In short
- Since 20 May 2018, testers in England, Scotland and Wales grade each fault dangerous, major, minor or advisory[1].
- Dangerous and major faults fail the car. Minor faults and advisories do not[3].
- A dangerous fault means the car must not be driven until it is fixed. On a seller’s record, ask what was done, and for the paperwork.
- A minor is a fault the tester has found. An advisory is a note about wear that may need work soon.
- Lamps, suspension, brakes and tyres are where first-time MOTs most often fail (DVSA, April 2024 to March 2025)[6].
On this page
The MOT is the yearly check that a car is safe and fit for the road. Since 20 May 2018, testers in England, Scotland and Wales have put each fault they find into one of three grades[1]. They can still add advisories. Before that date a test was a simple pass or fail, so older entries on a record may read differently[2].
If a test finds a major or dangerous fault, the car fails. Minor faults and advisories do not fail it[3]. The certificate lists the minor faults[1], and so does the online MOT history[4]. Our guide on how to check a car’s MOT history shows where to find the faults and advisories.
Advisories are an early warning about what may need work next. Our guide to MOT advisories explains how to read them on a car’s record.
Most buyers meet these grades on someone else’s car, in its MOT history. This table shows what each one can mean, and what you could ask the seller.
| Grade on the record | What it means |
|---|---|
| Dangerous | A direct risk to road safety, or a serious effect on the environment. The car failed, and it was against the law to drive it until it was fixed. A later pass can mean it was repaired. What you could ask: What was done about it, who did the work, and can I see the paperwork? |
| Major | A fail. The fault could affect safety or the environment. A pass soon after can mean the repair was done. What you could ask: What was repaired? If the same part fails again at a later test, ask why. |
| Minor | A pass, with the fault listed. A car with only minor faults passes, however many there are[5]. What you could ask: Is it still there? The same minor at several tests can mean it has not been put right. |
| Advisory | A pass, with a note about wear that may need work soon. What you could ask: Has it come back at test after test? See MOT advisories. |
Driving a car that failed on a dangerous fault can bring a fine of up to £2,500, a driving ban and 3 penalty points[3]. These penalties are as of 10 October 2026. This is general information, not legal advice.
DVSA publishes how many first-time MOT tests fail in each area[6]. The table shows the share of tests with a failing fault in each area, and links to our guide on each one. It describes cars and light vans in general, not the car you are looking at.
For what fails at each age and what it costs to put right, see the most common MOT failures. For how the fail rate differs by age, see MOT fail rates by age.
Some faults tend to turn up at the same test as others. That does not mean one causes the other. It means both were found on the same day.
- Brakes and tyresabout 3 in 10 of those tests (30.4%)
- Suspension and tyresabout 1 in 4 of those tests (24.4%)
- Brakes and suspensionabout 1 in 5 of those tests (21.2%)
- Lights and tyresabout 1 in 8 of those tests (11.9%)
- Brakes and lightsabout 1 in 10 of those tests (10.1%)
Faults of any grade, advisories included, on all MOT-tested vehicles of this age, not only cars. A test with faults in three areas counts in three pairs, so the shares do not add to 100%. Found together does not mean one fault caused the other. MOT Wise analysis of DVSA MOT results, 2025. The pairs article has other ages.
Our article on MOT failures that come in pairs shows how the pairs change with age.
These rules matter to the keeper, and they explain what you see on a record. Each has its own guide.
- Minors and advisories only. The car has passed. See MOT advisories.
- A major fault. The car has failed and needs a repair and a retest (a second test after a fail). How MOT retests work covers the timings and the fees.
- A dangerous fault. Do not drive the car. Arrange the repair where the car is, or have it recovered. Driving without an MOT covers what the law says.
If you are the keeper and want to avoid a simple fail, see the checks you can do before an MOT.
Myth
A pass means the car is in perfect order.
What's true
It means the car met the standard on the day of the test. The record covers the testable items only, not the car’s general condition[7].
Common questions
What is the difference between a minor and a major MOT fault?
A minor has little effect on safety, and the car still passes. A major could affect safety or the environment, and the car fails until it is fixed and retested.
Is a minor defect the same as an advisory?
No. A minor is a fault the tester has found and graded. An advisory is a note about wear that may need work soon. Neither fails the car.
What does a dangerous MOT fault mean?
A direct risk to road safety, or a serious effect on the environment. The car fails, and it is against the law to drive it until it is fixed. Driving it can bring a fine of up to £2,500, a driving ban and 3 penalty points (as of 10 October 2026). This is general information, not legal advice.
Can a car pass an MOT with minor defects?
Yes. Minor faults and advisories do not fail the car, and the certificate still lists the minor faults.
Which MOT faults are the most common?
In DVSA’s figures for first-time tests from April 2024 to March 2025, lamps and electrical equipment came first. Suspension, brakes and tyres followed.
Sources
- MOT rule changes: 20 May 2018. GOV.UK (DVSA and DfT), 2018.
- How the new MOT defect categories will work. DVSA, Matters of Testing blog, 2018.
- Getting an MOT: MOT test result. GOV.UK.
- Check the MOT history of a vehicle. GOV.UK (DVSA).
- MOT inspection manual: Introduction. DVSA, 2026.
- MOT testing data for Great Britain. DVSA, 2026. Table DVSA/MOT/03: initial failures by defect category, classes 3 and 4.
- MOT testing guide for test stations: introduction. DVSA, 2026.
