The anecdotal evidence that IE hears is that used car owners are happy to get an MoT pass and things like worn discs, oil leaks, worn suspension linkages etc can all wait until next year. But the “if it ain’t broker don’t fix it” attitude can mean the car misbehaves in poor road conditions, or emergency braking. Here’s the word;
More than half of vehicles tested at MOT in 2025 left with at least one advisory, according to new research from cinch, the UK’s leading online used car retailer. Analysis of Freedom of Information (FOI) data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) shows that over 20 million cars are given MOT advisories each year.
Ben Welham, motoring expert at cinch, said:
“Advisories aren’t failures, but they are a clear warning that something needs attention.
“If those warnings are ignored, small fixes can quickly turn into much bigger and more expensive problems.”
Advisories Increase Year on Year
FOI data from the DVSA reveals that 22.5 million of the 40 million Class 4 vehicles (including cars and vans under 3,000kg) tested in 2025 received at least one advisory, which is 56.4% of all vehicles tested.
The share of vehicles picking up at least one advisory has increased every year since 2022:
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2022: 54.7% (21.4 million vehicles)
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2023: 55.3% (21.9 million)
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2024: 56.1% (22.4 million)
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2025: 56.4% (22.5 million)
The total number of advisories issued each year has also grown steadily, increasing from 60.5 million in 2022 to nearly 66 million in 2025. In all, more than 254 million advisories were recorded by the DVSA across the four-year period.
Of the vehicles flagged at MOT with at least one advisory, the average number was three per car, suggesting issues often come in clusters rather than in isolation.
Tyres the Most Common Advisory – Over 67 Million Since 2022
Tyres are consistently the most common advisory category every year, with over 67 million recorded between 2022 and 2025.
Brakes remain the second most common issue across most years, with around 14 to 15 million advisories recorded annually, meaning two of the most safety-critical components on a vehicle dominate MOT warnings.
Other categories such as emissions, bodywork and electrics account for far fewer advisories by comparison, each typically ranging between around 1 million and 2.7 million per year.
Welham added: “Tyres and brakes are so important for road safety that it’s worth highlighting how often these are tagged as advisories during an MOT.
“A tyre advisory usually means its tread depth or condition is getting close to the legal limit. Drivers should be checking tyre pressure and tread depth regularly, not just before their MOT.
“With brakes, listen for squealing or grinding and pay attention to see if you need to push the pedal further in than normal. Those are often the first signs that parts are wearing down.”
Suspension Advisories Surge Nearly 30% in Three Years
The biggest shift in the data comes in the suspension category, where advisories have increased by 29.4% since 2022.
The number of suspension-related warnings has risen from 11.3 million in 2022 to 14.7 million in 2025, making it the fastest growing category among the major MOT advisories.
In 2025, suspension overtook brakes to become the second most common advisory type for the first time, with tyres and suspension alone accounting for nearly half of all advisories issued in 2025.
cinch’s own research into Britain’s pothole crisis found that drivers have submitted more than 3.3 million pothole reports across Great Britain since 2022, with nearly five million repairs carried out in the same period.
The increasing number of suspension-related advisories and the worsening road conditions could be connected, as potholes can cause components to wear more quickly.
Welham comments: “The rise in suspension advisories is significant and is likely linked to the condition of UK roads.
“Repeated impact from potholes and poor road surfaces can wear down springs, shock absorbers and suspension parts.
“Suspension wear tends to be gradual. The car still drives; it just doesn’t drive as well as it should. By the time something feels obviously wrong, you’re often looking at a much bigger repair bill.
“If your car feels like it’s bouncing more than usual, pulling to one side, or you’re noticing uneven tyre wear, those are signs your suspension may need attention before your next MOT.
“The best way to stay on top of potential issues is to get your car serviced annually – mechanics can spot early warning signs and fix any potential issues that may be flagged in your MOT.”
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