MOT advisories explained — the 188 most common

An advisory is the tester’s official “watch this” note: the item passed today but is wearing out. Advisories don’t fail the test, but they’re recorded on the certificate and in the public MOT history. Below, every advisory that appeared more than 1,500 times on UK certificates in 2025, in plain English.

Top 10 advisories in the UK (2025)

#	Certificate wording	System	Times recorded
1	Tread depth worn close to legal limit/worn on edge	Tyres	9,700,127
2	Condition slightly damaged/cracking or perishing	Tyres	5,468,934
3	Brake discs worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened	Brakes	5,205,919
4	Brake pads wearing thin	Brakes	3,687,625
5	Pins and bushes pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement	Suspension	3,600,190
6	Rigid brake pipes corroded, covered in grease or other material	Brakes	2,740,482
7	Engine oil leaks leak, but not excessive	Noise, emissions and leaks	2,411,665
8	Coil spring corroded	Suspension	2,275,871
9	Shock absorbers has light misting of oil	Suspension	1,603,111
10	Brake discs worn, but not excessively	Brakes	1,404,378

Tyres

Tread depth worn close to legal limit/worn on edge9,700,127 recorded Condition slightly damaged/cracking or perishing5,468,934 recorded Condition has a cut but not deep enough to reach...749,888 recorded Condition slightly damaged336,332 recorded Valve stem slightly damaged24,815 recorded Condition wheel/tyre protruding beyond wheel arch2,628 recorded Condition fitted to a bus or coach is close to...1,656 recorded

Brakes

Brake discs worn, pitted or scored, but not...5,205,919 recorded Brake pads wearing thin3,687,625 recorded Rigid brake pipes corroded, covered in grease or...2,740,482 recorded Brake discs worn, but not excessively1,404,378 recorded Flexible brake hoses has slight corrosion to ferrule626,730 recorded Service brake performance binding but not excessively580,387 recorded Service brake performance fluctuating, but not...371,160 recorded Flexible brake hoses slightly deteriorated223,175 recorded Service brake imbalance requirements only just...127,266 recorded Pedal wearing smooth97,248 recorded Parking brake efficiency (Trikes, quads and...72,651 recorded Cable damaged but not to excess38,154 recorded Service brake performance requirements only just...36,716 recorded Brake fluid close to minimum mark32,161 recorded Lever defective but can be satisfactorily operated21,936 recorded Reservoirs close to minimum mark16,488 recorded Brake linings wearing thin16,220 recorded Service brake efficiency (Trikes, quads and...12,386 recorded Rigid brake pipes slightly damaged11,691 recorded Rigid brake pipes clips or supports missing,...7,127 recorded Brake drums worn, pitted or scored, but not...6,089 recorded Service brake efficiency (Trikes, quads and...5,299 recorded Service brake performance grabbing slightly5,264 recorded Electronic parking brake defective but can be...5,070 recorded Hydraulic brake callipers corroded but not...4,103 recorded Lever worn, but not excessively3,833 recorded Parking (secondary brake performance) grabbing slightly3,675 recorded Anti-lock braking system wiring damaged but not...2,979 recorded Brake slack adjuster advise adjustment2,360 recorded Park brake mechanism/associated mountings...2,294 recorded Load sensing valves stiff2,234 recorded Brake drums worn, but not excessively2,181 recorded Hand lever pivots slightly worn2,126 recorded Hydraulic brake cylinder corroded but not...1,817 recorded Other braking system component prescribed area...1,774 recorded Anti-lock braking system component slightly damaged1,757 recorded Other components damaged, but the braking system...1,745 recorded Master cylinder close to minimum mark1,655 recorded

