What are MOT Advisory Codes?
When your vehicle undergoes its annual MOT test, it's assessed against strict safety and environmental standards. If the tester finds issues that aren't severe enough to cause an immediate MOT failure, but could become problems in the future or are already minor defects, they are recorded as advisories. These MOT advisory codes are listed on your MOT certificate, providing a clear indication of your car's condition beyond just passing or failing.
- Advisories highlight potential future issues.
- They are not reasons for MOT failure.
- They guide necessary maintenance.
- Codes are listed on the MOT certificate.
Think of advisories as a heads-up from the MOT tester. They are crucial for understanding the overall health of your vehicle and for planning future maintenance. While your car may have passed its test, these notes are essential for ensuring its continued roadworthiness and for avoiding more significant repairs or MOT failures down the line. They often relate to components that are showing wear but are still functioning within acceptable parameters for the test.
Understanding Your MOT Certificate
Your MOT certificate is divided into sections detailing whether the vehicle passed or failed. If it passed, you'll find a section for advisories. Each advisory will typically have a code and a brief description. For instance, you might see a code related to tyre tread depth being slightly below the legal limit but still above the minimum for a pass, or a suspension component showing slight play. These are not failures, but they are noted for your awareness.
The Purpose of MOT Advisories
The primary purpose of recording advisories is to promote vehicle safety and environmental responsibility. By flagging up minor issues, the MOT scheme helps motorists address potential problems before they escalate into serious safety hazards or lead to an MOT failure at a later date. This proactive approach can save drivers money in the long run by preventing more costly repairs and also contributes to keeping vehicles running more cleanly and efficiently. It's part of the broader MOT test guidelines designed to keep all road users safe.
Decoding Common MOT Advisory Codes
Navigating the MOT advisory codes list can seem daunting, but many common advisories relate to predictable wear and tear. Understanding what these codes signify allows you to make informed decisions about maintenance. For example, advisories related to braking systems are critical, even if they don't cause an immediate failure. This might include slight corrosion on brake pipes or discs that are nearing their minimum thickness.
Tyre Condition Advisories
Tyres are a frequent source of advisories. Common codes relate to:
- Tyre Tread Depth: While the legal minimum is 1.6mm, an advisory might be issued if the tread is approaching this limit, especially if wear is uneven.
- Tyre Wall Damage: Minor cuts or bulges that do not expose the tyre's structure might be noted.
- Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS): If the system is faulty, it could be flagged.
It’s important to remember that even if your tyres pass the MOT, regularly checking their condition and pressure is a vital part of general car care. For electric car MOTs, tyre wear can sometimes be accelerated due to torque, so paying attention to advisories here is especially important.
Brake System Advisories
Brakes are paramount for safety. Advisories may include:
- Brake Disc Surface Corrosion: Light surface rust that will likely clear with use.
- Brake Disc Thickness: If discs are nearing their minimum recommended thickness.
- Brake Fluid: While not usually an advisory code, it's checked. Contaminated or old fluid can affect braking performance.
- Brake Pipe Corrosion: Minor corrosion that doesn't affect structural integrity.
If your MOT mentions brake issues, it's wise to get them inspected promptly. Even minor issues can compromise stopping power.
Suspension and Steering Advisories
Components showing signs of wear but still functioning can lead to advisories:
- Suspension Component Wear: Ball joints or bushes showing slight play.
- Shock Absorber Leaks: Minor seepage rather than a significant leak.
- Steering System Wear: Minor wear in steering components.
These are areas where proactive replacement can prevent more serious damage to other parts and ensure predictable handling.
Lighting and Signalling Advisories
Issues with lights or indicators that don't cause a failure:
- Incorrect Headlight Aim: Slightly misaligned but still illuminating the road adequately.
- Corroded Lamp Connections: Affecting light output or function.
It is paramount to have all lights functioning correctly for safe driving, especially during darker months.
Inspect advisories for parts that are critical to your car's safety, such as brakes and steering, even if they didn't cause an immediate MOT failure.
When Will a New Car Need its First MOT Test?
Understanding when a new car needs its first MOT test is key to avoiding unexpected issues. For most new cars, the first MOT is due three years after the date of registration. This three-year period is a significant aspect of vehicle ownership, allowing manufacturers' warranties to cover most initial defects. After this initial test, the vehicle will then require an MOT test annually thereafter, as per the standard MOT test when due.
