One-in-six drivers who ignore MOT advisories suffer a breakdown – or worse
RAC warns against ‘advisory apathy’ or run the gauntlet of a breakdown
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, 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%). While tyre wear and lights are simple things to check, that’s not the case for many other issues that could become much bigger and more expensive if left unresolved. For this reason, it’s essential drivers get their car seen by a mobile servicing and repairs mechanic or booked into a reliable approved garage before these issues get worse and become dangerous.
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.
RAC mobile servicing and repairs team leader Nick Mullender 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.
“Garages can be regularly booked up weeks in advance, adding to the frustration for drivers, which is why mobile servicing and repairs mechanics are here. We can complete interim or full services as well as a wide range of repairs, including brake pad and disc replacement, on a customer’s driveway or at their place of work. So far less disruption to their day and less dread when it comes to the next MOT.
“It’s also good to remember that an MOT is the most basic of roadworthiness checks, and no replacement for a proper service by a qualified mechanic.”
Ends
Notes to editors
Images of Nick Mullender are available for download here: https://media.rac.co.uk/media/album/4470ab93-84b2-4970-b9b3-24f2ed7496ea
* Research conducted with 1,440 drivers by Online95 for the RAC Report on Motoring 2024 between 23 May and 1 June 2025. Responses were rim-weighted to be nationally representative of UK motorists in age, gender, socio-economic groups and all UK regions. 6m drivers estimate is for Great Britain, based on there being 42.6m full driving licence holders and 14% of RAC survey respondents saying they had experienced a breakdown or collision after not acting on MOT advisories in the last 12 months
** UK Department for Transport 2023 data on contributory factors that led to road collisions
