Understanding MOT advisories before buying a car.

What defines an advisory item, and how does it impact on the buying decision?

Check our latest new guide on how to check MOT advisories

CarVeto Platinum provides full and complete MOT history data as recorded via the DVLA database. We take MOT advisory items seriously, as such items that are not replaced are likely to need replacing on the proceeding MOT test.

Read our MOT check history guide for any car, motorcycle or light-commercial over three years old.

This is especially true for vital items like brakes and tyres that are easily advised but not failed on UK MOT tests. Pitted brakes, warped discs or tyres that are nearing their legal limit are open to the advised category of an MOT test.

Motorists must consider advisories as part of the cost when buying a new, used car

The advisory notice section of a standard UK MOT certificate is not a mandatory part of an MOT testers responsibilities. It is left to the tester to decide if and when a used part is advisory, or not. Individual MOT stations will likely have their own policies and procedures in place for advisory testing.

Look over our latest MOT checklist guide for advice on passing an MOT test.

• Car part items that appear to be near a point of failure but have not failed a roadworthy test
• Peculiarities of a specific vehicle during inspection, i.e. adaptations or modifications
• Defects appearing on non-testable parts found during the MOT testers inspections

Advisory items must be helpful to motorists

Any advisory list should be useful to the motorist and support them in making informed choices about the roadworthiness of their vehicle. It is worth noting here that certain advisory items can impact the value of a used vehicle. MOT testers must take this into consideration.

Matters of Testing report evidence that testable advisories are overused, with common occurrences of the same items falling into the advisory category year-on-year.

Matters of Testing admit some responsibility to overuse due to wording such as ‘slightly corroded’ and ‘slightly worn’.

MOT testers are therefore encouraged to carefully consider minor wear i.e. ‘slight’ and the guidelines set out via the guidance manual. Items may be near to failure, but have not yet reached a point of MOT roadworthiness failure.

CarVeto suggests that MOT items that are advised should be included in motorists buying decisions. Run a free car history check and see if there is potential spend ahead.

The team, CarVeto