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Truck

Lighting Requirements

Introduction
Lamps, reflectors, rear markings and devices are obligatory for motor vehicles with 3 or more wheels and also trailers. However, there are exceptions within the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 which are outlined in the table below, which is split into two parts.

There is an additional table concerning trailers being towed, which we've dealt with on the appropriate page within this section - Lights and Towing.

The table below deals with;

Regulation 18 of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 is applicable of which the tables below are the requirements.


Motor vehicle having three or more wheels
Type of lamp, reflector rear marking or device Exceptions
Front position lamp None
Dimdip device or running lamp A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 40mph;
A vehicle first used before 1st April 1987;
A home forces vehicle;
A vehicle which complies with EEC reg 76/756 ** as last amended by 89/278/EEC or 91/663/EEC. (most production vehicles which comply with type approval requirements)
Dippedbeam headlamp A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 15mph;
A vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 being an agricultural vehicle or works truck;
A vehicle first used before 1st January 1931.
Mainbeam headlamp A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25mph;
A vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 being an agricultural vehicle or works truck;
A vehicle first used before 1st January 1931
Direction indicator An invalid carriage having a maximum speed not exceeding 4mph and any other vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 15mph;
An agricultural vehicle having an unladen weight not exceeding 255kg;
A vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 being an agricultural vehicle, an industrial tractor or a works truck;
A vehicle first used before 1st January 1936.
Hazard warning signal device A vehicle not required to be fitted with direction indicators;
A vehicle first used before 1st April 1986.
Side marker lamp A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25mph;
A passenger vehicle;
An incomplete vehicle proceeding to works for completion or to a place where it is to be stored or displayed for sale;
A vehicle the overall length of which does not exceed 6 metres;
A vehicle first used before 1st April 1991;
A vehicle 1st used before 1st April 1996 which complies with EEC Reg 76/756 as at ** above.
Rear position lamp None
Rear fog lamp A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25mph;
A vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 being an agricultural vehicle or works truck;
A vehicle first used before 1st April 1980;
A vehicle having an overall width which does not exceed 1300 millimetres.
Stop lamp A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25mph;
A vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 being an agricultural vehicle or works truck;
A vehicle first used before 1st January 1936.
End outline marker lamp A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25mph;
A motor vehicle having an overall width not exceeding 2100 millimetres;
An incomplete vehicle proceeding to works for completion or to a place where it is to be stored or displayed for sale;
A motor vehicle first used before 1st April 1991.
Rear registration plate lamp A vehicle not required to be fitted with a rear registration plate;
A works truck.
Side retro reflector A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25mph;

A goods vehicle:
  • first used on or after 1st April 1986, the overall length of which does not exceed 6 metres; or
  • first used before 1st April 1986, the overall length of which does not exceed 8 metres;
A passenger vehicle;
An incomplete vehicle proceeding to works for completion or to a place where it is to be stored or displayed for sale;
A vehicle primarily constructed for moving excavated material and being used by virtue of an Order under section 44 of the Act (abnormal loads - STGO).
A mobile crane or engineering plant.
Rear retro reflector None
Rear marking A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25mph;
A vehicle first used before 1st August 1982, the unladen weight of which does not exceed 3050kg;
A vehicle the maximum gross weight of which does not exceed 7500 kg;
A passenger vehicle not being an articulated bus;
A tractive unit for an articulated vehicle;
An incomplete vehicle proceeding to works for completion or to a place where it is to be stored or displayed for sale;
A vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 being an agricultural vehicle, a works truck or engineering plant;
A vehicle first used before 1st January 1940;
A home forces vehicle;

A vehicle constructed or adapted for:
  • fire fighting or fire salvage;
  • servicing or controlling aircraft;
  • heating and dispensing tar or other material for the construction or maintenance of roads; or
  • transporting two or more vehicles or vehicle bodies or two or more boats.

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Trailer drawn by a motor vehicle
Type of lamp, reflector rear marking or device Exceptions
Front position lamp A trailer with an overall width not exceeding 1600 millimetres;
A trailer manufactured before 1st October 1985 the overall length of which, excluding any drawbar and any fitting for its attachment, does not exceed 2300 millimetres
A trailer constructed or adapted for the carriage and launching of a boat.
Direction indicator A trailer manufactured before 1st September 1965.
An agricultural vehicle or a works trailer in either case manufactured before 1st October 1990.
Side marker lamp A trailer the overall length of which, excluding any drawbar and any fitting or its attachment, does not exceed:-
  • 6 metres,
  • 9.15 metres in the case of a trailer manufactured before 1st October 1990;
An incomplete trailer proceeding to works for completion or to a place where it is to be stored or displayed for sale;
An agricultural vehicle or a works trailer;
A caravan;
A trailer constructed or adapted for the carriage and launching of a boat;
A trailer vehicle manufactured before 1st October 1995 which complies with EEC reg 76/756. (type approval)
Rear position lamp None
Rear fog lamp A trailer manufactured before 1st April 1980;
A trailer the overall width of which does not exceed 1300 millimetres;
An agricultural vehicle or a works trailer.
Stop lamp An agricultural vehicle or a works trailer.
End outline marker lamp A trailer having an overall width not exceeding 2100 millimetres;
An incomplete trailer proceeding to works for completion or to a place where it is to be stored or displayed for sale;
An agricultural vehicle or a works trailer;
A trailer manufactured before 1st October 1990.
Rear registration plate lamp A trailer not required to be fitted with a rear registration plate.
Side retro reflector A trailer the overall length of which, excluding any drawbar, does not exceed 5 metres;
An incomplete trailer proceeding to works for completion or to a place where it is to be stored or displayed for sale;
Engineering plant;
A trailer primarily constructed for moving excavated material and which is being used by virtue of an Order under section 44 of the Act.
Front retro reflector A trailer manufactured before 1st October 1990;
An agricultural vehicle or a works trailer.
Rear retro reflector None
Rear marking A trailer manufactured before 1st August 1982 the unladen weight of which does not exceed 1020 kg;
A trailer the maximum gross weight of which does not exceed 3500 kg;
An incomplete trailer proceeding to works for completion or to a place where it is to be stored or displayed for sale;
An agricultural vehicle, a works trailer or engineering plant;
A trailer drawn by a bus;
A home forces vehicle;

A trailer constructed or adapted for:
  • fire fighting or fire salvage;
  • servicing or controlling aircraft;
  • heating and dispensing tar or other material for the construction or maintenance of roads;
  • carrying asphalt or macadam, in each case being mixing or drying plant; or
  • transporting two or more vehicles or vehicle bodies or two or more boats.

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