Chapter 7: Lighting and Optical Signals

The function of the lighting of a vehicle is to see and be seen by other users of the road.

1. When driving

Between sunset and sunrise, and in tunnels, underpasses and sections marked with the tunnel sign at any time:

a) Urban roads and cross-town roads:

• Sufficiently lit: Sidelights (UK) / Position lamps (USA) + Headlights (dipped beam (UK) / low-beams headlights (USA))
• Insufficiently lit: Sidelights (UK) / Position lamps (USA) + Headlights (dipped beam (UK) / low-beams headlights (USA))

b) On interurban roads:

• Sufficiently lit: Sidelights (UK) / Position lamps (USA) + Headlights (dipped beam (UK) / low-beams headlights (USA))
• Insufficiently lit: Sidelights (UK) / Position lamps (USA) + High beams when travelling at more than 40 km/h, unless dipped beam is needed to avoid dazzling.

It is mandatory to replace high beams with dipped/low beam headlights if there is glare.

If you are traveling at 40km/h or less on an insufficiently lit inter-urban road, you may use low beam headlights instead of high beams.

A road is considered insufficiently lit when: you cannot read a registration (UK) / licence (USA) plate from 10 metres or cannot make out a dark vehicle from 50 metres.

Daytime dipped headlights: required on motorcycles and when using reversible lanes, temporary additional lanes or lanes opened against the normal direction, including other lanes affected by the specific rules. Daytime running lights do not replace dipped headlights when these are required.

Poor visibility: use the required position lights together with front fog lights, dipped headlights or main beam as appropriate, avoiding dazzling. Dipped headlights are normally preferable to main beam in fog.

VMP: use the required lights at night and in poor visibility. The additional duty to keep them on during the day begins on 1 October 2027. At night or in significantly reduced visibility, VMP riders on any road, and cyclists on interurban roads, must wear a compliant light-emitting or reflective item visible from at least 150 metres.

	Sidelights / Position lights: Vehicle lighting for us to be seen, both from the front and the back.
	Low-beams headlights (Dipped headlights): In passenger cars 2 are required, 1 or 2 for motorcycles.
	Main / high-beam headlights: In passenger cars 2 or 4 are required, 1 or 2 for motorcycles.
	Front fog lights (white or selective yellow lights): Can be used when visibility is significantly reduced by fog, heavy rain, snow, smoke or dust; not merely because of light rain. Optional Can also be used on winding roads with a carriageway no wider than 6.50 metres, signposted with a succession of dangerous bends.
	Rear fog lights (red lights): Used only in very adverse conditions: very heavy rain, heavy snowfall, dense fog, or dense smoke or dust. Switch them off when those conditions end. Required Optional on motorcycles

2. Lighting when immobilized

STOPPING (TEMPORARY & INTENTIONALLY): When stopped on a carriageway or shoulder at night or in significantly reduced visibility, use front and rear position lights and, where required, end outline marker lights.

DETENTION (FORCED/OBLIGATED): Use position lights at night or in significantly reduced visibility. If immobilised in an emergency, also use hazard warning lights where required; these do not replace other mandatory lighting or the V-16 warning device.

PARKING: When parked on a carriageway or shoulder at night or in significantly reduced visibility, use position lights, subject to these exceptions:

• Urban roads other than cross-town roads: position lights are not required when street lighting makes the parked vehicle clearly visible from a sufficient distance.
• Insufficiently lit cross-town roads: when parked parallel to the road, position lights may be replaced by parking lights or the two position lights on the side facing the carriageway.

3. Other lights

	Reflective markers: Passenger cars must have red, non-triangular rear reflectors. Trailers must have red triangular rear reflectors. Front reflectors are white and side reflectors are generally amber.
	End outline marker lights: Mandatory for vehicles measuring more than 2.10 metres in width, except motorcycles and 3-wheeled vehicles.
	Interior light: Not mandatory for passenger cars.
	Vehicle registration number plate light: Illuminates when side/position lights are turned on.
	Reverse lights: white colour, and lights up when reversing. 1 light is mandatory and 2 optional.
	Emergency lights (flash simultaneously): Yellow. Required on passenger cars and optional on motorcycles. May be used when: If there is a risk of collision by braking on the motorway and dual carriageway Immobilization or driving in an emergency Emergency services in a non-priority vehicle
	Brake light: Bright red. Passenger cars are required to have at least 2 and optionally 3, and in motorcycles 1 is required and 2 are optional.
	Adaptive lights: Improve visibility in certain situations, such as at a curve or an intersection.

Connected V-16: since 1 January 2026, Spanish-registered passenger cars, mixed-use vehicles, goods vehicles and buses must carry a certified connected V-16 device. Use it to signal a breakdown or accident, placing it as high as safely possible on the vehicle, preferably without entering the carriageway. Warning triangles and non-connected beacons do not satisfy this requirement. Motorcycles are not required to carry it; foreign-registered vehicles in international traffic may use the warning device required by their country of registration.