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HomeVehicle CodeDiv. 12Ch. 2Art. 6§ 25100 Wide Vehicle Lighting Requirements

§ 25100 Wide Vehicle Lighting Requirements

Vehicle Code·California
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§ 25100 Wide Vehicle Lighting Requirements

If a vehicle is 80 inches wide or more, it must have special amber and red lights on its sides at night so other drivers can see its width and length.

Key Takeaways

  • •Any vehicle 80 inches wide or more needs amber lights at the front and red lights at the back on each side when it’s dark.
  • •Side‑marker lights show the front and rear ends of the vehicle and must be visible from the side.
  • •Long trailers and buses built after certain dates need extra middle side‑marker lights.
  • •The lights must be bright enough to be seen from 500 ft away down to 50 ft, and side‑markers must be at least 15 inches high on newer vehicles.

Example

A city bus that is 10 feet (120 inches) wide drives down the highway after dark.

Because the bus is wider than 80 inches, the law says it must have an amber light on each side near the front that can be seen from the front, a red light on each side near the rear that can be seen from the back, and side‑marker lights along the sides so drivers can tell how long the bus is.

How to Calculate

If vehicle width ≥ 80 inches, then required lamps = {amber clearance lamp (front), red clearance lamp (rear), amber side‑marker (front), red side‑marker (rear)} plus any extra lamps required by length or manufacture date.

  1. Measure the overall width of the vehicle. If it is 80 inches or more, continue.
  2. Check the vehicle type (regular vehicle, trailer, truck tractor, etc.) and the date it was first registered.
  3. Apply the basic lamp rule from (a): add one amber clearance lamp on each side at the front and one red clearance lamp on each side at the rear.
  4. Add one amber side‑marker lamp near the front and one red side‑marker lamp near the rear on each side.
  5. If the vehicle is a trailer or semitrailer 30 ft or longer and was first registered after 1 Jan 1962, add an extra amber side‑marker near the center of each side.
  6. If the vehicle is a housecar, motor‑truck, or bus 30 ft or longer and was made after 1 Jan 1969, add an amber side‑marker at the midpoint of each side.
  7. Verify that all lamps are visible from 500 ft to 50 ft and that side‑markers are mounted at least 15 inches high (for vehicles made after 1 Jan 1968).

A 35‑foot trailer that is 108 inches wide, first registered in 1975.

Result: Required lamps: - Amber clearance lamp on each side at the front - Red clearance lamp on each side at the rear - Amber side‑marker near the front on each side - Red side‑marker near the rear on each side - Extra amber side‑marker near the center on each side (because length ≥30 ft and registered after 1962) All lamps must be visible from 500 ft to 50 ft and side‑markers at least 15 inches high.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source
View on CA.gov

§ 25100 Wide Vehicle Lighting Requirements

(a)Except as provided in subdivisions (b) and (d), every vehicle 80 inches or more in overall width shall be equipped during darkness as follows: (1)At least one amber clearance lamp on each side mounted on a forward-facing portion of the vehicle and visible from the front and at least one red clearance lamp on each side mounted on a rearward-facing portion of the vehicle and visible from the rear. (2)At least one amber side-marker lamp on each side near the front and at least one red side-marker lamp on each side near the rear. (3)At least one amber side-marker lamp on each side at or near the center on trailers and semitrailers 30 feet or more in length and which are manufactured and first registered after January 1, 1962. Any such vehicle manufactured and first registered prior to January 1, 1962, may be so equipped. (4)At least one amber side-marker lamp mounted at approximate midpoint of housecars, motortrucks, and buses 30 or more feet in length and manufactured on or after January 1, 1969. Any such vehicle manufactured prior to January 1, 1969, may be so equipped. (5)Combination clearance and side-marker lamps mounted as side-marker lamps and meeting the visibility requirements for both types of lamps may be used in lieu of required individual clearance or side-marker lamps. (b)The following vehicles when 80 inches or more in overall width and not equipped as provided in subdivision (a) shall be equipped during darkness as follows: (1)Truck tractors shall be equipped with at least one amber clearance lamp on each side on the front of the cab or sleeper and may be equipped with amber side-marker lamps on each side. (2)Truck tractors manufactured on or after January 1, 1969, shall be equipped with one amber side-marker lamp on each side near the front. (3)Pole or pipe dollies, or logging dollies, shall be equipped with at least one combination clearance and side-marker lamp on each side showing red to the front, side, and rear. (4)Vehicles, except truck tractors, which are 80 inches or more in width over a distance not exceeding three feet from front to rear shall be equipped with at least one amber combination clearance lamp and side-marker lamp on each side visible from the front, side, and rear if the projection is near the front of the vehicle and at least one red lamp if the projection is near the rear of the vehicle. (5)Towing motor vehicles engaged in driveaway-towaway operations shall be equipped with at least one amber clearance lamp at each side on the front and at least one amber side-marker lamp on each side near the front. (6)Towed motor vehicles engaged in driveaway-towaway operations shall be equipped with at least one amber side-marker lamp on each side of intermediate vehicles, and the rearmost vehicle shall be equipped with at least one red side-marker lamp on each side and at least one red clearance lamp on each side on the rear. (7)Trailers and semitrailers designed for transporting single boats in a cradle-type mounting and for launching the boat from the rear of the trailer need not be equipped with front and rear clearance lamps provided amber clearance lamps showing to the front and red clearance lamps showing to the rear are located on each side at or near the midpoint between the front and rear of the trailer to indicate the extreme width of the trailer. (c)Loads extending beyond the side of a vehicle where the overall width of the vehicle and load is 80 inches or more shall be equipped with an amber combination clearance and side-marker lamp on the side at the front and a red combination clearance and side-marker lamp on the side at the rear. In lieu of the foregoing requirement, projecting loads not exceeding three feet from front to rear at the extreme width shall be equipped with at least one amber combination clearance and side-marker lamp on the side visible from the front, side, and rear if the projection is near the front of the vehicle and at least one red lamp if the projection is near the rear of the vehicle. (d)Clearance and side-marker lamps are not required on auxiliary dollies or on passenger vehicles other than a housecar. (e)Clearance lamps shall be visible from all distances between 500 feet and 50 feet to the front or rear of the vehicle, and side-marker lamps shall be visible from all distances between 500 feet and 50 feet to the side of the vehicle. (f)Clearance lamps shall, so far as is practicable, be mounted to indicate the extreme width of the vehicle. Side-marker lamps shall be mounted not lower than 15 inches on vehicles manufactured on and after January 1, 1968. Combination clearance and side-marker lamps required on loads shall be mounted so the lenses project to the outer extremity of the vehicle or load.

Last verified: February 26, 2026

Related Statutes

  • § 23592 Vehicle Impoundment For Offenses
  • § 23593 Court Dui Murder Advisory
  • § 23594 Dui Vehicle Impoundment
  • § 23596 Vehicle Nuisance Declaration
  • § 23597 10-Year License Revocation

References

  • Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
  • California Legislature. Vehicle Code. Section 25100.
View Official Source