attention and then monitor or repair it accordingly.
This is an important distinction: an advisory itself doesn’t necessarily mean the car is dangerous, which makes this considerably more accurate than the current wording.
The Financial Impact of Delaying Repairs
Putting off a recommended repair can sometimes turn a relatively small maintenance job into a more expensive problem.
Worn or deteriorating components can affect other parts of the vehicle if they’re allowed to worsen. A tyre that continues to wear, a corroding brake component or a developing suspension fault may also become a reason for the car to fail a future MOT.
Dealing with advisories early can therefore help you plan maintenance costs rather than being faced with several repairs at once when the next MOT is due.
Keeping invoices and records of work carried out is useful too, particularly when you eventually sell the vehicle. Our Service History & Vehicle Records hub explains what records are worth keeping and why they can matter.
Why Regular Maintenance Matters
Regular maintenance gives you the opportunity to deal with developing problems before they become more serious.
An annual MOT is an important safety check, but it shouldn’t be treated as a substitute for maintaining the car throughout the year. Tyres, brakes, lights, fluids and other safety-critical components can deteriorate between MOT tests.
Following the manufacturer’s servicing schedule and responding appropriately to MOT advisories can help keep the vehicle reliable, roadworthy and safer to drive.
It can also make the car easier to assess when the time comes to sell. A documented history showing regular servicing and evidence that previous advisories were repaired can give a future buyer a clearer picture of how the vehicle has been maintained.
What Should You Do If Your MOT Has Advisories?
If your latest MOT certificate includes advisories, don’t panic — but don’t simply forget about them either.
A sensible approach is to:
- Ask the MOT tester or garage how urgently each advisory needs attention.
- Check safety-critical items such as tyres, brakes and lights regularly.
- Arrange repairs before a developing fault becomes more serious.
- Keep invoices and receipts showing when advisory work was completed.
- Check your MOT history so you can see whether the same advisory has appeared repeatedly.
Repeated advisories can be particularly useful warning signs. If the same issue appears across several MOT tests, it may indicate that a developing problem has been monitored but never properly resolved.
Ultimately, an MOT advisory is useful information about your car. Acting on it at the appropriate time can help prevent future MOT failures, unexpected repair bills and potentially unsafe faults. If problems keep returning, our guide to repeated MOT failures explains what a pattern of MOT problems can tell you about a vehicle.
Thinking of Selling Your Car?
If your car has MOT advisories or outstanding maintenance issues, it’s worth understanding how its condition could affect its current market value before deciding whether to repair or sell it.
Different buyers may value the same vehicle differently depending on its age, mileage, condition, service history and any work that still needs completing.
Use jamjar’s free online car valuation tool to find out what your car could be worth today.