Car dashboard warning lights are designed to alert you when something isn’t right with your vehicle. Modern cars use a range of dashboard symbols that relate to different parts of the car, from the engine to the brakes, tyres and electrics. Understanding your car dashboard warning lights & symbols and what they mean is essential for safe driving and preventing costly damage.
Dashboard panel symbols come in different colours, and the colour itself gives you a clear idea of how urgent the issue is:
Red warning lights on dashboard: These indicate a serious and potentially dangerous fault. If a red warning light appears, you should stop the car as soon as it’s safe to do so and get help from a professional mechanic.
Yellow, amber or orange dashboard symbols: These mean something is wrong and needs attention, but it’s not as urgent as red. Take extra care, book diagnostics, and get the issue resolved as soon as you can.
Green, white or blue dashboard warning light symbols: These are usually just information lights showing that a system is working correctly or currently in use, such as headlights or cruise control.
So, what do dashboard warning lights mean? This guide will help you understand the most common car dashboard warning lights and what to do next.
Engine Management Warning Light (Check Engine Light)
The engine management light (sometimes called the engine warning light or check engine warning light) looks like the outline of an engine. It’s one of the most common warning dashboard lights and can mean several things, from a loose fuel cap to problems with the exhaust particulate filter, ignition system, or fuel system. You can read more about this in our guide on engine management lights.
Can I carry on driving with the engine management light on?
If the engine management light is red, stop as soon as possible and call for assistance. Ignoring it could cause damage to vital components.
If the amber engine warning light appears, the car is still usually safe to drive in the short term, but you should book a diagnostic check quickly.
What to do if your engine management light comes on:
Book in for a car diagnostic. Our trusted garages will use a diagnostic tool to get fault codes, identify the issue, and carry out any repairs needed to get you back on the road.
Battery Warning Light
A red battery warning light is a serious, urgent signal indicating a significant fault with your car's charging system or battery, requiring you to stop driving as soon as it's safe and seek immediate professional help. An amber or yellow battery warning light indicates a non-critical issue that still needs to be checked by a mechanic soon, but it's not usually an emergency to stop driving
Can I carry on driving with the battery warning light on?
If it’s a red battery warning light, it’s best to head straight to a local garage. If it’s amber, you may be able to keep driving for a short time, but usually, once the battery is drained the car will stop working and you won’t be able to start it again.
What to do:
Get the battery checked. You may need a replacement battery, or there may be an issue with the alternator or alternator belt (which charges the battery).
ABS Warning Light
The anti lock brake system warning light relates to the car’s anti lock brake system. This is the system that prevents wheel lock under heavy braking. If the ABS warning light is on in your car, that means this system isn’t working. Your brakes will still work, but without ABS assistance.
Can I carry on driving with the ABS warning light on?
Yes, but take extra care, especially in wet or icy conditions. If the ABS light comes on together with the brake system warning light, stop immediately.
What to do if your ABS warning light comes on:
Book a car diagnostic. Fixter’s vetted garages can identify if it’s a sensor fault, low brake fluid, or a bigger issue.
Brake System Warning Light
The brake system warning light usually appears as an exclamation mark in a circle. It can mean low brake fluid, worn brake pads or discs or another fault in the braking system.
Can I carry on driving with the brake warning light on?
No. Brakes are critical for safety. If this light stays on, find somewhere safe to stop as soon as possible and get professional help immediately.
What to do:
Find a local garage as soon as possible and take it there to have them inspect your car and make the necessary repairs to your braking system.
Tyre Pressure Warning Light
The tyre pressure warning light looks like an exclamation mark inside a tyre cross section. It’s triggered by the tyre pressure monitoring systems when one or more tyres lose pressure. It can also come on if the sensor or Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) has stopped working
Can I carry on driving with the tyre pressure warning light on?
