While Brake Safety Awareness Month might have been in August, it is never a bad time to have your brakes checked. 

"When it comes to vehicle safety, the brake system is at the top of the list, so have your brakes checked by an auto service professional at least once a year," said Rich White, executive director, Car Care Council in a statement. "Knowing the key warning signs that your brakes may need maintenance will go a long way toward keeping you and others safe on the road."

Routine brake inspections are essential to safe driving and maintaining your vehicle. Luckily you don't need to be an auto mechanic to know if something is wrong with your brakes.

Here are seven signs that could be an indication that your brakes need to be inspected:

1. Light: If your brake light is illuminated on your dashboard you shouldn't wait very long to have them checked out.

2. Noise: If you hear a grinding, screeching, or clicking noise when applying your brakes, something is wrong.

3. Grabbing: Brakes grab at the slightest touch to the pedal is a bad sign for any vehicle.

4. Pulling: If your vehicle pulls to one side while braking it is not safe to drive for an extended period of time.

5. Vibration: Brake pedal pulses, or vibrations, even under normal braking conditions is a concern.

6. Hard Pedal: If it seems like you need to apply extreme pressure to the pedal before your vehicle's brakes engage then they need to be fixed.

7. Low Pedal: The brake pedal is not the pedal you want touching the floor.

Brakes are a normal wear item, and in any vehicle eventually they need to be replaced. Factors that can affect brakes includes the quality of the brake lining material, operating conditions, vehicle type, and of course driving habits, according to CareCare.org.

Services are available to help drivers remember to have your brakes inspected and to take better care of your vehicle, like Car Care Council's free personalized schedule and email reminder. 

So if you think something is up with your brakes, get them checked out as soon as possible if you want your vehicle around for a long time.

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