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:
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:
|
|
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–
|
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