One-in-six drivers (17%) who didn’t act on advisory notices following an MOT in the last 12 months – an estimated 6m people – went on to experience a vehicle breakdown or were involved in a collision as a result, according to new RAC research.
Of the 1,460 drivers who have had their vehicle recently MOT’d, 44% said the test resulted in one or more advisory notices being given.
These notices are early warning signs that could result in a future MOT failure – and not addressing them promptly could lead to a vehicle being unsafe and unfit for the road. Examples include tyres being close to the legal limit, brake pads being almost completely worn out, and minor (for now) oil leaks.
While a majority of drivers whose vehicles were given MOT advisories (60%) said they had either already dealt with all the issues flagged, or planned to before the next test, a substantial four-in-10 (39%) don’t plan to get all of the problems resolved.
And, of all those that weren’t issued with any advisories at their most recent MOT, as many as a fifth (22%) admitted to ignoring such notices in the past.
By running the gauntlet and not acting on MOT advisories, the RAC says drivers are at risk of knowingly getting behind the wheel of an unroadworthy vehicle. This is not only dangerous – resulting in a £2,500 fine and three penalty points if caught – it can also invalidate motor insurance cover.
The most common MOT advisories over the last year as reported by drivers in the RAC Mobile Mechanics survey were related to tyre wear (42%), brake pads or discs (34%), suspension (22%), lights (16%) and corrosion (14%).
Of those respondents whose vehicles were issued with MOT advisory notices last time around, more than a third (36%) got the issues dealt with at the garage before they collected their cars. But the remainder – 64% – delayed the necessary repairs, with one-in-10 (11%) leaving it until more than a month after the MOT in question.
The latest Government data shows that vehicle defects were a factor in 1,350 collisions in 2023 – the highest number in five years. Of these, 36 collisions involved one or more fatality, again the highest figure since 2018.
Nick Mullender, RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader, said: “The MOT is an annual occurrence for millions of drivers up and down the country, and serves as a vital check on a vehicle’s roadworthiness.
“While we all dread a failure, any advisories demand attention because they mean the vehicle isn’t in the best of health. Unfortunately, our research suggests there’s a lot of troubling ‘advisory apathy’ among drivers.
“Advisories indicate the potential for the vehicle to become unroadworthy in a matter of months or even weeks, depending on the nature of the issue and how often the vehicle is driven.
“It’s crucial that drivers keep a close eye on any flagged items. Some things are far easier for a driver to monitor than others. Regularly looking at tyres to ensure they have enough tread and are within the legal limits is straightforward enough. But even checking how much is left of a car’s brake pads can be tricky, let alone knowing when a minor oil leak could become much more serious.
“We recommend drivers remove the guesswork altogether. Alongside frequent checks at home, it’s vital to get vehicles serviced at regular intervals, depending on what the manufacturer recommends. This allows any problems to be picked up early, reducing the chances of them becoming an MOT advisory or even a reason for failure further down the line.”
Comment on this story