1.5 million drivers warned 'ignoring MOT issues compromising safety'

One in seven drivers are ignoring MOT advisories, including faulty lights, damaged suspension and worn tyres, according to new and exclusive data. Motoring experts at Auto Express surveyed 500 drivers.
The data, from Auto Express' MOT checker service, found that 15% admitted ignoring MOT advisories. Given almost one in three (29%) of MOTs result in at least one advisory, that means that across the UK, more than 1.5million cars are driving around with potentially dangerous defects, the researchers said.
The most common advisories are faulty lights and electrical equipment – they account for one in four (25%) of all defects - and almost a third (30%) of these faults, which include things like a failing battery or clouded headlights, are deemed 'major'. The next most common advisories concern the car's suspension system – these make up one in five (20%) but are only classed as 'major' 22% of the time. Next are problems with the car's brakes; these make up 16% of all advisories, and worryingly, 29% are categorised as 'dangerous'.
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While tyres only account for 13% of all advisories, where issues are present, they are generally of bigger concern than any other, with 60% of tyre-related advisories categorised as 'dangerous'. This means that there could be more than 116,00 cars driving in the UK with dangerously worn-down tyres, Auto Express said.
Paul Barker, editor of Auto Express, said: 'The minimum tyre tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm and going below this can seriously compromise a car's ability to grip the road and/or slow down, so the fact that so many drivers are ignoring tyre-related advisories – the vast majority (60%) of which are categorised as 'dangerous' - is very concerning, as it means there could be more than 100,000 cars on the UK's roads with seriously worn tyres.
'While driving with an advisory is not illegal, they should not be ignored because they indicate issues that aren't serious enough to cause an MOT failure but could worsen over time. For example, low tread tyres, worn brake pads or slightly corroded components could compromise safety if they deteriorate further."
But safety is not the only issue with ignoring an advisory; there are the financial impacts to consider too, as Paul explained: 'Minor issues can turn into major, expensive repairs if left unchecked. And, if the issue worsens, it could lead to an MOT failure next time around, potentially leaving you without a road-legal vehicle until repairs are made.
"Plus, if you plan to sell the vehicle, buyers might be wary if they see recurring advisories in the MOT history, suggesting neglect. Our free MOT Checker can help you do just that – just enter your car's registration and you can check your car's MOT advisories, when its next MOT test is due – and set a reminder - quickly and easily.'
Defect
Overall % of Defects
% categorised as 'major'
% categorised as 'dangerous'
Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment
25%
30%
1%
Suspension
20%
22%
5%
Brakes
16%
14%
29%
Tyres
13%
4%
60%
Visibility
8%
10%
0%
Body, chassis, structure
6%
7%
2%
Noise, emissions and leaks
6%
7%
0%
Steering
3%
4%
1%
Seat belts and supplementary restraint systems
2%
2%
0%
Identification of the vehicle
1%
1%
0%
Road wheels
1%
1%
1%
Auto Express said Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) data shows there were 34,714,326 MOTs across all vehicle classes for 2023-24.
28.58% had at least one advisory. That is 9,921,354 vehicles.
15% (those that ignore) of 9,921,354 is 1,488,203
13% (those with tyre defects) of 9,921,354 is 1,289,776
60% (dangerous) of 1,289,776 is 773866
15% (those that ignore) of 773866 is 116,080

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