diff --git a/docs/simulators.rst b/docs/simulators.rst
index ed75114f7..0887a0cfe 100644
--- a/docs/simulators.rst
+++ b/docs/simulators.rst
@@ -29,6 +29,20 @@ You can install it with:
 
     python -m pip install scenic[metadrive]
 
+.. note::
+
+   MetaDrive **0.4.3** (the current PyPI release) does **not** support Python 3.12/3.13.
+   It also has known issues on macOS Apple Silicon (M-series) with 3D rendering and a
+   braking issue where vehicles may not come to a complete stop.
+
+   To use Python 3.12+ **and** get the fixes for the macOS/braking issues, install
+   MetaDrive from the GitHub repo:
+
+   .. code-block:: console
+
+      python -m pip install "metadrive-simulator @ git+https://github.com/metadriverse/metadrive.git@main"
+      python -m pip install "sumolib >= 1.21.0"
+
 Scenic supports both 2D and 3D rendering modes for MetaDrive simulations.
 
 Scenic uses OpenDRIVE maps, while MetaDrive relies on SUMO maps. Scenic provides corresponding SUMO maps for OpenDRIVE maps under the :file:`assets/maps/CARLA` directory.
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 50796cf26..ef8945493 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -56,7 +56,7 @@ guideways = [
 	'pyproj ~= 3.3; python_version >= "3.10"',
 ]
 metadrive = [
-	"metadrive-simulator@git+https://github.com/metadriverse/metadrive.git@85e5dadc6c7436d324348f6e3d8f8e680c06b4db",
+	"metadrive-simulator >= 0.4.3",
 	"sumolib >= 1.21.0",
 ]
 test = [	# minimum dependencies for running tests (used for tox virtualenvs)
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ test = [	# minimum dependencies for running tests (used for tox virtualenvs)
 test-full = [  # like 'test' but adds dependencies for optional features
 	"scenic[test]",       # all dependencies from 'test' extra above
 	"scenic[guideways]",  # for running guideways modules
-	"scenic[metadrive]",
+	'scenic[metadrive]; python_version < "3.12"',  # MetaDrive not on PyPI for Py3.12+ yet; use GitHub (see docs)
 	"astor >= 0.8.1",
 	'carla >= 0.9.12; python_version <= "3.10" and (platform_system == "Linux" or platform_system == "Windows")',
 	"dill",
diff --git a/tests/simulators/metadrive/test_metadrive.py b/tests/simulators/metadrive/test_metadrive.py
index 868791f86..d3ef44879 100644
--- a/tests/simulators/metadrive/test_metadrive.py
+++ b/tests/simulators/metadrive/test_metadrive.py
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
+from importlib.metadata import PackageNotFoundError, distribution, version
+import json
 import math
 import os
 from urllib.error import URLError
@@ -28,6 +30,29 @@
 WINDOW_ERR = "Could not open window"
 
 
+def metadrive_installed_from_git():
+    # Git installs still report version "0.4.3"; PEP 610 direct_url.json lets us tell PyPI vs GitHub.
+    try:
+        direct = distribution("metadrive-simulator").read_text("direct_url.json")
+    except PackageNotFoundError:
+        return False
+    if not direct:
+        return False
+    try:
+        return "vcs_info" in json.loads(direct)
+    except json.JSONDecodeError:
+        return False
+
+
+metadrive_pkg_version = version("metadrive-simulator")
+
+xfail_md_brake_bug = pytest.mark.xfail(
+    metadrive_pkg_version == "0.4.3" and not metadrive_installed_from_git(),
+    reason="Known MetaDrive 0.4.3 (PyPI) braking/handbrake bug; install MetaDrive from GitHub for the fix.",
+    strict=False,
+)
+
+
 # Helper to run a simulation but skip cleanly on CI.
 # MetaDrive (Panda3D) tries to open a window on GitHub runners
 # and fails with "Could not open window", while Newtonian (pygame) works fine.
@@ -96,6 +121,7 @@ def test_throttle(getMetadriveSimulator):
     assert speeds[len(speeds) // 2][1] < speeds[-1][1]
 
 
+@xfail_md_brake_bug
 def test_brake(getMetadriveSimulator):
     simulator, openDrivePath, sumoPath = getMetadriveSimulator("Town01")
     code = f"""
@@ -170,6 +196,7 @@ def test_reverse_and_brake(getMetadriveSimulator):
     assert finalSpeed == pytest.approx(0.0, abs=0.5)
 
 
+@xfail_md_brake_bug
 def test_handbrake(getMetadriveSimulator):
     simulator, openDrivePath, sumoPath = getMetadriveSimulator("Town01")
     code = f"""