You should stop and check your tyres as soon as possible, but you could carry on driving very carefully and for a short distance to get it somewhere you can inflate it to the correct pressure or to a garage. Low tyre pressure affects handling, increases braking distance, and reduces fuel efficiency, and in a worst case scenario, a tyre could blow out, leading to a potentially serious accident. So, it’s best to get this sorted as soon as possible.
What to do if your tyre pressure warning light comes on:
Pull over safely and check all tyres for punctures and inflate to the correct pressure as soon as possible. If the warning light for tyre pressure remains on, book a car diagnostic to check for leaks or sensor faults, and if the issue is with the tyre(s) themselves, have your tyre replaced.
Oil Pressure Warning Light
The oil pressure warning light (often called the oil warning light or engine oil warning light) looks like an old-style oil can. It means the engine has low oil pressure or low oil levels.
Can I carry on driving with the oil pressure warning light on?
No. Driving with this light on can cause catastrophic engine damage.
What to do:
Stop immediately and check the oil level. If topping up doesn’t help, book a car diagnostic for an urgent inspection. It's recommended to change your oil and oil filter every 5,000-15,000 miles (depending on your car and oil type) so if you haven't had a car service or fresh oil in a while, then it would be wise to do this as well.
Engine Temperature Warning Light
The engine temperature warning light usually looks like a thermometer over wavy lines. It means the engine is overheating, possibly due to low coolant levels, a faulty thermostat, or a problem with the cooling system. You can read more about this in our in-depth guide on the engine temperature warning light.
Can I carry on driving with the engine temperature warning light on?
No. Driving with an overheating engine can cause severe damage.
What to do:
Pull over, let the engine cool, and check coolant levels. DO NOT check the coolant levels while the engine is still hot, as the coolant liquid is hot and pressurised, so it can explode out of the engine and cause serious burns. Always wait for the engine to cool for at least 30 minutes, preferably an hour, before adding coolant. If the light stays on, book a diagnostic or coolant repair with Fixter.
Coolant Level Warning Light
The coolant level warning light looks like a fluid reservoir. It means the coolant levels are too low for safe operation. It often uses the same symbol as the temperature warning light but is amber instead of red. It can also look like a tank with a small amount of liquid in the bottom, depending on your car make and model.
Can I carry on driving with the coolant level warning light on?
You might be able to drive for a short distance if the temperature gauge is normal, but keep an eye on it, because you don't want your engine to overheat.
What to do:
Pull over, turn off the engine and let it cool before topping up with more coolant (or if it’s an emergency and you don't have coolant, you can use water, but make sure to refresh with coolant as soon as possible).
Again, DO NOT check the coolant levels while the engine is still hot, as the hot coolant liquid can explode out of the engine and cause serious burns if you’re not careful. It’s a good idea to regularly check coolant levels, especially before long journeys, and top up with the correct mix to prevent overheating.
If levels keep dropping, find a trusted garage with Fixter to check the coolant system.
Airbag Warning Light
The airbag warning light indicates a fault with the airbag or seat belt system. If this light stays on, the airbags may not deploy in an accident.
Can I carry on driving with the airbag warning light on?
No, you shouldn't carry on driving with the airbag warning light on. In the event of an accident, your airbags may not deploy, meaning you're putting yourself (and passengers) at risk.
What to do:
Book a car diagnostic test. A trusted garage will identify the sensor or system fault and carry out necessary repairs.
Final Thoughts: Stay Safe with Fixter
Car dashboard symbols and meanings aren’t always obvious, but ignoring warning lights on a dashboard can be dangerous and expensive. Every dashboard symbol is there to keep you safe and protect your car.
If warning lights on dashboard remain after you restart the car, it’s best to get a professional opinion. With Fixter, you can book online in minutes. We’ll collect your car (if it's roadworthy), take it to a vetted garage, handle all communication, and return it once the issue is fixed with a 12 month warranty on all parts and labour.
So next time a dashboard symbol appears and leaves you wondering, don’t stress. Book with Fixter and let us take care of it.
