What sits inside an MOT test record

Each entry carries the date, the result, the mileage shown on the odometer at the time, and the expiry date granted. Since 2018 testers also grade defects as dangerous, major or minor, plus advisories. A dangerous defect means the vehicle must not be driven until it is repaired, a major defect is a fail, and an advisory is the tester's note that something is worn but not yet a failure.

Why advisories are the useful part

A pass with a page of advisories is not the same as a clean pass. Advisories for brake pipes, tyres, suspension and corrosion describe deterioration in progress. When the same advisory appears across several years, the previous owner chose not to repair it — and that cost now transfers to whoever buys the vehicle.

Using mileage entries to spot trouble

The mileage recorded at each test should climb steadily with the interval between them. A reading lower than the previous test, an unusual jump, or a year with no test at all are the three patterns that most often precede a clocked or laid-up vehicle. The record will not tell you why, but it shows you where to ask.