Research conducted by the RAC has shown that many drivers who receive an MOT advisories go on to experience a vehicle break down, or are involved in a collision as a result.
Of 1,460 drivers who responded to the study, looking at habits around and after the MOT, 44% said the test resulted in one or more advisory notices being given. These could include tyres being close to the legal limit, worn brake pads, and minor oil leaks.
While a majority of drivers whose vehicles were given MOT advisories, at 60%, said they had either already dealt with all the issues flagged, or planned to before the next test, a substantial 39% do not plan to get all of the problems resolved. And, of all those that were not issued with any advisories at their most recent MOT, as many as 22% admitted to ignoring such notices in the past.
17% of those who received advisories stated that in the following 12 months, they had been involved in a breakdown, or had been involved in an accident due to the issue mentioned at the MOT. When expanded out, this could mean around six million drivers are likely to experience issues following their annual test, if they do not get advisories sorted.
MOT advisories are essential
By running the gauntlet and not acting on MOT advisories, drivers are at risk of knowingly getting behind the wheel of an unroadworthy vehicle. This is not only dangerous, resulting in a £2,500 fine and three penalty points if caught, it can also invalidate motor insurance cover.
The most common MOT advisories over the last year, as reported by drivers in the RAC Mobile Mechanics survey were related to tyre wear with 42%, brake pads or discs with 34%, suspension with 22%, lights at 16%, and corrosion with 14%.
While tyre wear and lights are simple things to check, that is not the case for many other issues that could become much bigger and more expensive if left unresolved.
Worryingly, recent data from the DVSA and highlighted by TyreSafe, shows that over two million vehicles failed their MOT between 2024 and 2025 on tyre defects. Of these, around 40% were advised in their previous MOT on tyres.
Of those respondents whose vehicles were issued with MOT advisories notices last time around, 36% got the issues dealt with at the garage before they collected their cars. But the remaining 64% delayed the necessary repairs, with 11% leaving it until more than a month after the MOT in question.
Potential dangers
The latest Government data shows that vehicle defects were a factor in 1,350 collisions in 2023, the highest number in five years. Of these, 36 collisions involved one or more fatality, again the highest figure since 2018.
“Unfortunately, our research suggests there is a lot of troubling ‘advisory apathy’ among drivers,” commented RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Nick Mullender.
“MOT advisories indicate the potential for the vehicle to become unroadworthy in a matter of months or even weeks, depending on the nature of the issue and how often the vehicle is driven.
“We recommend drivers remove the guesswork altogether. Alongside frequent checks at home, it is vital to get vehicles serviced at regular intervals, depending on what the manufacturer recommends. This allows any problems to be picked up early, reducing the chances of them becoming an MOT advisory or even a reason for failure further down the line.
“It is also good to remember that an MOT is the most basic of roadworthiness checks, and no replacement for a proper service by a qualified mechanic.”
