How do I turn the parking brake off on my Toyota Camry?

To turn off the parking brake on your Toyota Camry, simply pull the parking brake lever up slightly, then press the button on the end of the lever and lower it all the way down. This will disengage the parking brake and allow you to drive your vehicle normally.

Detailed Steps to Release the Parking Brake

The parking brake on a Toyota Camry is a lever located between the driver's seat and the center console. Here are the step-by-step instructions to release the parking brake:

1. Locate the parking brake lever. It will be a long, thin lever with a button on the end.


2. Gently pull the lever up slightly, just enough to disengage the ratchet mechanism.


3. While holding the lever up, press the button on the end of the lever.


4. With the button pressed, slowly lower the lever all the way down until it is fully released.

Once the parking brake lever is fully lowered, the parking brake will be disengaged, and you can drive your Toyota Camry normally.

Why Use the Parking Brake?

The parking brake, also known as the emergency brake or hand brake, is an important safety feature on your Toyota Camry. It is designed to hold the vehicle in place when parked, even on steep inclines, to prevent it from rolling. Using the parking brake is recommended whenever you park your car, as it provides an additional layer of security beyond just putting the transmission in park.

Tips for Properly Using the Parking Brake

• Apply the parking brake before shifting into park. This helps prevent wear and tear on your transmission.


• Use the parking brake even on level ground. It's a good habit to get into, as it can help prevent accidents.


• Check the parking brake periodically. Make sure it's engaging properly and holding the vehicle in place.


• Don't "ride" the parking brake. Keeping it partially engaged while driving can damage the brake components.

By following these tips and properly using the parking brake on your Toyota Camry, you can help ensure the safety and longevity of your vehicle.

How do I deactivate the parking brake?

To deactivate a parking brake, first press the brake pedal, then either pull a hand lever or press an electronic button. For a hand lever, press and hold the button on the handle while lifting it, or just pull it up. For an electronic brake, press the button on the dashboard, often found near the gear shift.
 
For a traditional hand brake
This video demonstrates how to release a traditional hand brake: 53ssubtledriverYouTube · Apr 28, 2021

1. Press down on the brake pedal with your foot. 
2. Push the button on the end of the parking brake lever. 
3. While holding the button, lift the lever up slightly to unlock it, then push it down into its rest position. 

For an electronic parking brake (EPB)
This video shows how to turn off the electronic parking brake: 58sCrazy Honda ChrisYouTube · Nov 14, 2025

1. Ensure the ignition is on. 
2. Press the brake pedal firmly with your foot. 
3. Find the electronic parking brake button, which often has a symbol like a "P" inside a circle with a cone. 
4. Press and hold the button to deactivate the brake. A message on the dashboard will often confirm the release. 

How do I turn off the Toyota Camry parking brake?

We will have to come down press the brake pedal. And then come again to your right side this time we will press this downwards. And there you would notice the parking sign is disengaged.

How do I turn off auto braking on my Toyota Camry?

To turn off automatic braking on a Toyota Camry, you can disable specific features like Proactive Driving Assist (PDA) or the Pre-Collision System (PCS) through the vehicle's settings menu or by holding a button, depending on the feature and model year. For the parking assist with brake support (PKSB), it's often disabled from the menu, while some models may have a dedicated button. 
Via the vehicle's multi-information display (MID) 
This video demonstrates how to access and turn off automatic braking features from the vehicle's settings menu: 52sDietrich's Car ChannelYouTube · Jan 2, 2025

• Access the settings: Use the arrow buttons on your steering wheel to navigate to the settings menu (often represented by a gear icon). 
• Navigate to the relevant system: Scroll down to find the specific system you want to disable. This could be "Pre-Collision System" or "Proactive Driving Assist". 
• Turn it off: Select the system and choose the "Off" option. Some systems, like PDA, may have sub-options to turn off individual components like "Deceleration Assist". 

Via a dedicated button (older or specific models) 
This video shows how to use the traction control button to turn off the pre-collision system: 27sSteve CliffordYouTube · Oct 3, 2023

• Find the button: Look for a button with a car icon and a squiggly line behind it. This is the traction control off button. 
• Press and hold: With the vehicle stopped, press and hold the traction control button for about three seconds. This will often turn off the Pre-Collision System and other related safety features, but they will reactivate the next time you start the car. 

Parking Assist with Brake Support (PKSB) 

• Check your settings: For the system that brakes when parking, you will likely need to go into the settings menu (as described above) and find the "Parking Assist with Brake Support" (PKSB) option to turn it off. 
• Note on temporary deactivation: Some models may allow you to turn off the automatic parking brake entirely by pressing and holding the parking brake switch while the vehicle is stopped with the brake pedal pressed. 

Important considerations

• Reactivation: Many of these safety features, especially the Pre-Collision System, will automatically turn back on each time you start the car. 
• Individual features: You can often turn off individual components of a system, such as the deceleration assist within the Proactive Driving Assist, which may be less drastic than disabling the entire system. 
• Consult your owner's manual: The exact steps and menu names may differ slightly between model years, so it is always best to consult your vehicle's specific owner's manual for the most accurate instructions. 

How do I release the parking brake on a 2018 Toyota Camry?

To set the parking brake. Simply pull the button. Up the indicator will light up to confirm the system is active to release the parking brake press it down it's as simple as that. Plus the EPB.