Will it damage your car to drive with the parking brake light on even though the brake has been released?

That light is for more than the parking brake. If the RED brake light is on it is a sign of
1. Low brake fluid
2. A SERIOUS brake problem
Do not continue to drive the vehicle with the red brake light on, your brakes may fail.

The light comes on when the parking brake pedal is pressed or when there is a fault in the anti-lock system. If you pull back on the pedal while pulling the release and the light goes out it could be that the cables are frozen and the rear brakes are on slightly. You should be able to tell by the smell and possibly smoke coming from the rear wheel wells after you drive a ways. It will smell hot. If it does not go out it probably will be the anti-lock system in which case the brakes will operate normally but without the anti-lock system. I wouldn't mess around. Get an answer from a qualified mechanic. I spent 22 years as a GM technician.

FROM A MECH.: As the first 2 answers state, this could be a VERY serious & dangerous situation, & the vehicle should NOT be driven, OR: it may be a faulty or out-of-adjustment switch. If the brake pedal feels at all 'funny', do not drive it!!!!!!

haha they really need to teach people stuff like this in order to get their license.

the brake light shows you not only if the parking brake is on or not. It illuminates when there is not enough pressure in the brake system.

More than likely you have a fluid leak. Once you get low on fluid you will have a very hard time stopping the car.

At a certain point you will not be able to stop at all.

You need to have the car towed to a service center immediately.

Don't screw around and drive it, you'll end up crashing into a tree, or worse, into someone else.