Brake disc significantly worn MOT advisory: what it means and which cars get it
In DVSA MOT data for 2023, analysed by RegTail, testers recorded this as an advisory on at least 2.2 in 100 initial MOT tests. The Peugeot 2008 got it most often: recorded 5.0 times per 100 of its 99,466 tests.
DVSA wording: Brake disc or drum significantly and obviously worn.
What it means
A brake disc or drum has worn thin. Each disc has a minimum thickness, often stamped on it, and a worn disc stores less heat, so brakes fade sooner on long descents. As an advisory it means the disc is close to needing replacement.
How serious it is
A major defect, so a fail, when the disc is significantly and obviously worn. Most cars get it as an advisory first.
Source: MOT inspection manual for cars and light vans, section 1.1.14.
- Major FailIt may affect the vehicle's safety, put other road users at risk or have an impact on the environment. Repair it immediately.
- Advisory PassIt could become more serious in the future. Monitor and repair it if necessary.
What fixing it usually involves
Replace the discs on that axle as a pair, usually with new pads.
A general guide, not a quote: ask a garage to inspect the car.
Which models get it most
Per 100 initial MOT tests on each model, among the 217 models with at least 20,000 tests where it is among the 40 most common items. DVSA MOT data for 2023, analysed by RegTail.
| Model | Tests | Advisory |
|---|---|---|
| Peugeot 2008 | 99,466 | 5.0 |
| DS DS3 | 33,105 | 4.6 |
| Vauxhall Crossland | 51,812 | 4.5 |
| Citroen Cactus | 21,207 | 4.4 |
| Toyota Verso | 28,910 | 4.3 |
| Citroen DS3 | 75,180 | 4.2 |
| Peugeot 208 | 183,807 | 4.1 |
| Smart Forfour | 23,141 | 4.0 |
| Citroen C3 | 195,092 | 3.9 |
| Renault Scenic | 44,724 | 3.7 |
What to check at a viewing
- On the carAsk when the discs and pads were last changed, and look for a pronounced lip at the disc's outer edge. If the history shows this advisory, check whether a later test still lists it.
- In the MOT historyIf this appears as an advisory, see whether it came back at the next test or turned into a failure, and ask the seller for the receipt if it was fixed.
Check a specific car
Fleet averages only go so far. Enter the registration to see that car's own MOT history, mileage record and current condition, free.
Questions
What does "Brake disc significantly worn" mean on an MOT?
Brake disc significantly worn: is it an MOT fail?
Which cars are most likely to get "brake disc significantly worn" on an MOT?
More brakes defects
How these figures are made. We counted the defects recorded at every initial MOT test (not retests) of cars and light vans in Great Britain in 2023 in the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset, 33,842,940 tests in all. Each item counts once per test. A failure is a major or dangerous defect, including one fixed during the test. A model's rate is the share of its tests where the item was recorded.
For each model we keep its 40 most frequent items, so a model where a defect is rarer than that is not listed, and figures for all cars are a floor. Defect names and explanations are ours, checked against the MOT inspection manual; DVSA's own wording is shown under each name.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. RegTail's analysis of the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset, 2023 tests.