Handbrake efficiency too low MOT failure: what it means and which cars get it
In DVSA MOT data for 2023, analysed by RegTail, testers recorded this as a failure on at least 1.0 in 100 initial MOT tests. The Vauxhall Vectra got it most often: recorded 5.1 times per 100 of its 39,116 tests.
DVSA wording: Parking brake efficiency below minimum requirement; Parking brake efficiency less than 50% of the required value.
What it means
The parking brake did not hold hard enough on the roller brake tester. For most cars the minimum is 16% of the vehicle's weight. Causes include a stretched or seized cable, worn rear pads or shoes, or a sticking rear caliper.
How serious it is
A major defect, so a fail. Below half the required value it is dangerous.
Source: MOT inspection manual for cars and light vans, section 1.4.2.
- Dangerous FailA direct and immediate risk to road safety or has a serious impact on the environment. Do not drive the vehicle until it's been repaired.
- Major FailIt may affect the vehicle's safety, put other road users at risk or have an impact on the environment. Repair it immediately.
What fixing it usually involves
Adjusting or replacing the cable, freeing the rear calipers, or new rear pads, shoes or discs. On cars with an electric parking brake it can mean a motor or caliper fault.
A general guide, not a quote: ask a garage to inspect the car.
Which models get it most
Per 100 initial MOT tests on each model, among the 101 models with at least 20,000 tests where it is among the 40 most common items. DVSA MOT data for 2023, analysed by RegTail.
| Model | Tests | Fail |
|---|---|---|
| Vauxhall Vectra | 39,116 | 5.1 |
| Citroen Relay | 63,380 | 3.8 |
| Kia Picanto | 179,881 | 3.6 |
| Iveco Daily | 38,031 | 3.4 |
| Fiat Punto | 72,390 | 3.3 |
| Peugeot 307 | 39,404 | 3.3 |
| Alfa Romeo Mito | 20,894 | 3.2 |
| Mercedes-Benz Sprinter | 211,162 | 3.2 |
| Renault Megane | 121,442 | 3.0 |
| Peugeot 206 | 58,647 | 2.9 |
What to check at a viewing
- On the carStop on a slope during the test drive and apply the handbrake: it should hold the car without being pulled to the last notch.
- In the MOT historyIf this appears in past results, ask what was done and when, and for the receipt.
Check a specific car
Fleet averages only go so far. Enter the registration to see that car's own MOT history, mileage record and current condition, free.
Questions
What does "Handbrake efficiency too low" mean on an MOT?
Handbrake efficiency too low: is it an MOT fail?
Which cars are most likely to get "handbrake efficiency too low" on an MOT?
More brakes defects
How these figures are made. We counted the defects recorded at every initial MOT test (not retests) of cars and light vans in Great Britain in 2023 in the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset, 33,842,940 tests in all. Each item counts once per test. A failure is a major or dangerous defect, including one fixed during the test. A model's rate is the share of its tests where the item was recorded.
For each model we keep its 40 most frequent items, so a model where a defect is rarer than that is not listed, and figures for all cars are a floor. Defect names and explanations are ours, checked against the MOT inspection manual; DVSA's own wording is shown under each name.
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. RegTail's analysis of the DVSA anonymised MOT dataset, 2023 tests.