How to Check Your Car's Lights
FixMyCar explains how to check your car's lights are working.
Book a car repair nowEllie Dyer-Brown
Tuesday November 19 2024
5 min read
You might not realise one of your car’s lights is broken until someone else points it out or it gets flagged during an MOT test. In winter, when visibility is often limited, this means your risk of being involved in an accident is significantly higher.
Not only is driving with a broken light dangerous, but it’s also illegal. If you haven’t checked your lights recently or you’re not sure how to do it, this guide can help.
What lights does a car have?
Cars have the following external lights. If you're interested in learning more about dashboard warning lights, check out this guide.
Side lights
Side lights - also known as parking lights - are usually next to your headlights. They provide a lower beam for when there is less natural light, but it isn’t dark enough to put your headlights on.
They are sometimes called parking lights because you must switch them on when parking on a road with a speed limit higher than 30mph at night. Learn more about sidelights and when to use them.
Dipped headlights
Dipped headlights help you see at night and in poor weather conditions. They are positioned to light up the road ahead without dazzling other drivers. Learn more about dipped headlights and when to use them.
Full beam headlights
Full beams are more powerful than dipped headlights. They should be used in totally dark conditions - such as on a road with no lighting - when there are no other drivers around who could be dazzled by them.
Indicator lights
Your car has four indicator lights, two at the front and two at the back. They flash orange to signal your intention to turn.
Brake lights
Brake lights tell other drivers you’re slowing down, which is crucial for avoiding accidents. They are red and located at the rear of your car.
Reverse lights
Reverse lights are also at the rear of your car. They are white/clear and switch on when you put your car into reverse to warn other drivers.
Fog lights
Fog lights can help you see in gloomy conditions when visibility is low. You should only use them when you can’t see further than 100 metres (328 feet) ahead; otherwise, you might dazzle other road users.
Check out our top tips for driving safely in fog.
Hazard lights
Hazard lights alert other road users when you have broken down, or your car isn’t working. They rely on the same bulbs as your indicators, so you don’t need to check them separately.
Why should you check your lights?
Checking your car’s lights is an important part of road safety and can help you avoid fines for driving with a broken bulb. But these aren’t the only reasons you should include light checks in your regular car maintenance routine.
Visibility - lights help you see the road and potential hazards more clearly and help other road users see you.
Accident prevention - broken lights increase the likelihood of accidents, especially in low-visibility conditions.
Communication - you can use your lights to show other drivers what you intend to do, such as stopping and turning.
Legal compliance - you can be fined for driving with faulty lights.
How to check your lights
The easiest way to check your lights is to ask someone to help you. But even if you don’t have anyone who can help, there are ways to carry out checks on your own.
First, turn the ignition to the first position, which usually allows you to use the electrical systems without switching the engine on. Then check your lights in the following order:
Side lights
Dipped beams
Main beams
Fog lights
Front indicators (left and right)
Brake lights
Reverse lights
Rear indicators (left and right)
Hazard lights
If you don’t have anyone to check the lights for you, switch them on and walk around the car to ensure they’re working.
How to check brake lights by yourself
It’s a little more challenging to test brake lights on your own because you need to push the brake pedal to trigger the lights, so you can’t stand at the back of the car to look at them.
You have two options. One is to find an object you can use to push and hold the brake pedal down by lodging it between the seat and peddle. A pipe or broomstick may be good for this.
The second option is to reverse close to a wall or garage door and apply the brake pedal. You should be able to see a red glow behind you if your brake lights are working. You can use the same trick to see if your reverse lights work.
Looking for affordable car repairs or maintenance? FixMyCar can help you find the right garage at the right price.
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- Car Ownership
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- How To
- Lights And Bulbs
- Maintenance
Written by Ellie
Ellie is FixMyCar's content manager. She has over three years of experience writing about cars and regularly collaborates with automotive experts to provide trustworthy advice for drivers that is easy understand. Her work has been featured in Yahoo! Finance, iNews, The Daily Express and The Sun. She has a BA in English literature and an MA in creative writing from Durham University. Outside of work, Ellie follows F1 and eagerly awaits Ferrari's next era of dominance in the sport. She drives a Suzuki Swift.