MOT
Decoding MOT Advisories: What Needs Fixing?
Advisories are warnings from the MOT tester. The car passed, but these items are worn, damaged, or close to the legal limit. Ignoring them often leads to a failure next year.
1. Tyres close to the legal limit (1.6mm)
If an advisory notes tyres are worn close to the legal limit, factor in the cost of a new set immediately. Remember, performance drops significantly before a tyre hits the 1.6mm legal limit—most experts recommend changing them at 3mm.
2. Brake pad and disc wear
Advisories for 'brake pads wearing thin' or 'brake discs worn/pitted' mean a replacement is due soon. This is a standard wear-and-tear item, but you should use it to negotiate the car's price down.
3. Suspension components (bushes, ball joints, links)
UK roads are hard on suspension. If you see advisories for 'slight play in track rod end' or 'worn anti-roll bar linkage', expect clunking noises over bumps and uneven tyre wear. These aren't huge jobs, but they add up.
4. Corrosion and rust
This is the big one. If an advisory mentions rust on the subframe, sills, or structural points, walk away unless you're a classic car restorer. Rust is like an iceberg—what the tester can see is usually just a fraction of the problem.
Check a car for hidden advisories
Use Kermo to turn the information in this guide into a practical vehicle or fuel check.
Check a car for hidden advisories