All about car lighting

Frits Pieper
November 15 2017

Driving with city lights, turning on your fog lights in the rain ... What different types of car lights do you actually have? What are the rules in this area? And how high are the fines? We shed light on the darkness. Not an unnecessary luxury, now that the days are starting to get shorter.

Types of lighting

low beam

When you think of low beams, you might think of dimmed lights (city lights), but it is in fact the name for the standard lighting in the dark and when visibility is obstructed. For example, due to dense fog or heavy rain or snow. Driving with defective lighting can result in a fine of 90 (within built-up areas) to 140 euros (outside built-up areas).

city ​​light

The name 'city light' originates from a bygone era when lighting was only used within built-up areas. Nowadays, the term 'parking light' would be better, because lighting is only intended to make a parked vehicle more visible in the dark or in poor visibility. When parking on the road or outside built-up areas, this is even mandatory. In principle, you may also use the lights during the day when driving, when visibility is clear, for better visibility. Although you may then be better off turning on your dipped headlights.

High beam

Where low beam only illuminates the area directly in front of and to the right of the car (the verge), high beam provides a much wider and larger beam. High beam is brighter than low beam, blinding oncoming traffic (and via the mirrors also people driving in front of you). This type of lighting may therefore only be used at night when no one else is around. In heavy snow and dense fog, using high beam is counterproductive, because the light is reflected and creates a 'wall'. High beam is also incorrectly used as a 'means of communication'. For example, to alert other road users to defective lighting or to their driving behaviour. Signalling this can result in a fine of 90 euros...

Daytime running lights

On newer cars (from 2011) daytime running lights are mandatory. Daytime running lights, often in the form of LED lighting around the headlights, are intended for better visibility during the day. In poor visibility during the day and in tunnels, you 'simply' have to switch on your low beam. LED lighting that is installed as decorative lighting is prohibited and can result in a fine of 140 euros.

Fog light

Fog lights provide better visibility in fog, while rear fog lights make you more visible to traffic behind you. You may only switch on your rear fog lights if visibility is less than fifty metres due to fog or snow. You may not use your rear fog lights in heavy rain. Using fog lights without permission can result in a fine of 140 euros.

Cornering lights

Cornering lights are on one side of the car when a bend (including a roundabout) is taken. This type of lighting is intended to make the inside of the bend more visible.


Do you have any questions about car lighting and the rules in that area? Leave them in a comment and our employee and driving school owner Ersan will be happy to answer them for you! Rent a car in the Sittard region with safe lights? Of course you do that at Adrem Car Rental. 

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