Suspension

Pins and bushes pin or bush worn but not...3,600,190 recorded Coil spring corroded2,275,871 recorded Shock absorbers has light misting of oil1,603,111 recorded Sub-frame corroded but not seriously weakened1,334,388 recorded Suspension arm corroded but not seriously weakened1,025,538 recorded ball joint has slight play731,164 recorded Linkage ball joints ball joint has slight play576,381 recorded Component mounting prescribed areas prescribed...497,458 recorded Swivel pins and bushes swivel pin and/or bush...301,933 recorded Wheel bearings has slight play280,085 recorded Linkage pins and bushes pin or bush worn but not...277,679 recorded Shock absorbers has slight external damage to the casing219,767 recorded Shock absorbers has a slightly worn bush211,318 recorded Other suspension component corroded but not...187,297 recorded Sub-frame mounting prescribed areas prescribed...174,245 recorded Macpherson strut corroded but not seriously weakened167,659 recorded Shock absorbers has a reduced damping effect164,629 recorded Wheel bearings slightly noisy161,475 recorded Anti-roll bar corroded but not seriously weakened90,247 recorded Pins and bushes pin or bush slightly worn73,925 recorded Spring mounting prescribed areas prescribed area...52,579 recorded mounting corroded but not seriously weakened39,345 recorded Component mounting prescribed areas repair...22,964 recorded Attachment bracket and mounting mounting damaged...21,259 recorded Shackle pins and bushes has slight wear in a...20,515 recorded Component mounting prescribed areas prescribed...15,687 recorded Coil spring worn13,184 recorded Attachment bracket and mounting mounting...12,675 recorded Linkage corroded but not seriously weakened11,633 recorded Attachment bracket and mounting attachment...10,608 recorded Anchor pins and bushes has slight wear in an...9,734 recorded Linkage damaged but not seriously weakened9,078 recorded Suspension arm damaged but not seriously weakened8,453 recorded mounting damaged but not seriously weakened8,260 recorded Macpherson strut damaged but not seriously weakened7,988 recorded Sub-frame damaged but not seriously weakened4,778 recorded Sub-frame mounting prescribed areas repair...4,634 recorded shackle bracket corroded but not seriously weakened4,590 recorded Suspension rod corroded but not seriously weakened4,432 recorded Anti-roll bar damaged but not seriously weakened4,174 recorded Axle deformed but serviceable3,592 recorded Sub-frame mounting prescribed areas prescribed...3,440 recorded anchor bracket corroded but not seriously weakened2,908 recorded Other suspension component damaged but not...2,497 recorded Coil spring modified but not seriously weakened1,979 recorded Spring mounting prescribed areas prescribed area...1,859 recorded has slight vertical movement between stub axle...1,589 recorded Bellows damaged but not to excess1,561 recorded

Non-component advisories

Non-component advisories Child Seat fitted not...913,180 recorded Non-component advisories Nail in tyre805,670 recorded Non-component advisories Play in steering rack...768,564 recorded Non-component advisories Items removed from...262,359 recorded Non-component advisories Coolant leak124,409 recorded Non-component advisories Fuel Pipe/s corroded92,701 recorded Non-component advisories Vehicles internal...77,149 recorded Non-component advisories Gearbox mounting defective39,237 recorded Non-component advisories Passenger seat(s)...35,074 recorded Non-component advisories Non obligatory mirror damaged30,576 recorded Non-component advisories Spare tyre defective29,385 recorded Non-component advisories Towball/hitch not...9,695 recorded Non-component advisories Wheel/tyre protruding...5,965 recorded Non-component advisories Chain guard missing3,543 recorded Non-component advisories Mudguard insecure3,300 recorded Non-component advisories Standard fitment seat...1,956 recorded

Noise, emissions and leaks

Engine oil leaks leak, but not excessive2,411,665 recorded Transmission oil leaks leak, but not excessive329,757 recorded Other leaks leak, but not excessive40,100 recorded Undertray not fully secure24,718 recorded Hydraulic fluid leaks leak, but not excessive11,934 recorded Catalyst emissions emits blue smoke during acceleration10,484 recorded Pre 01/07/2008 Turbo emits excessive smoke or...9,931 recorded On or after 01/07/2008 emits excessive smoke or...8,785 recorded Non catalyst emissions emits blue smoke during...5,338 recorded Catalyst emissions emits black smoke during acceleration5,212 recorded Sound deadening material not fully secure5,061 recorded On or after 01/01/2014 emits excessive smoke or...3,602 recorded Pre 01/01/1980 visual emits excessive smoke or...2,448 recorded

