Body and structure failures are the ones that decide whether an older car is worth keeping. Cosmetic rust isn't an MOT item at all — but corrosion within a prescribed area, near a mounting point or on a load-bearing member absolutely is.
Body and structure failures are the ones that decide whether an older car is worth keeping. Cosmetic rust isn't an MOT item at all — but corrosion within a prescribed area, near a mounting point or on a load-bearing member absolutely is.
The important distinction is 'excessively corroded' versus 'corroded'. The first is a failure; the second may only be recorded as an advisory to warn you where the car is heading. On a car over ten years old, that advisory is genuinely useful information.
Here's what the common body and structure wording means, and when it's worth getting a proper welding assessment rather than guessing.
Excessive corrosion in a prescribed area
Corrosion within a load-bearing or safety-critical area has weakened the structure. Prescribed areas include the regions around suspension mountings, seat belt anchorages, steering components and the load-bearing structure itself.
Full explanation of Excessive corrosion in a prescribed area
Body has a sharp edge likely to cause injury
There's an edge on the outside of the car that could injure someone — typically rust that's eaten through an arch and left a jagged lip, or accident damage that's left torn metal exposed.
Full explanation of Body has a sharp edge likely to cause injury
How body and structure defects are graded
Every MOT defect is recorded as dangerous, major or minor. Dangerous and major both fail the test; the difference is that a dangerous defect means the car is not roadworthy and must not be driven away. A minor defect passes but is recorded on the certificate, and an advisory is a note that something is wearing and will need attention before the next test. Tester notes in the body and structure section use standard DVSA wording, which is why the phrasing on your certificate looks nothing like plain English — the pages above translate it.
Getting a body and structure failure put right
You are free to take the car anywhere for the repair — there is no obligation to have the testing station do the work, and getting a second opinion on a big quote is sensible. Ask for the failed item to be shown to you on the ramp; a genuine defect is always something a mechanic can point at. Once repaired, a partial retest within ten working days covers the listed items without paying a second full test fee.
Avoiding it next year
Most body and structure failures are found on a pre-MOT check for a fraction of the cost of a failure plus retest, because they are inspected before the clock is running. An MOT at Bob's Mechanical Repairs in Birnam, Dunkeld is £54.85, and anything found is explained and priced before work is agreed. Bob has 32 years on the tools, so the advice you get is what he would do with his own car.
Common questions
Can I drive away after a body and structure MOT failure? Only if the old certificate is still valid and the defect is not dangerous. A defect recorded as dangerous means the car must not be driven on the road until it is repaired, and driving it can mean a fine and points.
Do I pay again for the retest? If the car is left at the testing station and the repair is done there, the partial retest is usually free. If you take it away and bring it back within ten working days, a partial retest is free for the listed items; after that a full test fee applies.
What does an advisory in this section mean? An advisory is a pass with a warning: the item is not bad enough to fail today but is wearing. Advisories on the same item two years running are the ones worth acting on before they become failures.
Decode your exact MOT wording or browse all MOT failure categories.