Posted on 3/28/2025
You pull out of your driveway, and something feels off—but you don’t think much of it until you see that glowing brake warning on your dashboard. Then it hits you: you forgot to release the parking brake. Maybe you caught it early, maybe you didn’t—but now you’re wondering if any damage was done. It happens more often than people admit. Whether it’s a manual handbrake or an electronic button, driving with the parking brake engaged (even slightly) can affect your car in more ways than you’d think. Sometimes, the consequences are mild. Other times, they can get expensive—fast. How the Parking Brake Works Your parking brake—also called the emergency brake or e-brake—is designed to keep the car stationary when parked. In most vehicles, it bypasses the hydraulic brake system and operates mechanically, either with a cable or electronic motor that applies the rear brakes. When it’s fully engaged, it holds t ... read more