MOT Advisories When Buying a Used Car: What to Do
Advisories do not automatically mean you should walk away, but they do change what you should ask the seller, what you should offer, and whether you need an inspection first.
Quick Reference: Advisory Decision Buckets
- • Tyres worn
- • Brake pads
- • Minor surface corrosion
- • Suspension bushes
- • Oil leak
- • Structural corrosion notes
- • Recurring oil leak
- • Expanding structural corrosion
- • Same advisory repeated 3+ years
What an advisory actually means for a buyer
An advisory is an official tester warning documented in the MOT record that something is deteriorating but not yet at failure point. One advisory can be completely normal wear and tear, but repeated advisories across multiple years are a clear red flag.
1. Tyres
ManageableWhat it looks like
Tyre tread worn close to legal limit.
What it likely means for you
You will need to replace the affected tyres soon. Budget between £60 to £200 per tyre depending on the brand and size.
What to ask the seller
"Were these tyres flagged because they are near the legal limit, or have you already had a quote to replace them?"
How this affects your offer
Factor the replacement cost into your offer and ask for a recent tyre quote if none has been done.
2. Brakes
ManageableWhat it looks like
Brake pads or discs wearing thin, pitted, or scored.
What it likely means for you
Brake pads are regular maintenance items, but discs are more expensive and usually require pad replacement alongside them. Expect a bill of £150 to £400.
What to ask the seller
"Have the pads or discs been inspected since this advisory, and do you have an invoice or quote for the work?"
How this affects your offer
Deduct the likely brake work cost unless the seller can prove it has already been done.
3. Suspension bushes
Get inspectionWhat it looks like
Suspension arm pin or bush worn but not resulting in excessive movement.
What it likely means for you
Rubber joints are perishing. Bushings are cheap, but labour is expensive. Entire control arms often need replacing, typically costing £200 to £500.
What to ask the seller
"Has a garage checked whether this bush advisory is minor wear or something that now needs replacement?"
How this affects your offer
Do not offer full asking price until you know whether this is cheap wear or a larger suspension job.
4. Corrosion
Get inspectionWhat it looks like
Vehicle structure has slight corrosion, or subframe lightly corroded.
What it likely means for you
Minor surface rust is common, but advanced structural rust can trigger expensive welding bills. Proceed cautiously, especially on older models known for rot.
What to ask the seller
"Was this corrosion described as surface rust only, or has any garage checked whether it is getting close to a structural repair?"
How this affects your offer
Treat this as inspection-first and avoid agreeing a final price until corrosion severity is clearer.
5. Oil leak
Get inspectionWhat it looks like
Oil leak, but not excessive.
What it likely means for you
An oil leak could be a £30 minor gasket fix or a £1,200 rear main seal failure. It is a gamble without investigation.
What to ask the seller
"Has the source of the leak been identified, and do you have any invoice or inspection note showing what was checked?"
How this affects your offer
If the source is unclear, negotiate cautiously or pause the deal until the leak has been professionally assessed.
One advisory vs. a recurring pattern
A single advisory is normal-parts wear out over ownership. However, if the exact same warning appears year after year, it shows the owner has actively ignored official warnings and run the vehicle on an absolute minimum-spend philosophy.
What to do
Check for identical phrasing across sequential MOTs. If you spot them, treat it as a strong sign of neglect. Read more in our guide on repeated MOT advisories.
How advisories change your negotiation
Manageable advisory
Action: Get a repair quote and deduct from asking price
Example: "The MOT history highlights the front tyres. I estimate that's about £200 of work, so if we can take £200 off the asking price to cover that, we have a deal."
Get inspection advisory
Action: Do not offer full asking price before a quote/inspection
Example: "The suspension advisory could be minor or expensive. I'll need a mechanic to look at it before agreeing a final price."
Recurring or serious advisory
Action: Walk away or require proof/inspection before proceeding
Example: "That corrosion note has been there for three years. Without proof it's been addressed, I'll have to pass."
How the CarIntellect report helps decipher advisories
Trying to track the same failing component across 10 years of raw MOT logs is tedious. The CarIntellect report helps by automatically grouping advisory patterns, flagging recurring advisories that the previous owner ignored, and adding plain-English severity context. It helps you understand what the history actually means before you decide.
Run a vehicle checkRelated guides
Check any UK car before you buy
Checking a car with a long advisory history? Run the reg through CarIntellect to see every advisory grouped by type, flagged recurring patterns, and a plain-English verdict on what the history means before you decide.