Parking brake (handbrake) not working well enough
How it can appear on an MOT certificate
- “Parking brake efficiency below requirements”
- “Parking brake lever has excessive movement”
- “Parking brake inoperative on one side”
What it is
The parking brake holds the car when it's parked. It may be a lever, a pedal or an electronic switch, and it usually works on the rear brakes.
Why it matters
A weak parking brake may not hold the car on a slope, so it could roll away. Too much lever travel usually means the cable needs adjusting or the rear brakes need attention.
What to check when viewing a car
On a test drive, stop on a slope and apply the parking brake to see whether it holds. Count the clicks on a lever handbrake: a lever that comes up very high suggests adjustment is needed.
Has the car you're looking at had this before?
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What the MOT categories mean
- Dangerous
- A direct and immediate risk to road safety, or a serious impact on the environment. The car fails and shouldn't be driven until it's repaired.
- Major
- It may affect the car's safety, put other road users at risk or harm the environment. The car fails and should be repaired straight away.
- Minor
- No significant effect on safety or the environment. The car passes, but it should be repaired as soon as possible.
- Advisory
- Something to keep an eye on that could need repairing in future. The car passes.
Related: brakes
- Brake pads wearing thin
- Brake discs worn, pitted or scored
- Brake pipe corroded
- Brake hose damaged or deteriorated
- Brakes pulling or uneven (imbalance)
- Brake fluid leak
Buying a used car?
General information about this type of MOT defect, not advice about a particular car. How serious it is depends on the car; have any car you're buying inspected by a qualified mechanic.