Lights: dipped beam, main beam and fog lights – the rules every theory-B student must know

Lights on, lights off, and which light exactly? The car theory exam asks about using your lights and about your car's lighting: the CBR lists them under the topics Driving safely with the vehicle and Vehicle knowledge. Here are the rules, taken straight from the Dutch traffic regulations (RVV 1990) and the Rijksoverheid's explanation.

1. When must your lights be on?

• At night: dipped beam (dimlicht). In the RVV, night is the period between sunset and sunrise (art. 1).
• In the daytime when visibility is seriously reduced: dipped beam too, for example in fog or heavy rain (art. 32(1)). This applies to drivers of a motor vehicle and also of a bromfiets (moped).
• Rear lights and the rear number-plate light must always be on together with main beam, dipped beam, side lights (stadslicht) or fog lights (art. 32(3)).

2. Dipped beam or main beam?

You may use main beam (grootlicht) instead of dipped beam, inside and outside built-up areas. But the RVV names three situations where it is not allowed (art. 32(2)):

• In the daytime.
• When you meet another road user: that includes a cyclist or pedestrian, not only a car.
• When you are following another vehicle closely.

In all of these cases you switch back to dipped beam so you don't dazzle anyone.

3. Front fog lights and the rear fog light

• Front fog lights are allowed only in fog, snowfall or rain that seriously reduces visibility. With front fog lights on, you don't need dipped beam (art. 34(1)). The Rijksoverheid points out that using both together can make the reflection dazzle you.
• The rear fog light is allowed only in fog or snowfall that cuts visibility to less than 50 metres (art. 34(2)). So not in heavy rain (Rijksoverheid).

4. Daytime running lights are not dipped beam

• You may use daytime running lights (dagrijlicht) during the day, but not together with any other light at the front (art. 41(1)).
• At night and when visibility is seriously reduced, dipped beam is still required: daytime running lights don't count (art. 41(1) refers back to art. 32(1)).
• Watch out: on many cars the rear lights do not come on automatically with the daytime running lights, so you have to switch them on yourself (Rijksoverheid).

5. Stopped: side lights and rear lights

Is your car (a motor vehicle on more than two wheels) stopped outside a built-up area on the carriageway, or on a parking strip, lay-by, hard shoulder or emergency bay along an autosnelweg or autoweg? Then at night and when visibility is seriously reduced you must show side lights and rear lights (art. 38).

6. Hazard lights and the warning triangle

• A stopped car that forms an obstacle approaching traffic can't spot in time must be marked with a warning triangle about 30 metres away. That is not needed when your hazard lights (flashing warning light) are on (art. 58).
• For a breakdown on the motorway, the Minister of Infrastructure and Water Management advises: put the car as far from the carriageway as possible, hazard lights on, everyone behind the crash barrier as quickly as possible, then call a breakdown service. Placing a triangle can come after that, if it is safe.

7. Flashing your main beam

Light signals (flashing) and sound signals may only be given to avert imminent danger (art. 28). So not to greet someone or to push them along. Emergency vehicles with blue flashing lights may also flash their headlights during the day (art. 29(2)).

Tip from The Bro School

Remember 50 metres and fog or snow: that is the only situation for the rear fog light, and it's a classic exam question. With every lighting question, check whether it is day or night and whether there is oncoming traffic or a vehicle just ahead. Practise these questions in our exam packages: thebroschool.nl/en/courses.

Sources: RVV 1990, art. 1, 28, 29, 32, 34, 38, 41 and 58 (wetten.overheid.nl) · Rijksoverheid: When must I use my car lights? (Dutch) · Minister's answers to parliamentary questions 2025-2026, no. 281 (Dutch) · CBR: Topics in the theory exam (Dutch)