Published November 2026.
The brake and airbag warning lights both protect you in the moments that matter most: stopping and crashing. That’s why both are usually red, and why neither should be ignored. This guide explains what each light means, when to stop driving, what usually causes them, and how they affect the MOT.
What to do now
| Light | What to do |
|---|---|
| Red brake light (! in a circle, or BRAKE) | Check the handbrake is fully off. If it is, stop as soon as it’s safe and call for recovery |
| Red brake light and amber ABS light together | Stop as soon as it’s safe and call for recovery |
| Amber brake pad wear light (a circle with dashes either side) | Book the brakes in soon: the pads are near the end |
| Amber electronic parking brake light (P with a warning symbol) | Get it checked; the parking brake may not apply or release properly |
| Airbag light (a seated person with a circle in front) | Get it checked straight away; the airbags may not work in a crash |
The RAC advises not driving with a red brake warning light or a red airbag light on.
The brake warning light
The main brake warning light is red and shows an exclamation mark inside a circle, sometimes with brackets either side, or the word BRAKE. It has three main causes:
- The handbrake is on. The same light usually shows when the parking brake is applied. Check it’s fully released. What Car? notes this is the most innocent explanation.
- Low brake fluid. The fluid level drops slowly as the pads wear, but a sudden drop can mean a leak, and a big leak means the brakes may fail. Don’t just top it up and carry on: find out why it’s low.
- A fault in the braking system, such as the electronic brake force distribution, which shares the ABS sensors. If the ABS light is on too, see our ABS warning light guide.
If the light comes on while you’re driving and the handbrake is off, slow down gently, avoid sudden braking, and pull over somewhere safe.
Brake pad wear and parking brake lights
Many cars have separate amber brake lights. A brake pad wear light means a sensor in the pads has detected they’re worn; Volkswagen, for example, says action is required and to contact a repairer. It’s not an emergency, but don’t leave it for long: worn pads damage the discs and make braking less effective. An electronic parking brake light means the system has a fault, which can be as simple as a weak 12-volt battery.
Brake warning lights and the MOT
The MOT inspection manual (section 1) sets out how the tester treats each one:
| What the tester finds | Result |
|---|---|
| Brake fluid warning light lit or defective (1.1.10) | Minor defect: passes, with the defect recorded |
| Brake fluid below the minimum mark | Minor; significantly below is major; not visible is dangerous |
| Electronic parking brake warning light shows a malfunction (1.1.6) | Major defect: fail |
| ABS warning light shows a fault or doesn’t work (1.6) | Major defect: fail |
| Pad wear light lit | Not a reason for failure on its own |
| Pads worn down to the wear indicator (1.1.13) | Major defect; worn below 1.5mm is dangerous |
The airbag warning light
The airbag light, sometimes labelled SRS (supplementary restraint system), shows a seated person with a circle in front of them. It covers the airbags and the seatbelt pre-tensioners that tighten the belts in a crash. It should come on when you switch on the ignition and go out after a few seconds.
If it stays on, the system has found a fault, and What Car? warns that the airbags could fail to deploy in a crash. Depending on the fault, they may also be at risk of going off when they shouldn’t. Get it checked straight away.
Common causes of an airbag light
- Loose or damaged connectors under the front seats. Seats carry airbag and seatbelt wiring, which can be disturbed when seats are moved, removed or cleaned under.
- A worn clock spring, the coiled connector inside the steering wheel that links the driver’s airbag. A horn or steering wheel buttons that stop working are a common sign.
- Seatbelt pre-tensioner or buckle sensor faults.
- A passenger seat occupancy sensor fault.
- Accident damage, or airbags that have gone off and not been properly replaced.
Don’t try to repair airbag parts yourself. Airbags contain explosive charges, and the system must be repaired by someone with the right equipment, then reset with a diagnostic reader.
Airbag lights and the MOT
In the MOT inspection manual (section 7.1), an SRS warning light that indicates a system malfunction is a major defect, and so is an airbag fitted as original equipment that is obviously missing or inoperative. A deployed or missing seatbelt pre-tensioner is also a major defect. A passenger airbag that has been switched off, for example for a rear-facing child seat, isn’t a defect.
Buying a used car? Check both lights
- Switch on the ignition and make sure the brake, ABS and airbag lights all come on and then go out. A light that never comes on could have been disabled to hide a fault.
- An airbag light can be a sign of past accident damage. Our guide to spotting a car that has been in an accident shows what else to look for, and a full car history check shows whether it has been recorded as written off. See Silver and Gold check prices.
- Check the MOT history for brake and airbag failures with our free MOT history check.
Our guide to dashboard warning lights covers the rest.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with the brake warning light on?
Not unless it’s simply the handbrake. If the handbrake is off and the red light stays on, stop when safe and get help: the brakes may have a fluid leak or a fault.
What does an amber brake light mean?
Usually that the brake pads are worn and need replacing soon, or a fault with the electronic parking brake.
Is it safe to drive with the airbag light on?
The car will drive normally, but the airbags may not work in a crash. Get it checked straight away.
Will an airbag light fail an MOT?
Yes. An SRS warning light indicating a malfunction is a major defect.
Will a brake warning light fail an MOT?
A lit brake fluid warning light is a minor defect, so the car can pass with it recorded. An ABS or electronic parking brake fault light is a major defect and fails.
- GOV.UK: MOT inspection manual, section 1 brakes
- GOV.UK: MOT inspection manual, section 7 other equipment (7.1 airbags and SRS)
- RAC: car dashboard warning lights (18 August 2026)
- What Car?: car dashboard warning lights explained (3 March 2025)
- Volkswagen UK: brake pad monitoring light
- How to spot if a used car has been in an accident
Check a car’s MOT history, including any failures for warning lights, with our free MOT history check.
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