What does it mean if the same advisory appears on multiple MOT tests?

When the same advisory appears across two or more consecutive MOT tests it means the issue was noted by the tester but not repaired between tests. This can indicate either deliberate neglect of a known fault or that the owner was unaware of its significance. Either way, it signals the issue has been present and unresolved for an extended period.

Are repeated MOT advisories a reason to avoid buying a used car?

Not necessarily, but they require investigation before you commit. Some advisories relate to slow-wearing components where a few years of monitoring is reasonable. Others — particularly those involving brakes, suspension, or corrosion — should have been addressed promptly. The key question to ask the seller is why the item was not repaired and whether it has since been fixed.

How many times can an advisory appear before it becomes a red flag?

As a general rule, the same advisory appearing three or more times without resolution is a significant red flag, particularly for safety-related components. Two appearances may be acceptable depending on the item and the time between tests. One appearance on the most recent test alone is worth noting but not a reason to walk away on its own.

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Repeated MOT Advisories: What They Mean When Buying a Used Car

A single advisory is a snapshot in time. A repeated advisory is an ownership pattern. Here is how to distinguish between acceptable wear and a seller masking a major bill.

What falls under "repeated"?

Most buyers understand what MOT advisories mean in isolation - they are official warnings that a component is wearing out but hasn't yet crossed the threshold of illegality.

A repeated advisory occurs when the exact same warning (e.g., "Offside Front Suspension arm pin or bush worn") appears on 2021, 2022, and 2023 MOT tests. This pattern tells you one indisputable fact: the owner has been explicitly warned about a deteriorating component multiple times consecutively, and has consciously chosen not to replace it.

Spotting these cycles requires mapping years of history against each other. If you are learning how to read MOT history, this cross-referencing is the most important skill you can develop. It lets you see past the shiny forecourt presentation and into the seller's actual maintenance mindset.

When repetition signals neglect

When you identify a pattern rolling over across 2–3 MOT cycles, you have to determine what the component is. Certain parts are too critical to ignore for years. If the following components are repeatedly flagged, it signals that the owner runs the car strictly on a "fix it only when it fails legally" budget.

Brakes and Tyres

If "brake pads wearing thin" or "tyres worn close to the legal limit" appears three years in a row, it proves chronic under-maintenance. Tyres and brakes are fundamental safety items. A responsible owner replaces them at the first warning. An owner who ignores them for 30,000 miles is highly unlikely to have paid for optional things like gearbox fluid changes or premium engine oil.

Oil Leaks and Emissions

"Oil leak, but not excessive" repeated over several years is a massive red flag. Often, small leaks degrade rubber hoses and wiring harnesses around the engine bay over time. A persistent leak means the owner was topping up oil rather than fixing the seal. Eventually, this turns into an expensive failure. Similar logic applies to recurring black smoke or minor emissions problems.

Severe Suspension Wear

If suspension bushes are deteriorating year after year, the car will drive poorly. Not only does it compromise handling, but leaving worn bushes in place forces other connected components (like shock absorbers and steering racks) to absorb impacts they weren't designed for, causing cascading failures.

When a repeated advisory is perfectly normal

Not all repeated strings are terrifying. Certain advisories frequently reappear purely due to the subjective nature of the MOT test or the inevitable reality of owning an older vehicle, such as:

• Non-structural surface corrosion: Notes like "underbody has light surface rust" are practically standard on any UK car over 8 years old due to winter road salt. Unless it escalates to "structural corrosion", it is generally just an observation.
• Plastic engine covers: "Undertrays fitted obscuring some underside components" will appear every single year on modern cars simply because the tester is legally documenting that they couldn't see the entire engine block.
• Child seats: "Child seat fitted not allowing full inspection of adult belt" is a completely harmless clerical note indicating the tester couldn't unbuckle the car seat during the test.

It is also common to see a car suffer a fail then pass on the same day to finally clear a repeated minor warning that eventually crossed the line into an illegal failure.

What to ask the seller

When performing used car checks before buying, finding repeated advisories gives you absolute transparency into upcoming bills. You know practically exactly what is going to break next.

Ask the seller straight up: "The MOT history shows the suspension arms have been flagged as deteriorating for the last three tests. Have those been replaced yet?"

If they haven't been replaced, quote the price of the repair to reduce the asking price. If the seller gets defensive, walk away. A repeated advisory is not automatically a reason to reject a car, but if a vital mechanical part has been deteriorating for years, the responsibility-and the financial burden-is about to drop onto your shoulders.

Let AI do the hard work for you

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