Whether you’re towing a camper, boat or a utility trailer, you want to meet all federal trailer light requirements. This ensures that when you’re out on the road towing your trailer, you and the drivers around you will be safe.
An important factor when towing is to make sure your trailer is visible to other drivers. So, whether you’re changing a burned-out bulb or installing a set of lights to your trailer, you want to make sure you follow all the 2023 trailer light requirements.
Also, did you know that only specific lights meet the US government trailer light laws?
Read more to learn about trailer light regulations that go beyond the basic requirements so you’re always safe on the road.
Which Trailer Lights Do You Need?
No matter what type of trailer you have, federal trailer lighting regulations require you to have the following lights:
- Stop lights
- Tail lights
- Turn signals
- Reflectors
If your trailer is 80-inches wide or longer than 30 feet, then you need more reflectors and lights.
Lighting Requirements for Trailers Less Than 80-Inches Wide
If you have a trailer that’s less than 80-inches wide and shorter than 30 feet, you need the following trailer lights:
- Two stop lights
- Two tail lights
- Two turn signals
- License plate light
- Rear side marker lights
- Rear side reflectors
- Front side marker lights
- Front side marker reflectors
But, if your trailer is less than 6-feet long, you don’t have to place the front side marker lights or front side reflectors on your trailer.
Also, you own a trailer less than 30-inches wide, you only need one brake light, one tail light and one reflector in the back. You should install these in the middle of the trailer instead of the outer edge.
Lighting Requirements for Trailers 80-Inches or More in Width, Less than 30-Feet Long and Less Than Five Tons
If you have a trailer that’s 80-inches wide or wider and shorter than 30-feet long and weighs less than five tons, you should comply with the following requirements:
- Two stop lights
- Two turn signals
- One license plate light
- Two tail lights
- Two back reflectors
- Two reflectors – rear side
- Two marker lights – back side
- Two marker reflectors – front side
- Two front side marker lights
- Two front clearance lights
- Two rear clearance lights
- Rear identification lights
One exception to these requirements is if you’re towing a boat trailer. If so, you can have dual-face lights with yellow on one side and red on the other. These are for the front and back clearance lights.
Trailer Light Regulations for 80-Inches or More in Width, Shorter Than 30-Feet Long and Greater Than Five Tons
The trailer lighting regulations for trailers 80-inches or more in width and less than 30-feet long but weighing more than five tons are listed below:
- Two stop lights
- Two turn signals
- Two tail lights
- One license plate light
- Two back reflectors
- Two marker lights – front side
- Two reflectors – rear side
- Two marker reflectors – front side
- Two marker lights – front side
- Two back clearance lights
- Rear identification lights
- Two front clearance lights
In addition to these lights, trailers of this size also require conspicuity treatments.
Conspicuity Treatments Complying with DOT Trailer Lighting Requirements
Also, trailers that are 80-inches wide or more and weigh over five tons need strips of reflective tape or rows of reflectors.
These conspicuity treatments must create a red and white pattern on the sides and back of your trailer. These reflectors prevent other vehicles from colliding with the side and back of your trailer.
The reflective materials must comply with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS). You can recognize compliant materials by the following dot trailer lighting requirements:
- DOT-C rectangular reflectors
- DOT-C2 50 millimeter wide retroreflective sheeting
- DOT-C3 75 millimeter wide retroreflective sheeting
- DOT-C4 100 millimeter wide retroreflective sheeting
You must place a pair of these reflective materials on each side of your trailer starting at the front of your trailer and continuing horizontally to the back.
It’s also required to place reflective material across the full width of your trailer on the lower back bumper bar and along the lower body edge of the trailer. Also, two pairs of white reflective strips must be placed in the upper right and left rear corners of your trailer.
Trailer Lighting Requirements for Trailers Longer than 30 Feet
If you’re towing a trailer longer than 30 feet, you must meet the following trailer lighting regulations:
- Two stop lights
- Two turn signals
- Two tail lights
- One license plate light
- Two back reflectors
- Two marker lights – rear side
- Two marker lights – front side
- Two reflectors – rear side
- Two marker reflectors – front side
- Back identification lights
- Two intermediate side marker lights
- Two intermediate side marker reflectors
- Two rear clearance lights
- Two front clearance lights
In addition to these lights, you must also follow the conspicuity treatments mentioned previously.
Trailer Lighting Performance Standards
Your trailer lights must comply with U.S. performance standards regulations. These standards tell you what color your lights should be, how they’re tested, how they perform and what labels they need.
When purchasing lights for your trailer, look for the following information molded onto the cover of the reflectors and lights:
- DOT – this shows the device complies with U.S. Department of Transportation Laws
- SAE – this shows compliance by the Society of Automotive Engineers
- Manufacturer identification number
- Year of manufacturing
- Codes for functions
Once you’ve purchased your LED trailer lighting kit, make sure you follow the federal lighting location regulations when installing them.
Check the Federal Lighting Equipment Requirements for Placing Trailer Lighting
Now that you know the trailer light requirements for all types of trailers, make sure you place the lights in the correct place. You can find the placement regulations from the United States Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for permanently placing your lighting and reflectors.
Contact us for more information about trailer light requirements. We can set you up with the trailer lighting and Conspicuity treatments to meet all federal requirements.`
