How long do brake pads and shoes last?

Per 100 MOT tests

Brake pads and shoes: failures and advisories by car age

3–5 yrsreg. 2020–2022

1.4

7.5

6–8 yrsreg. 2017–2019

2.4

11.4

9–11 yrsreg. 2014–2016

2.4

10.0

12–14 yrsreg. 2011–2013

2.5

9.1

15+ yrsreg. 2010 and earlier

2.0

7.3

Items recorded per 100 class 4 tests at each age, across the whole fleet. Advisories run ahead of failures: the tester saw the part wearing and said so a year or two before it failed. Peak band highlighted.

DVSA recorded wording

What the tester writes

• “a brake lining or pad worn below 1.5mm”peaks at 12–14 yrs · 2.3 per 100 tests
• “Brake lining or pad worn down to wear indicator”peaks at 6–8 yrs · 0.2 per 100 tests

When it fails

The defects behind it, explained

• Brake pads wearing thin
• Brake drum or shoe worn or contaminated

Brakes

Other parts in the same system

• Brake pipesfrom 12–14 yrs
• Brake discsfrom 6–8 yrs
• Brake hosesfrom 15+ yrs

Every part, every age

Common questions

How long do brake pads and shoes last?

They do not last the life of the car, and the data shows it: brake pads and shoes fail the MOT at 1.4 per 100 tests on cars aged three to five and 2.5 at 12 to 14 years — nearly the same. They wear out and are replaced every few years whatever the car's age, so the question is really how many miles since the last set. Friction material wears with use; the MOT limit is 1.5 mm and a pad that thin is close to metal on metal.

At what age should I have brake pads and shoes checked?

At every service, and before every MOT, because they wear by mileage rather than age. A quick look is enough to catch most of what the tester would.

Is a worn brake pads and shoe an MOT failure?

It depends on how worn. "Brake pads wearing thin" and "Brake drum or shoe worn or contaminated" are the defects testers record; each page explains the threshold at which the item fails rather than being advised.