Who needs number plate lights?

Number plate lights or license plate lights are required by law and found as a standard feature on all motor vehicles. Even trailers attached to the back of these vehicles require their own number plate lamps in addition to trailer tail lights. These lights are always placed on the rear license plate. There are some exceptions to this legal requirement: for example, moped insurance stickers do not have to be lit. Trailers used for agriculture and forestry are subject to special legislation that varies depending on the state and country. In the UK, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA) requires number plates to be legible at a distance of 20 meters in the dark. In many US states, such as California and Florida, it must be possible to read the license plate from a distance of 50 feet.

The technology behind license plate lights 

Number plate lights contain incandescent lamps, halogen lightbulbs or LEDs. Conventional incandescent and halogen bulbs are susceptible to wear, which means they have to be replaced frequently. As a result, they are increasingly being replaced by LED lamps. LED technology is long-lasting, with high luminosity (light output) and low power consumption. Normally, LED license plate lights don't have to be replaced: they generally last as long as the vehicle itself. Just like the old registration plate lights without LED technology, they switch on together with the tail lights, which means both lights are operated automatically at the same time. When buying license plate lights, it's important to consider that they need an E-mark certification by law. On the other hand, there are no regulations about how the lights are supposed to look. This means you are free to choose whatever style you like when replacing or switching out the existing license plate lamps.