Annual check by male with a card showing signs of wear (4-5)
I believe the answer is:
moth-eaten
'showing signs of wear' is the definition.
'annual check by male with a card' is the wordplay.
'annual check' becomes 'MOT' (MOT test for a vehicle).
'by' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'male' becomes 'he' (he refers to a man).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'card' becomes 'ten' (eg ten of spades).
'mot'+'he'+'a'+'ten'='MOTH-EATEN'
(Other definitions for moth-eaten that I've seen before include "Damaged by insects" , "Old, in bad condition" , "Showing severe signs of wear and tear" , "Tatty" , "Old and worn" .)