Maintenance ScheduleVehicle
How often should brakes be inspected?
Brake pads wear slowly and then quickly. A yearly inspection catches a worn pad or a sticking caliper before it becomes a bigger repair, and the MOT checks braking performance every year.
The answer
Have the brakes inspected at least once a year, at every service, and sooner if anything feels or sounds different.
Range: 12 months · checked 6 November 2026
Typical interval
What changes it
- High mileage, stop-start traffic, towing and hill descents wear pads faster.
- A squeal, grinding, a soft pedal, a pull to one side or a vibration means book a check now.
- The brake fluid is usually changed on a time interval too; ask at the service.
- Electric and hybrid cars use regenerative braking, so the pads can last longer but still corrode.
Do it
- Book the inspection with the annual service.
- Tell the mechanic about any noise, pedal feel or warning light.
- Ask for the pad and disc measurements, not just “fine”.
- Check the brake fluid level and the handbrake travel between services.
Put it in your schedule
The maker opens with Brake Inspection at every 12 months.
No account. The maker keeps the job in your browser and in the link.
Why this interval
The sources below give the full picture. The factors above are the ones that move the interval for most situations.
The range is a starting point, not a rule for every situation. The factors above are the ones the sources name; if your situation is different, use the range and ask a professional where the job needs one.
If you want the job in a schedule with reminders, open the schedule maker with this job already loaded. The how often index has the other jobs.
Brake Inspection questions
What changes the interval?
High mileage, stop-start traffic, towing and hill descents wear pads faster. A squeal, grinding, a soft pedal, a pull to one side or a vibration means book a check now. The brake fluid is usually changed on a time interval too; ask at the service. Electric and hybrid cars use regenerative braking, so the pads can last longer but still corrode.
Does the app use this interval?
The app’s ready-made schedule uses every 6 months for “Brake Inspection”. Set it to every 12 months if your car is serviced annually.
Where does this come from?
The answer is checked against one primary source, linked under Sources with the date each was read.
Sources
The interval and the factors on this page are checked against this source.
- How often should I service my car?. The AA.An annual service, which includes a brake check. Checked 6 November 2026.