What Are Parking Lights & What Are They Used For?

What are parking lights, and do you still need them? Learn its purpose, where it’s located, and its relevance in modern car lighting systems.

Parking lights are lights installed in the front and rear of vehicles that are meant to be switched on when parked in dark areas or driving in dim lighting or poor visibility conditions. Also called sidelights, these lights are meant to make a parked vehicle visible to other road users and prevent possible collisions.

What Are Parking Lights?

These lights were initially an essential part of a vehicle’s lighting system back in the 1960s when streets were not brightly lit at night, and regulations requiring its use were enforced until the end of the decade. By the 1970s, street lighting had improved, and the use of parking lights were no longer as necessary. Eventually, the existing regulations on parking lights loosened and, at present, only a few states still require turning it on under certain conditions, such as during low-visibility situations.

Along with the other automotive lights, parking lights can be turned on and off using the light switch lever behind the steering wheel or button or dial on the steering wheel or dashboard of the vehicle. Just look for back-to-back semicircles with three short lines that symbolize light beams (see image below).

When the parking light is selected, the following lights are turned on:

• Front: parking lights and side markers
• Rear: tail lights and license plate lights
• Car interior: Dashboard/instrument lights

However, not all modern vehicles have a separate parking light switch nowadays – some have already been integrated with the headlight switch, so you won’t always find the symbol for it on the light switch or buttons in your vehicle. In this case, you can think of it as the exterior lights that usually activate along with the instrument lights.

What Are Parking Lights Used For?

Parking lights are meant to protect a vehicle when parked in narrow streets with poor lighting because it emits a dim glow that indicates its position to oncoming vehicles. That is, in case you park your car in a street with poor lighting and it gets dark, leaving your parking light on will warn any oncoming vehicle of your car’s presence to avoid a potential collision.

Parking lights are meant to complement the headlights, but they are not as bright and should never be used by itself when driving on the roads, as this is against the law.

When Should You Use Parking Lights?

You should turn on your parking lights when parked in narrow and dark streets, roads with poor street lighting, and when the road is foggy.

If you’re wondering why not use the headlights, it’s because high beams impair the vision of drivers coming from the opposite direction and low beams can drain your battery if left on for prolonged periods. However, parking lights use lights that are designed to consume less energy, so even if you leave them on overnight, you won’t return to find your car’s battery dead.

But if you plan to park longer, it’s best to find an alternative parking space in a secure, well-lit location instead. Even low-consumption lights can still drain a fully charged car battery when left on for days. Platforms like Spacer can help you find secure, convenient, and affordable parking locations across the U.S.

A word of advice: never ever use parking lights as an alternative to headlights because that is against the law.

Are Parking Lights Still Useful Today?

Many car models have already integrated parking lights with headlights, and the automatic Daytime Running Lights have more use nowadays. However, it can still be useful when parking in dark areas or your parked vehicle isn’t illuminated by the nearest streetlight.

You can also opt to use parking lights when driving during times when the sky is no longer bright out but it’s also not dark enough to use the headlights. This can be at dawn, dusk, or when the weather is bad, such as during rain or fog.

Parking Light Laws: What You Need to Know

While enforcement on the use of parking lights is no longer strict, be aware that the following states still have existing parking laws about its usage that must be followed.

Final Thoughts: Do Parking Lights Still Matter?

While the usage of parking lights is no longer strictly enforced in the U.S. beginning the 1970s, they are still useful depending on the location and situation.

Some states still require drivers to turn on their parking lights if the vehicle is parked at night on a lay-by or the side of a road with a speed limit that is 30 mph and higher. However, you must turn them on regardless of the speed limit when the roads are foggy to enhance your vehicle’s visibility. Remember: use parking or low beam lights only because brighter lights, such as high beams, would only reflect light and worsen driving conditions.

Likewise, if you happen to be driving while on a trip overseas, you should know that some European countries and Australia still enforce the use of parking lights. Make sure you learn how to operate it in your vehicle and know the local laws so you don’t get a ticket for not using your parking lights.