Legal definition
Front position lamp: light used to indicate a vehicle’s presence and width when viewed from the front. Rear position lamp: light used to indicate a vehicle’s presence and width when viewed from behind.
RDL 6/2015, Annex I, points 42 y 43 (translation)Definition
Position lamps (side lights) are lights that indicate a vehicle’s presence and width when viewed from the front or from behind. Their purpose is to mark the vehicle.
Never on their own
Position lamps give no illumination, so driving on them alone is not allowed: they must always be combined with dipped beam, main beam or fog lights as the road and the conditions require. At night on a poorly lit urban road you use position lamps plus dipped beam, because main beam is banned in built-up areas. Parked at night on the carriageway or shoulder of a poorly lit travesía, a vehicle must keep its position lamps on — or its parking lights instead. Side position lamps are compulsory only on vehicles longer than 6 metres.
Key facts
- They show the vehicle's presence and width; they do not light the road.
- Driving on position lamps alone is forbidden.
- White at the front, red at the rear, at the outer edges; two rear lamps on a car, no more.
- Parked at night on a poorly lit travesía, they must stay on.
- Side position lamps are compulsory only above 6 metres of length.
Frequently asked questions
- What are position lamps for?
- To show the vehicle's presence and its width — where it sits on the carriageway and how big it is — so other road users can see it.
- Can you drive using only the position lamps?
- No. They give no illumination, so they must always be used together with dipped beam, main beam or fog lights depending on the road and the conditions.
Practice real questions on this topic
Free DGT 2026 test with exam-style questions and explanations. No signup. Or explore the free DGT test in English hub for everything in one place.
In the DGT exam
- After being overtaken at night, your main beam may dazzle the driver now ahead. Which lighting must replace it?
- In which of these weather situations do the rules permit use of the front fog lights?
- Your vehicle is immobilised by an emergency inside a tunnel and a nearby SOS post is safely accessible. Through which facility should you request assistance without delay?
Keep studying
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