How many front lights allowed on a car??

roberto_98

Well everybody. I'm wondering how many front lights are you legally allowed to have on a road car that will pass the nct and all of that. Including fogs, spots or whatever they may be.:D Thanks

Alanstrainor

roberto_98 wrote: »

Well everybody. I'm wondering how many front lights are you legally allowed to have on a road car that will pass the nct and all of that. Including fogs, spots or whatever they may be.:D Thanks

Your question confuses me? Care to elaborate?

sean1141

you can have as many as you like on for headlights but only two for dims

roberto_98

i sure can.:D I mean my car has the 2 normal headlights, a pair of spotlights as standard and a set of foglights that were put on by previous owner. 6 beams all together. Is it possible for me to add more or is there a limit? Hope that's clearer.

roberto_98

sean1141 wrote: »

you can have as many as you like on for headlights but only two for dims

Yeah it's only the headlights that are on dipped beams so i should be alright then?

Henry Ford III

I assume this would be road legal?

Tefral

Under the lighting of vehicle act 1963 your only allowed 4.

These must be in pairs and on the same level.

Ie two at the top of bumper & two at the bottom.

Nissan doctor

Is it a road going car? If so why would you want more then 4 spotlights? Sounds like a halfords advertising car already.

Do-more

These light bars are popular here in Sweden, usually fitted just under the front number plate. (This set costs about €80)

Not sure if this one would be legal in Ireland, I seem to remember there was a law that you had to mount spots in pairs, does that still apply? [Edit] Answered by cronin_j while I was still typing.

Tefral

Do-more wrote: »

I seem to remember there was a law that you had to mount spots in pairs, does that still apply?

Ya the law still applies

Where four lamps are fitted they shall be mounted in pairs and each lamp of a pair shall comply with the requirements of sub-article (4) of this article, provided that the requirements of paragraph (d) of that sub-article shall not apply to any pair of lamps which are extinguished when the lamps are dipped.

sean1141

cronin_j wrote: »

Under the lighting of vehicle act 1963 your only allowed 4.

These must be in pairs and on the same level.

Ie two at the top of bumper & two at the bottom.

can you put up a link to this please... had a quick look but cant find this in it

Tefral

sean1141 wrote: »

can you put up a link to this please... had a quick look but cant find this in it

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=ROAD+TRAFFIC+(LIGHTING+OF+VEHICLES)+REGULATIONS%2C+1963

Head lamps.

11. (1) Head lamps, in the case of a vehicle to which this Part of these Regulations applies, shall consist of two or four lamps fitted to the vehicle and shall comply with the provisions of this article.

(2) The colour of the light shown by the lamps shall be white or yellow but all lamps shall as nearly as possible show light of the same colour.

(3) The lamps shall, when lit, be capable of adequately illuminating the road for a distance of 325 feet in front of the vehicle at night time in clear weather.

(4) Where two lamps are fitted they shall be—

(a) as nearly as possible of the same power,

(b) as nearly as possible at the same height from the ground.

(c) fitted on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the vehicle, as nearly as possible equidistant from that axis, and as nearly as possible in the same longitudinal position in relation to the vehicle,

(d) fitted not less than 2 feet apart in the case of passenger vehicles, station wagons and goods vehicles, first registered on or after the 1st day of July, 1964.

(5) Where four lamps are fitted they shall be mounted in pairs and each lamp of a pair shall comply with the requirements of sub-article (4) of this article, provided that the requirements of paragraph (d) of that sub-article shall not apply to any pair of lamps which are extinguished when the lamps are dipped.

sean1141

so you can have 2 diped lights and 4 headlights??

Nissan doctor

sean1141 wrote: »

so you can have 2 diped lights and 4 headlights??

It says you can have 4 headlamps.

You might be mistaking dipped lights for parking lights/side lights.

Tefral

sean1141 wrote: »

so you can have 2 diped lights and 4 headlights??

No as I said your only allowed 4 because under section 7 a dipped headlamp is deemed to be a side lamp.

sean1141

but it says

(3) The lamps shall, when lit, be capable of adequately illuminating the road for a distance of 325 feet in front of the vehicle at night time in clear weather

.
bit far for dipped lights...

sean1141

i had a member of AGS tell me i could have as many lights as i liked on my car as long as they only came on with the headlights! guess he didnt really know what he was talking about so...

is it a different rule for trucks. every second one you meet has a row of spotlights across the roof and some have them between the main lights also..

Nissan doctor

sean1141 wrote: »

but it says .
bit far for dipped lights...

?

Yes, each of the 4 headlamps should be capable of this. Dipped beams are able for this and more on modern cars, then the high beams show further ahead.

Sidelights/parking lights(which I think you are confusing for dipped beams) are only to make the car visible when parked or in lower light levels during daytime.

Fog lights are a different thing again. I don't know if there is a limit to how many of those you can have but they have to be on a seperate switch and not come on with the headlamps.

Tefral

sean1141 wrote: »

but it says

(3) The lamps shall, when lit, be capable of adequately illuminating the road for a distance of 325 feet in front of the vehicle at night time in clear weather

.
bit far for dipped lights...

Please see my previous comment regarding section 7 in the combination of lights.

Suffice to say they have it set up so no matter what combination you have your not allowed have more than 4 on at anytime be that 2 headlights and 2 dips or 4 headlights.

By the way a fog light is classified as a headlamp in these regs too

Tefral

sean1141 wrote: »

i had a member of AGS tell me i could have as many lights as i liked on my car as long as they only came on with the headlights! guess he didnt really know what he was talking about so...

is it a different rule for trucks. every second one you meet has a row of spotlights across the roof and some have them between the main lights also..

Trucks are Breaking the law as these are subject to the same laws. Only ones except are cycles, trailers and invalid carriages