What MOT advisories and major defects mean when buying a vehicle
Advisories, majors and dangerous defects are recorded differently. Here is what that means for a used-vehicle buyer.
An MOT result is more than pass or fail. Testers record defects by type. For a used-vehicle buyer, the difference between an advisory and a major defect is the difference between “watch this” and “this failed the test”. Read the wording on the history, not only the green or red result.
Dangerous defects
A dangerous defect is a fail. The tester judged it a direct and immediate risk. A vehicle with a dangerous item on a recent test needs a clear story: what was repaired, and when it passed afterwards. Do not rely on the seller's word alone.
Major defects
Major defects are also fails. They are serious enough that the vehicle should not have been used until they were put right. Look at what failed: brakes, steering, structure, lights, emissions and corrosion are common. A pass on a later test means those items were rectified to the tester's standard that day. It does not mean the underlying part will last the next year.
Advisories
Advisories are observations that were not a fail on that test. They still matter when you are buying. A single advisory for slightly worn pads can be routine. The same advisory repeating for years, or a long list on tyres, corrosion, oil leaks or play in joints, often means work the next owner will pay for.
Minor defects and PRS
Minor defects are recorded issues that did not fail the test. PRS (pass after rectification at the station) means a fail item was fixed at the test centre and the vehicle then passed. Both are useful context: they show something was wrong on the day, even if the final result is a pass.
How to use this when buying
- Read the latest test first, including every advisory and defect line.
- Scan older tests for the same items coming back.
- Ask the seller what was repaired after any fail, and look for evidence.
- Budget for outstanding advisories; do not assume they are cosmetic.
Enter the registration on myMOTreport for a free standard report with the official history. Advanced analysis summarises patterns across tests. Neither is a substitute for seeing the vehicle, or for independent mechanical advice.
Related guides
myMOTreport is an independent service and is not affiliated with, approved by, or endorsed by DVSA, GOV.UK, or DVLA. Defect categories follow the official MOT record. This is not purchase advice. The official check is on GOV.UK.