When are side marker lights required and what do they have to look like?

Truck side marker lights are required by law in Europe under regulation ECE-R48 6.18 and ECE-R91 for vehicles longer than 6 meters. The same applies for towing vehicles and truck trailers. However, these legal regulations do not apply to vehicle carriages with an operator's cab, such as tractors for semis or vehicles used in agriculture and forestry. For vehicles under 6 m, LED side marker lights can be used but they are not mandatory. In the US, the use of side marker lights for trailers is governed by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 108.

In terms of colour, truck side lights have to be amber or amber-orange . This applies for active lights as well as for passive reflectors, which reflect the light that strikes them as a warning effect. One option is to integrate this reflective surface directly into the side marker lights. Side marker lights on trailers have to switch on at the same time as the rest of the lights on the vehicle.

When installed on trucks or trailers, amber  LED side marker lights or incandescent side marker lamps have to be E-mark certified and labelled accordingly. This mark is normally embossed into the glass cover of the light. Truck side lights have to be attached horizontally onto the side of the vehicle: vertical installation is not allowed.

The technology behind side marker lights 

Our side marker lights are available in LED or incandescent versions. LED technology is considered to be the most modern alternative for side marker lights, since LED lights last a very long time and use very little electricity. In addition, LED side marker lights are highly luminous, with their lateral light enhanced by reflectors integrated into the lamps. Thanks to their waterproof design and high-quality LED components, our side marker lights for trailers generally don't need to be replaced for the entire service life of the vehicle . Our LED trailer side lights come in 12-volt or 24-volt versions.

Side marker lights for trucks (total length more than 6 m)

Side marker lights are required by law in the EU and many other countries for vehicles of this length. The position of the side marker lamps is also specified by law:

• In Europe, the first side marker lamp must be installed no more than 3 meters from the front end of the truck. A maximum spacing of 3 meters is prescribed for any additional lights. The last lamp attached towards the rear of the vehicle must be no more than 1 meter from the rear end. This means that at least 3 truck side lights are required for a vehicle with a length of 6-7 meters.
• The lights must be attached at a height between 250 mm and 1500 mm. In some exceptional cases, a height of 2100 mm is also allowed.
• Vehicles for agriculture and forestry are not subject to these requirements. Make sure to review the local legal requirements before purchasing trailer side lights.