AIPlateChecker← Check a car

MOT advisory explained

“Service brake fluctuating but not excessively”

Recorded on 568 of the 25,257 cars checked on this site. Every time it was an advisory.

Seen this on a car? Check it free

Every MOT test, every advisory, the mileage record and a condition score, in seconds. No sign-up.

Buying it? The full history report adds finance, write-off, stolen and keeper checks.

Cars with it
568
of 25,257 checked
Share of cars
2.2%
at least once
Recorded as
Advisory
100% of 657 visits
Back next time
11%
of 528 follow-up visits

What it means

During the roller brake test the tester watches the braking effort as the wheel turns. This note means the effort rose and fell as the wheel went round, but not by enough to fail.

It is an advisory, which does not fail the car by itself. Excessive fluctuation is recorded as a failure.

How it shows up in the records

Advisory 100%
11% came back
The same entry, on the same part of the car, was recorded again at the next test in 11% of cases.
50,579 miles
Median recorded mileage when it first appeared, on cars a median of 6 years old. From the 188 cars whose whole MOT history is recent enough to compare.

Share of cars with this entry, by year of manufacture

1.7%1971–730.0%1980–823.9%1983–850.9%1986–882.1%1989–911.2%1992–940.9%1995–971.1%1998–003.5%2001–033.2%2004–063.9%2007–093.9%2010–123.4%2013–151.9%2016–181.0%2019–210.5%2022–24

Models where it is recorded most

ModelCars with itShareSame-age cars
Volkswagen Polo20 of 2607.7%2.7%
Ford KA5 of 657.7%3.2%
Skoda Fabia5 of 736.8%2.7%
Mercedes-Benz C-class10 of 1626.2%2.8%
Hyundai i205 of 855.9%2.5%
Audi A17 of 1325.3%2.2%
BMW 3 Series12 of 2105.7%2.7%
Hyundai i106 of 1135.3%2.7%

Models with 20 or more cars checked here. “Same-age cars” is the share among all checked cars built in the same years, so an older model is compared with older cars.

What to check before you buy

  • On a test drive, where it is safe and the road behind is clear, brake firmly from speed and feel for pulsing through the pedal.
  • Look at the discs for uneven wear or discoloured patches.
  • Ask whether the discs or drums have been replaced since the test, and for the invoice.
  • Read the later MOT tests for the same corner.

Cars checked here with this entry

Other brakes entries explained

Brake pad(s) wearing thinBrake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakenedBrake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thickBrake pipe corroded, covered in grease or other materialParking brake efficiency below requirementsBrake disc worn, but not excessivelyService brake binding but not excessivelyService brake excessively bindingBrakes imbalanced across an axle

Checking a car with this on its MOT?

Repair costs depend on the car, so this page does not quote one. Enter the plate and the free report estimates them for that car, alongside every test and advisory on its record.

Check a car’s MOT history

Counts are of cars checked on this site, from official public records. Updated 22 Sept 2026 · figures as of 4 Oct 2026. All MOT entries explained.