Most Common UK MOT Advisories from 2005-2024 DVSA Data: What Drivers Ignore at Their Peril
Every year, millions of UK drivers collect an MOT certificate that says 'PASS' – often with advisory notices listed underneath. Based on more than 500 million advisory notices recorded across 20 years of DVSA MOT records (2005-2024), this guide shows which advisories come up most often and which areas of the car they relate to. An MOT advisory is not a failure: it's a note on a passing certificate that an item met the standard on the day, but that the tester recorded something worth keeping an eye on. Knowing which advisories are most common – and treating each one as a prompt to have that item checked – helps you stay ahead of your next MOT.
The Single Most Common UK MOT Advisory: Tyre Tread Worn Close to the Legal Limit
Most common UK MOT advisories (2005-2024)
Share of all advisory notices recorded across 20 years of UK MOT tests · Class 4 + Class 7
Across 20 years of UK MOT data, one advisory stands far above all others: 'Tyre tread worn close to or below the legal limit' was recorded 122,251,875 times, accounting for 23.83% of all advisory notices. Nearly one in four advisories recorded on UK MOT tests concerned tyre tread.
Because it appears on a passing certificate, the tyres met the standard on the day of the test – but the tester noted the tread was close to the limit. If you see this advisory, have your tread depth checked by tyre specialists rather than waiting for your next MOT.
Suspension and Brake Advisories Dominate the Top Ten
After tyre tread, the second and third most common advisories both relate to suspension and brakes: 'Suspension joints, bushes or ball joints worn' was recorded 54,935,995 times (10.71% of all advisories), and 'Brake disc or drum worn' 54,891,701 times (10.70%). Together with tyre tread, these three advisories account for 45.2% of all advisory notices recorded over two decades.
The full top ten, by share of all advisory notices (2005-2024):
- Tyre tread worn close to or below the legal limit: 122,251,875 – 23.83%
- Suspension joints, bushes or ball joints worn: 54,935,995 – 10.71%
- Brake disc or drum worn: 54,891,701 – 10.70%
- Brake pads or linings worn: 42,605,038 – 8.30%
- Brake hydraulic component worn: 32,025,808 – 6.24%
- Tyre condition: 31,222,519 – 6.08%
- Exhaust system fault: 20,389,850 – 3.97%
- Shock absorber worn or leaking: 18,267,434 – 3.56%
- Rigid brake pipe corroded or damaged: 14,119,883 – 2.75%
- Coil spring broken or corroded: 13,534,244 – 2.64%
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"Times recorded" means how many MOT tests carried that advisory. A single test can carry several advisories, so these are counts of advisory notices, not counts of cars. Drivers exploring brake advisories and failures in detail can review the brakes problems on UK cars data hub.
Understanding MOT Advisories by Category: Brakes, Tyres and Suspension Account for 85.8%
UK MOT advisories by fault category (2005-2024)
Share of all advisory notices by the area of the car they relate to
When advisories are grouped by the area of the car, three categories dominate. Brakes generated 160,608,501 advisory notices (31.30% of the total), Tyres & Wheels 154,189,517 (30.05%), and Suspension 125,716,117 (24.50%). Together, these three categories make up 85.8% of all advisories recorded on UK MOT tests from 2005 to 2024.
Beyond the top three, Bodywork accounts for 5.47% of advisories, Exhaust 3.18% and Steering 2.54%, with Engine, Electrical and the remaining categories making up the other 2.96%. Tyre tread advisories and brake advisories alone account for 55.13% of every advisory notice recorded. For failure and advisory data by category, make and model, visit our common car problems from DVSA data hub.
What the Advisory Data Can and Cannot Tell You
These figures show how often each advisory was recorded, and on which areas of the car. They do not show what happened next. MOT data does not follow an individual car from one test to the next, so it cannot tell us how often an advisory is dealt with, how often it is ignored, or how often it later becomes a failure.
That is exactly why it is worth treating an advisory as a prompt rather than a verdict. The tester has noted something about that item on the day of the test; the only way to know what it means for your car now is to have it checked. For a detailed explanation of what MOT advisories mean and the different types of notice on a certificate, see our companion guide.
How to Use Your MOT Advisory List
Your MOT certificate records your car's condition at a single point in time, and the advisory list tells you which items the tester noted. When you collect your certificate, read every advisory and note the specific items flagged. Then take the certificate to your regular garage and ask them to check those items and tell you what, if anything, needs doing.
Drivers who find a local garage they trust benefit from continuity: the mechanic can see your car's advisories from one year to the next and advise you on them. You can also set a free MOT reminder so your test date never catches you out and there is time to deal with any advisories before the next test.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an MOT advisory and does it mean my car has failed?
No. An MOT advisory is a note recorded on a passing MOT certificate. The item met the standard on the day of the test, but the tester noted something worth keeping an eye on. Your car has passed.
What is the most common MOT advisory in the UK?
'Tyre tread worn close to or below the legal limit' – recorded 122,251,875 times across 2005-2024, or 23.83% of all advisory notices (Source: DVSA MOT records 2005-2024).
Can an MOT advisory turn into a failure next year?
Our data cannot answer that: MOT records do not follow the same car from one test to the next, so there is no figure for how often an advisory later becomes a failure. What an advisory does tell you is that the tester noted that item, so it is sensible to have it checked by a garage before your next MOT.
Which areas of the car get the most MOT advisories?
Brakes (31.30%), Tyres & Wheels (30.05%) and Suspension (24.50%) together account for 85.8% of all advisory notices recorded on UK MOT tests from 2005 to 2024.
Conclusion
The 20-year DVSA dataset shows a clear picture: tyre tread is the single most common MOT advisory at 23.83% of all notices, and brakes, tyres and suspension together account for 85.8%. An advisory is not a failure – but it is the tester telling you which items to look at, so read your advisory list and have those items checked. If you need help acting on your advisories, you can find trusted garages through our directory.
