No, you are not legally required to fix MOT advisories to keep your MOT certificate valid. However, they are official safety warnings that you are legally responsible for monitoring, as you must keep your vehicle roadworthy at all times.
It's one of the most common questions I hear after an MOT test: "Right, so it's passed... but what about these advisories? Do I actually have to get them fixed?" It's a perfectly fair question. After all, your car has a fresh pass certificate, so you'd think you're all set for another year. The short answer is no, you don't *have* to fix them for the certificate to be valid. But the long answer is a bit more complicated and gets to the very heart of what the MOT is for: your safety and the safety of others. An advisory isn't just a casual suggestion; it's a formal note from a qualified tester saying, "This part is worn or starting to deteriorate. It's safe enough for a pass today, but it won't be for much longer." Ignoring them can have serious consequences for your safety, your wallet, and even your insurance. Think of it like a dentist telling you, "That filling is starting to crack, but it's holding for now. We need to keep an eye on it." You wouldn't wait for the tooth to break before acting. Your car is no different. The MOT is a minimum standard on a single day, but your legal responsibility to maintain a roadworthy vehicle is continuous, 365 days a year.
The official UK MOT rule
Let's be clear on what the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), the body that governs MOTs in the UK, actually says. The official guidance doesn't use phrases like "you must fix advisories within X days." The system is built on a different principle: roadworthiness. When we complete a test, we record the results in the official MOT testing system. The possible outcomes, as listed in the 'MOT testing guide', are: * **Pass:** The vehicle meets the minimum legal standards. * **Pass with defects (Minors):** The vehicle has one or more 'minor' faults. These are technical defects, but they ar
How testers actually assess this
When I'm under a car on the ramp, I'm not looking for reasons to fail it. My job is to make a fair and accurate assessment based on the DVSA's manual. The decision to issue an advisory comes from experience and a bit of forecasting. Let's take a set of front brake discs. The vehicle manufacturer specifies a minimum thickness. If the disc is worn below that minimum, it's a clear 'Major' fail. If the disc is nearly new, it's a clear pass. The grey area is where advisories live. Say the disc is visibly 'lipped' at the edge and has some surface scoring, but my calibrated measuring tool shows it's
Common scenarios — pass, advisory or fail?
To make this really clear, here are some everyday examples a tester sees and how we're trained to categorise them. Remember, these are generalisations and the final decision is always down to the specific condition on the day. #### Tyres * **Pass:** Plenty of tread (e.g., 4mm or more), sidewalls are in good condition with no cuts or bulges. * **Advisory:** * `Tyre worn close to the legal limit` (e.g., tread is between 1.6mm and 3mm). This is the most common tyre advisory. * `Tyre slightly damaged/cracking or perishing`. We often see this on older cars or caravans where the rubber is ageing, sh
What to do if you're worried before your test
A bit of 'pre-MOT anxiety' is completely normal, but you can save yourself a lot of stress and potential expense with a few simple checks. First, dig out last year's MOT certificate. Did it have any advisories? If so, what did you do about them? If the answer is 'nothing', be prepared for them to have worsened into failures this year. A slightly worn tyre has had another 12 months of wear; surface corrosion has had another winter of road salt to eat away at it. This is the single biggest reason for a car failing—an ignored advisory. Next, do the simple 'walk around' checks that catch a surpris
What happens if you do fail
It can be disheartening to see 'FAIL' on the certificate, but it's not the end of the world. The first thing to understand is *why* it failed. Your certificate will list the defects as either 'Major' or 'Dangerous'. * **Major Defect:** This is a test failure. Your car is not considered roadworthy. If your previous MOT certificate is still valid (i.e., you took the test early), you can still legally drive the car. However, the DVSA advises against this, as the car has been declared unroadworthy. The only other exception is driving it to a pre-arranged appointment to have the faults repaired, or
Can I sell a car that has MOT advisories? — Yes, you absolutely can. A car with a 'pass with advisories' has a valid MOT certificate, making it legal to sell. However, you have a moral and legal duty to be transparent with the buyer. You must show them the MOT certificate, including the list of advisories. A savvy buyer will use these advisories as a negotiating point to lower the price, as they represent future repair costs they will have
Do police check for MOT advisories during a stop? — Police Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) systems only show whether a car has a valid MOT or not; they don't display the advisory notes. However, if you are stopped for a specific offence, such as having a bald tyre or a loud, broken exhaust, the situation changes. If the officer checks the car's MOT history online and sees that same fault was listed as an advisory, it demonstrates you were
Will having outstanding MOT advisories affect my car insurance? — Potentially, yes, and this is a big risk. All insurance policies require you to keep your vehicle in a roadworthy condition. If you have an accident and need to make a claim, the insurance company's assessor will investigate. If they find the accident was caused by a fault that was previously noted as an MOT advisory (e.g., worn tyres led to a skid, or worn brakes meant you couldn't stop in time),
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