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Requirements for a trailer with a width of less than 160 cm and a length of up to 6 metres.

The mandatory lighting on a trailer consists of:

• Front

  • 2 white reflectors.

• Back

  • 2 red taillights
  • 2 brake lights
  • 2 turn signals, amber
  • License plate light, white. At least one lamp illuminating the entire plate.
  • 2 red reflectors in triangular shape.
    Height: Minimum 35cm and maximum 150cm above the road surface

• Sides

  • 1 amber reflector, in the middle third of the trailer.

Requirements for a trailer with a width between 160cm and 210cm

• Front

  • Reflectors: Two white retroreflectors
    Placement: Symmetrical on either side of the center.
    Height: Minimum 25cm and maximum 90cm above the road surface.
  • Parking lights: Two white lamps (mandatory if the trailer was put into use after 30 June 1967).
    Placement: Symmetrical on either side of the center.
    Height: No specific height requirement, fits into the design.

• Back

  • Taillights
    • Two red lights.
    • Placement: Symmetrical on either side of the center.
    • Height: Minimum 35cm and maximum 150cm above the road surface.
  • Brake lights
    • Two red lights.
    • Placement: Symmetrical on either side of the center.
    • Height: Minimum 35cm and maximum 150cm above the road surface.
  • Direction indicators
    • Two amber lamps.
    • Placement: Symmetrical on either side of the center.
    • Height: Minimum 35cm and maximum 210cm above the road surface.
  • Rear license plate light
    • White
    • At least one lamp that illuminates the entire license plate.
  • Rear fog light
    • One red light
    • Placement: In the center or left of center.
    • Height: Minimum 25cm and maximum 120cm above the road surface.
  • Reflectors
    • Two red retroreflectors in triangular shape.
    • Placement: Symmetrical on either side of the center.
    • Height: Minimum 35cm and maximum 150cm above the road surface.

• Side

  • Reflectors
    • Minimum 1 amber reflector per side
    • Preferably in the middle section of the trailer.
    • Height: Between 25cm and 150cm above the road surface. If structurally necessary, maximum 210cm above the road surface.

Additional requirements for a trailer wider than 210 cm

Trailers wider than 210 cm must also be equipped with end marker lights in the form of width lamps. These lamps are placed at the outermost points of the front and rear and indicate the full width of the trailer.

• Front marker lights

  • White
  • These must be placed at the outermost points of the trailer's width, as high as possible. For enclosed trailers, a minimum height of 180 cm above the road surface is required. In practice, these lights are often integrated into position lamps.

• Rear marker lights

  • Red
  • Also placed at the outermost width points. The same height restrictions apply to enclosed trailers as to the front, while for open trailers, the lights may be mounted between 25 cm and 150 cm above the road surface. Width posts are also often used here, as they can combine both front and rear marker lights in a single unit.

Where should marker lights be placed?

• Enclosed trailers

  • The marker lights must be placed as high as possible, with a minimum of 180 cm above the road surface.

• Open trailers

  • Where such a height is not feasible, the marker lights may be placed at a height between 25cm and 150cm above the road surface.

Side requirements for specific lengths

Longer trailers have additional requirements for lights.

• Trailer shorter than 6m

  • Each side must be equipped with at least one amber reflector.
  • This reflector should preferably be placed in the middle section of the trailer.
  • The reflectors must be positioned between 25cm and 150cm above the road surface. If the trailer's construction does not permit this, they may be placed at a height of up to 210cm above the road surface.

• Trailer longer than 6m, shorter than 9m

  • The sides must be fitted with amber side marker lights, evenly distributed along the length.
  • The distance between two marker lights may not exceed 300 cm.
  • The first marker light may be placed no further than 100cm from the front, and the last light no further than 100cm from the rear.
  • Each side must be equipped with at least one amber reflector, which is placed in the same locations as the side marker lights.
  • As with shorter trailers, reflectors and sidelights must be positioned between 25cm and 150cm above the road surface. Unless otherwise required for structural reasons, they may be installed a maximum of 210cm above the road surface.

• Trailer longer than 9m

  • Amber side marker lights must be evenly spaced on the sides.

  • The distance between two marker lights must not exceed 200 cm, so that the trailer remains clearly visible even in the dark or in poor visibility.

  • The first side marker light must be positioned no further than 1 metre from the front of the trailer, and the last light no further than 1 metre from the rear.

  • In addition to the side marker lights, each side must be equipped with at least one amber reflector.

    • These reflectors must be placed in the same locations as the side marker lights.

  • Reflectors and sidelights must be located between 25cm and 150cm above the road surface. If the trailer's construction does not allow for compliance with these height requirements, they may be mounted at a maximum height of 210cm above the road surface.

  • For enclosed trailers with a height exceeding 180cm, the side marker lights must be mounted both at the bottom (between 25cm and 150cm) and as high as possible near the top edge. This ensures that the contours of the trailer, both above and below, are clearly visible to other road users. Unless technically feasible, the upper marker lights may be mounted at a height of up to 210cm.

Update 2025 for O3 and O4

From 1 January 2025, newly registered trailers in categories O3 and O4 must be equipped with side marker lights that flash synchronously with the turn signals. This amendment to UNECE Regulation R48 (Revision 11) improves visibility when turning or changing lanes on public roads.

The turn signal function may also be implemented with a separate side indicator – this is technically permitted. This change in law only applies to new vehicles from 2025 onwards; existing trailers do not need to be modified.