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HGV Lighting Requirements & Regulations

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 below and which is split into two parts – Vehicles and Trailers. 

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

The table below deals with the exceptions (or otherwise) for:

  • a motor vehicle having three or more wheels 
  • a trailer drawn by a motor vehicle 

Regulation 18 of the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 is applicable, and the tables below show the requirements. 

A motor vehicle having three or more wheels 

The following lamps, indicators and reflectors have exceptions as noted below:

1) Type of lamp, reflector, rear marking or device 
2) Schedule in which relevant installation and performance requirements are specified 
3) Exceptions 

Front position lamp 

Schedule 2: Part I 

None. 

Dim-dip device or running lamp 

Schedule 3: Part I 

A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 40 mph; 

A vehicle first used before 1st April 1987; 

A home forces' vehicle; 

A vehicle in respect of which the following conditions are satisfied– 

(a) there is fitted to the vehicle all the lighting and light-signalling devices listed in items 1.5.7 to 1.5.20 of Annex I of Community Directive 76/756/EEC, as amended, which are required to be fitted under that Annex; and 

(b) all those devices are so installed that they comply with the requirements set out in items 3 and 4 of that Annex including, in particular, item 4.2.6 (Alignment of dipped-beam headlamps). 

Dipped-beam headlamp 

Schedule 4: Part I 

A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 15 mph; 

A vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 is an agricultural vehicle or a works truck; 

A vehicle first used before 1st January 1931. 

Main-beam headlamp 

Schedule 5: Part I 

A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph; 

A vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 is an agricultural vehicle or a works truck; 

A vehicle first used before 1st January 1931. 

Direction indicator 

Schedule 7: Part I 

An invalid carriage having a maximum speed not exceeding 4 mph and any other vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 15 mph; 

An agricultural vehicle having an unladen weight not exceeding 255 kg; 

A vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 is an agricultural vehicle, an industrial tractor or a works truck; 

A vehicle first used before 1st January 1936. 

Hazard warning signal device 

Schedule 8: Part I 

A vehicle not required to be fitted with direction indicators; 

A vehicle first used before 1st April 1986. 

Side marker lamp 

Schedule 9: Part I 

A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph; 

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 m; 

A vehicle first used before 1st April 1991; 

A vehicle in respect of which the following conditions are satisfied– 

(a) there is fitted to the vehicle all the lighting and light-signalling devices listed in items 1.5.7 to 1.5.20 of Annex I of Community Directive 76/756/EEC, as amended, which are required to be fitted under that Annex; and 

(b) all those devices are so installed that they comply with the requirements set out in items 3 and 4 of that Annex including, in particular, item 4.2.6 (Alignment of dipped-beam headlamps). 

Rear position lamp 

Schedule 10: Part I 

None. 

Rear fog lamp 

Schedule 11: Part I 

A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph; 

A vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 is an agricultural vehicle or a works truck; 

A vehicle first used before 1st April 1980; 

A vehicle having an overall width which does not exceed 1300 mm. 

Stop lamp 

Schedule 12: Part I 

A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph; 

A vehicle first used before 1st April 1986 is an agricultural vehicle or a works truck; 

A vehicle first used before 1st January 1936. 

End-outline marker lamp 

Schedule 13: Part I 

A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph; 

A motor vehicle having an overall width not exceeding 2100 mm; 

An incomplete vehicle proceeding to work 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 

Schedule 15. 

A vehicle not required to be fitted with a rear registration plate; 

A works truck. 

Side retro-reflector 

Schedule 17: Part I 

A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph; 

A goods vehicle– 

(a) first used on or after 1st April 1986, the overall length of which does not exceed 6 m; or 

(b) first used before 1st April 1986, the overall length of which does not exceed 8 m; 

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 under an Order under section 44 of the Act; 

A mobile crane or engineering plant. 

Rear retro-reflector 

Schedule 18: Part I 

None. 

Rear marking 

Schedule 19: Part I 

A vehicle having a maximum speed not exceeding 25 mph; 

A vehicle first used before 1st August 1982, the unladen weight of which does not exceed 3050 kg; 

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 is 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– 

(a) firefighting or fire salvage; 

(b) servicing or controlling aircraft; 

(c) heating and dispensing tar or other material for the construction or maintenance of roads; or 

(d) Transporting two or more vehicles or vehicle bodies or two or more boats. 


A trailer drawn by a motor vehicle 

The following lamps, indicators and reflectors have exceptions as noted below:

1) Type of lamp, reflector, rear marking or device 

 

2) Schedule in which relevant installation and performance requirements are specified 
3) Exceptions

Front position lamp 

Schedule 2: Part I 

A trailer with an overall width not exceeding 1600 mm; 

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 mm; 

A trailer constructed or adapted for the carriage and launching of a boat. 

Direction indicator 

Schedule 7: Part I 

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 

Schedule 9: Part I 

A trailer with the overall length of which, excludes any drawbar and any fitting for its attachment, does not exceed:

  1. 6 meters 
  2. 9.15 meters 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 in respect of which the following conditions are satisfied:

  1. there is fitted to the trailer all the lighting and light-signalling devices listed in items 1.5.7 to 1.5.20 of Annex I of Community Directive 76/756/EEC, as amended, which are required to be fitted under that Annex; and 
  2. all those devices are so installed and maintained that they comply with the requirements set out in items 3 and 4 of that Annex 

Rear position lamp 

Schedule 10: Part I 

None. 

Rear fog lamp 

Schedule 11: Part I 

A trailer manufactured before 1st April 1980; 

A trailer with an overall width of which does not exceed 1300 mm; 

An agricultural vehicle or a works trailer. 

Stop lamp 

Schedule 12: Part I 

An agricultural vehicle or a works trailer. 

End-outline marker lamp 

Schedule 13: Part I 

A trailer having an overall width not exceeding 2100 mm; 

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 

Schedule 15 

A trailer not required to be fitted with a rear registration plate. 

Side retro-reflector 

Schedule 17: Part I 

A trailer with the overall length of which, excluding any drawbar, does not exceed 5 m; 

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 under an Order under section 44 of the Act. 

Front retro-reflector 

Schedule 21: Part I 

A trailer manufactured before 1st October 1990; 

An agricultural vehicle or a works trailer. 

Rear retro-reflector 

Schedule 18: Part I 

None. 

Rear marking 

Schedule 19: Part I 

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– 

  1. firefighting or fire salvage; 
  2. servicing or controlling aircraft; 
  3. heating and dispensing tar or other material for the construction or maintenance of roads; 
  4. carrying asphalt or macadam, in each case being mixing or drying plant; or 
  5. (e) transporting two or more vehicles or vehicle bodies or two or more boats 


The following link provides guidance and further information for the relevant exceptions noted above. 

The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/made