Body, chassis, structure

Exhaust system has a minor leak of exhaust gases895,245 recorded Exhaust system mounting defective364,065 recorded Integral vehicle structure condition is corroded...295,905 recorded Chassis condition is corroded but structural...235,868 recorded Chassis condition or chassis corroded within...119,171 recorded Sub-frame condition is corroded but structural...78,595 recorded Engine mounting condition damaged but not to excess31,198 recorded Flexible couplings slightly deteriorated28,539 recorded Integral vehicle structure condition is deformed...26,855 recorded Exhaust system noisy26,429 recorded Exhaust system silencer slightly loose25,862 recorded Prop shaft bearing has slight play20,059 recorded Prescribed areas or chassis corroded within 30cm...17,927 recorded Bumpers mountings corroded but not likely to...17,343 recorded Joints worn, but not excessively16,805 recorded Other towbar components component corroded, but...11,271 recorded Chassis condition is deformed but structural...10,416 recorded Integral vehicle structure condition is repaired...9,184 recorded Vehicle structure slightly corroded within 30cm...8,526 recorded hinge deteriorated but the door can still be...8,245 recorded Other body component component slightly loose7,740 recorded panel slightly loose7,636 recorded Chassis condition is repaired but structural...7,290 recorded Belts worn, but not excessively6,693 recorded Hose deteriorated5,001 recorded Body condition not fully secure4,105 recorded catch deteriorated but the door can still be...3,414 recorded Tank slightly loose3,310 recorded Mounting fixings mounting fixing insecure, but...3,035 recorded Integral vehicle structure condition is...2,456 recorded Chassis condition is fractured but structural...1,593 recorded

Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

Individual direction indicators slightly discoloured490,271 recorded Headlamp has a product on the lens but not...481,569 recorded non-obligatory stop lamp not working178,357 recorded Side repeaters slightly discoloured70,625 recorded Headlamp has a product on the light source but...41,796 recorded All direction indicators slightly discoloured30,569 recorded Position lamp slightly affected by the operation...24,609 recorded Position lamp has a product on the lens or light...11,430 recorded Individual direction indicators slightly...4,575 recorded Stop lamp slightly affected by the operation of...3,142 recorded

Identification of the vehicle

Registration plates deteriorated but not likely...1,255,665 recorded Registration plates insecure but not likely to fall off34,063 recorded

Steering

Track rod end ball joint has slight play510,463 recorded Steering rack has slight free play detected at...83,034 recorded Other components has slight seepage from a component56,046 recorded Pipes and hoses slightly corroded43,912 recorded Pipes and hoses has slight seepage39,198 recorded Drag link end ball joint has slight play20,057 recorded Universal joint has slight wear or play19,033 recorded Steering column top bearing slightly worn12,715 recorded Steering box has slight free play detected at...10,366 recorded Operation slightly rough9,653 recorded Pump has slight seepage9,506 recorded Steering box has seepage5,906 recorded Rams has slight seepage from a joint5,550 recorded Operation close to minimum mark5,385 recorded Track rod end slightly misaligned2,473 recorded Pipes and hoses slightly damaged2,162 recorded

Road Wheels

Condition slightly distorted495,595 recorded

Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems

Prescribed areas prescribed area is corroded but...60,776 recorded Condition buckle slightly damaged58,980 recorded SRS malfunction indicator lamp warning lamp does...17,522 recorded Condition flexible stalk damaged7,481 recorded

Visibility

Items removed from driver's view prior to test32,190 recorded Bonnet primary retaining device slightly deteriorated6,567 recorded

Frequency: DVSA anonymised MOT data, 2025 (Class 4). Wording follows the DVSA inspection manual. OGL v3.0.