Passing an MOT doesn't mean the car has no problems. BIB checks whether the problems flagged at the last test were actually dealt with - or just left for someone else to worry about.
An MOT pass isn't a clean bill of health
When a car passes its MOT, it means the car met the minimum legal standard on that day. It doesn't mean everything was in perfect condition. MOT testers regularly flag things that aren't bad enough to fail the car but are worn, borderline, or heading in the wrong direction. These are called advisories.
Advisories are essentially a to-do list handed to the owner after each test. The question is: did they do anything about it?
An advisory that disappears at the next test usually means the owner got it sorted. That's a positive sign - someone who paid attention and dealt with the problem.
An advisory that reappears at the following test means the owner was told about the problem and chose not to act on it. The car passed both times - but the issue is still there.
What BIB compares
BIB takes the two most recent MOT tests for the car and puts them side by side. For every advisory noted at the earlier test, it checks whether that same issue appears at the later one - then splits the findings into three groups.
A mechanical advisory from the previous test is still present. The owner was warned about it and didn't act.
A wear item - like brake pads - came back. These wear down naturally, so this isn't alarming. But it is a cost that's coming.
The advisory from the previous test is gone. The owner dealt with it before the next inspection.
What it looks like in your report
App screengrab
Advisories from the two most recent MOTs compared side by side - what was flagged, what was fixed, and what's been left unaddressed.
What this means at the viewing
The MOT Advisory Check turns a list of examiner notes into specific, actionable information for the day you go to look at the car.
Unresolved items are named talking points
Any mechanical advisory that wasn't addressed gives you a specific question to ask the seller: "This was flagged at the 2022 MOT and I can see it came back at the 2023 MOT - has anything been done about it?" That's a very different conversation from a vague "is there anything wrong with it?"
Wear items tell you what's coming
Brake pads and tyres cost money. If those were flagged at the last MOT, they're items you'll need to replace shortly after buying. That's a known cost - you can either factor it into your offer or use it to ask for a reduction in price.
A clean result is worth something
If everything from the last MOT was fixed before the next one, that says something real about the previous owner. It's evidence - not just a claim - that the car was looked after.
Know what you're walking into
The MOT Advisory Check is one of 13 sections in every BIB report. £3 per car.
Check a car with BIB