mechanics.tradeHandbrake efficiency
Testers wrote handbrake efficiency down 512,897 times during 2025, 21st on a list of 265 kinds of defect.
512,897recorded in 2025
1.7%of all recorded defects
21ston the national list
What it is
The parking brake is measured on the same rollers as the footbrake and has its own minimum figure. Coming in under half of what is required is recorded as dangerous rather than merely major.
What the tester can write down
What the tester writes depends on how serious it is: dangerous and major.
| Wording on the certificate | Category | Recorded in 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement | Major | 405,626 |
| Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value | Dangerous | 107,271 |
What you can do about it
Cable-operated handbrakes stretch with use and can often simply be adjusted. On cars with an electronic parking brake the fault is more likely in the motor or its wiring, so have it read properly.
Nearby on the list
Every defect on the list, from 42,728,066 MOT tests in 2025.