Motorists may be unaware of 'outstanding recalls' on their vehicles in 2025, the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has warned. Recall notices refer to alerts over a vehicle's critical defects that must be addressed immediately.

Ignoring a recall can be dangerous, posing severe risks to all road users. Taking to X, formerly , the DVSA wrote: "Why stall? Check for recalls. If your vehicle has an outstanding recall, it will appear on your MOT certificate.

"Your MOT tester can tell you: what the fault is, who you should contact. Vehicle recalls help protect vehicle owners and road users from unsafe products."

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Drivers can quickly identify whether their vehicle has a recall notice in place by checking an MOT test certificate. Leading manufacturers such as Ford, Toyota, Honda, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen keep the DVLA instantly informed with live data.

With this system in place, any active recalls are swiftly printed on MOT documents, allowing car owners to address issues without delay. Companies typically cover the cost of recall-related repairs - drivers need only reach out to a dealer and book a time.

If you're the original owner, manufacturers are expected to continue to notify you directly about any new recalls. However, this can become a problem for second-hand used car owners as firms may not have new contact details to pass on the information.

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Sue Robinson, chief executive of the previously stressed the recall policy was a 'welcome' move, according to. She said the NFDA had called for the inclusion of recall notices on MOT tests for many years.

Meanwhile, the Government's website explains: "Find out if the manufacturer has recalled a vehicle, part or accessory because of a serious safety problem. You need to get your car fixed or replaced by the manufacturer if there’s a problem. You will not usually have to pay for any repairs or parts.

"If your vehicle has a serious safety defect, the manufacturer will write to you to tell you what to do. You must not drive the vehicle." It adds: "You can also that’s been registered with the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA)."