Once a year, you’ll need to book your car in for an MOT. This is a legal obligation which helps to keep your car safe out on the roads as it will highlight any safety features on your vehicle which need repair. However, not all MOT results mean that action needs to be urgently taken.
If you’ve had an MOT before, you might be familiar with advisory notes, but if you haven’t seen one before, fear not, as this month we’ll be looking at what they are, what they mean and how to deal with them.
What is an advisory note?
If you’re given an advisory note, don’t panic. It will mean that your car has passed in this area, but requires attention. That’s because the team of mechanics who carried out your MOT will have spotted that an area of your vehicle will need maintenance in the near future to avoid failing next time around.
When you are handed your paperwork after the MOT is performed, you should have a document which lists any advisory items. These will explain the areas of the test which raised potential future issues.
What are the different levels of results?
There are multiple levels at which elements of your vehicle can pass or fail. Here is a list of terms you may hear or see in reference to your MOT and what they mean:
- PASS - This means the section of the test has been found to comply with legal minimum requirements
- ADVISORY - This means that something will need to be done in relation to this issue as it may fail next year (tread depth close to the legal minimum, for example)
- MINOR - This is a fail but on something which is not integral to safety or environmental features, therefore it’s a defect which should be dealt with (you may not fail your overall MOT)
- MAJOR - These issues will require immediate repair as it impacts the safety of the vehicle, but you can drive away to have the repairs made elsewhere if you choose
- DANGEROUS - These items mean that you won’t be able to drive the vehicle until the items are rectified as it’s too dangerous to take the vehicle away
What do I have to do with an advisory note?
So, what should you do if you have been given an advisory note? You might find you have more than one, but the idea is not to stop you from passing your MOT. Instead, you should take these advisory notices as guidance on what work to have carried out on your car next.
Some things might be easy to rectify yourself, others you might need to rebook in with your garage to have sorted out. The main thing is that you don’t forget about these items, keep an eye on the issues and make sure they don’t worsen.
- To use the example of tyres nearing their lowest tread depth limit, while you may not fail the MOT, you could be pulled over in six months and find they’ve gone below the limit, putting you in hot water with the police.
It’s also important to note that others may be able to see your advisory notes further down the line should you try to sell the vehicle on, so it’s a good idea to have all the little issues worked out as quickly as possible to ensure you get the best price for your car.
Make sure you don’t forget your annual MOT – book your MOT appointment with your local Treadfirst branch online today. Alternatively, if you’ve had an MOT and got some advisory notices you’d like to sort out, please don’t hesitate to contact our team to discuss your requirements.
