Brake warning light: check this first

What the warning actually means

The symbol is an exclamation mark inside a circle, sometimes with the word BRAKE. It covers several things at once: the parking brake, the brake fluid level, and hydraulic faults.

Common causes

• The parking brake is not fully released
• Low brake fluid level
• A leak in the brake system
• Worn brake pads, on cars that warn about it here

What to do now

1. Release the parking brake fully and see whether the light goes out.
2. Feel the pedal. If it is soft, slow or travels further than usual, do not drive.
3. Check the level in the brake fluid reservoir if you can reach it.
4. If you are in any doubt, have the car towed.

What people often get wrong

That the light always means something serious. The most common cause is a parking brake that is not fully released, and that is a two-second check. On many cars a parking brake that is only partly released keeps the light on even though the car drives normally, which is what confuses people whose light stayed on after they set off.

When the car must go to a workshop

A brake warning together with a soft or unresponsive pedal is an emergency. The car should not be driven. If the brake light and the ABS light are on together, that usually points at a real hydraulic problem affecting the whole braking system, not just the anti-lock function, so treat it as urgent rather than waiting for a routine service appointment.

Read next

• ABS light on: do the brakes still work?
• Brake pad wear light: how long can you wait?
• Oil pressure warning light: stop the car now
• How to check brake fluid, and when it needs changing

This page is general information and does not replace a professional assessment. Symbols, codes and behaviour vary between makes. Always check the handbook for your own car.