Publish Time: 2026-02-09 Origin: Site
Angle Requirement: The front/rear face of any device must be perpendicular to the vehicle centerline; the side face must be parallel to the centerline (unless photometrically certified for the actual installation angle).
Obstruction Rule: No vehicle component may block a lighting device from meeting its performance requirements—if blocked, a compliant auxiliary device must be installed.
Certification (Canada): Vehicle manufacturers and importers must provide formal certification test records to prove lighting component compliance with all prescribed requirements.
Marking Rules: US requires "DOT" lettering on headlamp lenses; US & Canada both mandate light source coding on all lamp lenses. For US daytime running lamps (DRLs) not using headlamps, "DRL" lettering is required on the lens.
| Serial No. | Equipment & SAE Lens Coding | Functional Purpose | Mandatory Quantity | Color | Installation Location | Height from Ground (mm/in) | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Headlamps - Lower Beam (H, HR)<br>Headlamps - Upper Beam (H, HR) | Forward road illumination (low/high beam) | Min 2 (each type) | White | Front, symmetrical, as far apart as practicable<br>4-lamp system: Lower beam = outboard/upper; Upper beam = inboard/lower | 560-1370 (22-54) | US: "DOT" lettering on lens;<br>US & Canada: Light source code mandatory |
| - | Parking Lamps (P) | Indicate parked vehicle | Min 2 | White/Yellow | Front, symmetrical, as far apart as practicable | 380-1530 (15-60) | Only required for vehicles <2032mm in width |
| - | Daytime Running Lamps (Y2) | Indicate in-use vehicle | Min 2 | White/Yellow | Front, symmetrical, as far apart as practicable | Min 380 (15); Max = DRL type-specific | Canada: mandatory;<br>US: optional;<br>US: "DRL" lettering if DRL is not a headlamp |
| - | Front Turn Signal/Hazard Warning Lamps (l) | Indicate turn direction / identify disabled vehicle | Min 2 | Yellow | Front, symmetrical, as far apart as practicable | 380-2110 (15-83) | - |
| 2 | Front Clearance Lamps (P2, PC\ , P3\, PC2*) | Show vehicle’s width | Min 2 | Yellow | Front/near front, at vehicle’s widest point, symmetrical, forward-facing | As high as practicable | Only required for vehicles ≥2032mm in width;<br>* = Photometrically certified at installation angle |
| 3 | Front Identification Lamps (ID) (P2, P3) | Indicate presence of a wide vehicle | Exactly 3 | Yellow | Front center, horizontally spaced 150-300mm (6-12in) apart | As high as practicable / on top of cab | - |
| 4a | Front Side Marker Lamps (P2, PC\ , P3, PC2\) | Indicate vehicle’s presence and length (side front) | Min 2 | Yellow | Each front side, as far forward as practicable | Min 380 (15) | * = Photometrically certified at installation angle |
| 4b | Front Side Reflex Reflectors (A) | Supplement front side marker lamps | Min 2 | Yellow | Front, symmetrical, as far forward as practicable, sideward-facing | 380-1530 (15-60) | - |
| 5a | Rear Side Marker Lamps (P2, PC\ , P3, PC2\) | Indicate vehicle’s presence and length (side rear) | Min 2 | Red | Each rear side, as far back as practicable | Min 380 (15) | * = Photometrically certified at installation angle |
| 5b | Rear Side Reflex Reflectors (A) | Supplement rear side marker lamps | Min 2 | Red | Each rear side, as far back as practicable, sideward-facing | 380-1530 (15-60) | Not required for Truck Tractors |
| 6 | Rear Clearance Lamps (P2, PC\ , P3, PC2\) | Show vehicle’s width | Min 2 | Red | Rear/near rear, at vehicle’s widest point, symmetrical, rearward-facing | As high as practicable (may be lower if rear ID lamps are mounted at the top) | Only required for vehicles ≥2032mm in width;<br> Not required for Truck Tractors;<br>Cannot be combined with tail lamps;<br>* = Photometrically certified at installation angle |
| 7 | Rear Identification Lamps (ID) (P2, P3) | Indicate presence of a wide vehicle | Exactly 3 | Red | Rear center, horizontally spaced 150-300mm (6-12in) apart, rearward-facing | Canada: Mounted at the top (may be lower if door header <25mm)<br>USA: As high as practicable | Only required for vehicles ≥2032mm in width;<br> Not required for Truck Tractors |
| 8 | Tail Lamps (T) | Indicate vehicle’s presence and width | Min 2 | Red | Rear, symmetrical, as far apart as practicable | 380-1830 (15-72) | - |
| - | Stop Lamps (S) | Indicate vehicle braking | Min 2 | Red | Rear, symmetrical, as far apart as practicable | 380-1830 (15-72) | - |
| - | Rear Turn Signal/Hazard Warning Lamps (I) | Indicate turn direction / identify disabled vehicle | Min 2 | Red/Yellow | Rear, symmetrical, as far apart as practicable | 380-2110 (15-83) | - |
| - | Rear Reflex Reflectors (A) | Show vehicle’s presence and width | Min 2 | Red | Rear, symmetrical, as far apart as practicable, rearward-facing | 380-1530 (15-60) | - |
| 9 | Backup Lamp (R) | Illuminate ground behind vehicle; alert road users | Min 1 | White | Rear | No mandatory requirement | - |
| 10 | License Plate Lamp(s) (L) | Illuminate vehicle license plate | Min 1 | White | Rear, above/at the sides of the license plate | No mandatory requirement | - |
| 11 | Center High Mounted Stop Lamp (U3) | Indicate vehicle braking (additional) | Min 1 | Red | Rear, on the vehicle centerline | Min 860 (34) | Only required for vehicles <2032mm in width AND <4536kg in weight |
| Serial No. | Equipment & SAE Lens Coding | Functional Purpose | Mandatory Quantity | Color | Installation Location | Height from Ground (mm/in) | Key Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12a | Intermediate Side Marker Lamps (P2, PC) | Indicate presence of a long vehicle | Min 2 | Yellow | Each side, near the vehicle center | Min 380 (15) | - |
| 12b | Intermediate Side Reflex Reflectors (A) | Supplement intermediate side marker lamps | Min 2 | Yellow | Each side, near the vehicle center, sideward-facing | 380-1530 (15-60) | - |
| Serial No. | Conspicuity Treatment & DOT Code | Functional Purpose | Mandatory Quantity | Color | Installation Location | Height Requirement | Optional Installation Rules |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | Rear Upper Body Marking (DOT-C, DOT-C2, DOT-C3, DOT-C4) | Enhance rear visibility (upper cab) | Exactly 2 pairs of 300mm long strips | White | Rear upper corners of the cab, rearward-facing | As high as practicable | Fairings are excluded from the height calculation |
| 14 | Rear Marking (DOT-C, DOT-C2, DOT-C3, DOT-C4) | Enhance rear visibility (lower rear) | Exactly 2 sections, min 600mm each | Red/White | Rear, rearward-facing: mounted on fenders/mud flap brackets / within 300mm below the top of mud flaps | As horizontal as practicable;<br>Max 1525 mm from the ground | If mud flaps are not used: mount on cab/frame-mounted brackets |
USA: Title 49 – Code of Federal Regulations, Section 571.108
Canada: Motor Vehicle Safety Regulations, Section 108