First MOT Test Considerations
When your new car approaches its first MOT test, it’s natural to wonder what might be checked. While new cars are less likely to have major faults, testers will still examine critical safety elements. These include tyres, brakes, lights, steering, suspension, and emissions systems. Even on a new vehicle, minor issues like slight corrosion on brake discs from infrequent use, or tyre wear from specific driving styles, can appear as advisories on the MOT certificate. It's a good opportunity to get a professional assessment of the vehicle's condition.
Electric Car MOTs
The introduction of electric cars means that MOT testing procedures are evolving. While many checks remain the same, specific considerations for electric vehicles are becoming more prominent. For instance, the emissions test is bypassed, but checks on the battery integrity, charging ports, and electric motor systems are crucial. Some electric car MOT failures have been attributed to issues with high-voltage system insulation, or specific software glitches. Advisories on electric cars might relate to these unique components, alongside the standard checks for tyres, brakes, and lights.
What Happens After an Advisory?
Receiving advisories on your MOT certificate doesn't mean your car is unsafe to drive immediately. However, it does mean you should plan to address these issues. You can choose to have the repairs carried out by the testing centre immediately, or take your vehicle elsewhere for the work to be done. It is often advisable to book a retest at the same centre if you have the repairs done by them, as this can sometimes be free or offered at a reduced cost. If you take it elsewhere, you will need to book a standard MOT retest. Ignoring advisories can lead to them becoming major faults, resulting in an MOT failure during subsequent tests, or potentially causing a breakdown or accident.
An MOT advisory is a vital alert, not a sentence of condemnation; it’s an opportunity to maintain your vehicle's safety and value.
Proactive Maintenance Pays Off
The MOT advisory list is there to help you. By reviewing it and taking action on any noted issues, you are not only ensuring your car will pass its next MOT test but also contributing to its longevity and reliability. Regular checks between MOTs, such as inspecting tyre pressure and tread, and listening for unusual noises, can help you spot potential problems early. This proactive approach to car maintenance is the most effective way to avoid unexpected MOT failure and costly emergency repairs.
MOT Failure List and Common Reasons for Failure
While advisories are minor issues, understanding the common reasons for a direct MOT failure can help you prevent them entirely. The MOT failure list is extensive, but many failures stem from issues that could have been flagged as advisories in previous years. Neglecting these minor points can lead to significant problems and costly repairs.
Top Reasons for MOT Failure
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) regularly publishes data on common MOT failure points. These often include:
- Lighting: Incorrect type, faulty bulbs, or incorrect aim of headlights and other lights.
- Braking System: Significantly worn discs or pads, leaks in the hydraulic system, or a malfunctioning parking brake.
- Tyres: Tread depth below 1.6mm, or damage to the tyre walls that compromises safety.
- Visibility: Cracked or damaged windscreen that obstructs the driver's view, or malfunctioning windscreen wipers/washers.
- Suspension: Worn suspension components, excessive play, or leaking shock absorbers.
- Exhaust Emissions: For petrol and diesel vehicles, failing to meet emission standards. This is not applicable to electric vehicles, which are MOT exempt from emissions testing.
It's worth noting that many of these failure points might have started as minor issues that could have been identified as advisories in a previous MOT test. For example, heavily corroded brake pipes or suspension bushes showing slight play are often noted as advisories before they become critical failure points.
What if My Car is MOT Exempt?
Some vehicles are MOT exempt. For instance, cars registered before a certain date may not require an annual MOT. However, this exemption does not mean a vehicle is exempt from roadworthiness requirements. You are still legally obliged to keep your vehicle in a safe and legal condition. If your vehicle is MOT exempt, it's still highly recommended to conduct regular visual inspections and consider voluntary checks to ensure it remains safe to drive. This is particularly true for older vehicles where wear and tear can be more pronounced.
Preparing for Your MOT Test
To minimise the risk of failure or receiving advisories, some basic checks can be performed before your MOT test is due. Ensure all lights are working correctly, check tyre pressures and tread depth, test your horn, and verify that your windscreen wipers and washers are functioning. For cars that are not MOT exempt, keeping up with general maintenance can prevent many common failures. If you're unsure about any aspect of your vehicle's condition, it's always better to consult a qualified mechanic.
Perform simple checks on lights, tyres, and wipers before your MOT is due to catch minor issues that could lead to failure or advisories.
Understanding MOT Failure Lists
The MOT failure list is a resource compiled by the DVSA based on millions of tests. It highlights the most frequent reasons why vehicles fail their MOT. By familiarising yourself with these common failure points, you can be more vigilant in checking these specific areas on your own vehicle. For example, knowing that a significant percentage of failures relate to lighting means you should pay extra attention to ensuring all your bulbs are working and correctly aimed.