When you check a cars MOT history online

[vincentianpinner]

First, a lot of the cars I've checked have advisories about under body rust. Probably because I'm looking at Japanese cars that are a few years old. So would you would you still consider such cars. I mean if it said it wasn't too bad or some other reason that might mean there's hope, like if the rust was a few years ago and didn't show up if recent mots etc.

Second, do you only want to see lots of passes
with minimal advisories or does a lot of previous issues make you happy to see those problems are out of the way for a while?

 

[accelerator]

My car has had advisories that the underbody is corroded for many years, but they just stay at advisories, because it's just surface rust, and isn't affecting structural integrity. So, in some cases, these advisories don't matter, but you do need to inspect the car to see what the condition is.

Ideally, you would see passes, as then you know you are buying a reliable car. It really comes down to how reliable the model of car is, and how well the owner has kept it. If the owner is getting all the problems fixed all the time, that's a good sign.

Ultimately, you need to inspect the car thoroughly yourself before buying. The internet has plenty of advice. If something doesn't seem right, then walk away, there are plenty of cars for sale.

 

[JohnD]

When I look at MoT history, I am not concerned by minor issues that are quickly fixed.

But when I see advisories such as "rear tyres, showing cracking" and the next year "rear and front tyres showing cracking" and the year after "all tyres severely perished and cracked" I can see the owner does not care about keeping his vehicle in in good condition.

I like to have all advisories on my own cars fixed before the next test.

 

[carmanmemoranda]

As a tester.

The criteria for pass on a lot of items especially rust, tyres, brakes, suspension etc including inaccesible areas, is mostly an opinion and very subjective.

I cannot fail a car unless I can find an actual reason to fail it, but I can suspect there is damage I can't see or the subject has only just met the required pass state. I cover my back by putting on a comment, an advisory, that says I have seen something that really needs attention, or may give rise to further problems in the near future ( I try to use the next mot test as a reference point).

It means I have noticed it. It may, or may not, be a problem, but you cannot come back to me in 2 or 3 months and say my car has just developed a fault that I should have seen at the mot.

An MOT is not a replacement for a thorough sevice and inspection, it is a snapshot of the vehicel on the day of the test.