The four MOT defect categories
| Category | What it means | MOT result |
|---|---|---|
| Dangerous | A direct and immediate risk to road safety or a serious impact on the environment. Do not drive the vehicle until it is repaired. | Fail |
| Major | It may affect safety, put other road users at risk or harm the environment. Repair it immediately. | Fail |
| Minor | No significant effect on safety or the environment. Repair it as soon as possible. | Pass |
| Advisory | It could become more serious in the future. Monitor it and repair it if needed. | Pass |
Can you drive a car that failed?
It depends on the defects and on your current MOT.
- Dangerous defect: no. You can be fined up to £2,500, banned from driving and given 3 penalty points for driving it on the road, even if the old MOT has not expired.
- Major defect, old MOT still valid: you can legally drive the car, but it must still be roadworthy. Get it repaired quickly.
- Major defect, MOT expired: only to a garage for repairs or to a booked MOT test.
Common advisories and what they mean
| Advisory wording | In plain English |
|---|---|
| Tyre worn close to legal limit | Tread is near 1.6mm. Budget for a new tyre soon. |
| Brake disc worn, pitted or scored | Discs are wearing. Pads and discs often need replacing together. |
| Corroded but not seriously weakened | Rust has started on a part, such as a brake pipe or sub-frame. Have it checked each year. |
| Oil leak | A seal or gasket is weeping. Minor at first, but worth watching. |
| Suspension component has slight play | A joint or bush is wearing. It may become a major defect next year. |
| Windscreen damaged but not adversely affecting driver's view | A chip or crack outside the critical zone. Get it repaired before it spreads. |
What advisories tell a used car buyer
The MOT history is one of the best tools for checking a used car, and advisories are the most useful part of it. When you read a car's record:
- Repeated advisories for the same part across several years suggest it was never fixed.
- Advisories that turned into a fail show the car was not maintained between tests.
- Corrosion advisories on structural parts are worth a close look, especially on older cars.
- A clean record with few advisories suggests a car that has been looked after.
Use the advisories to negotiate on price, or to ask the seller for receipts showing the work was done. Our used car checklist covers the other checks to make.
Sources
Checked against official sources on 15 October 2026. Rules and prices change, so confirm anything important on GOV.UK. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.