Code of Alabama

Ala. Code § 32-5-240 (2026)

Required Lighting Equipment and Illuminating Devices of Vehicles.

✓ official Alabama Legislature (ALISON) text, current July 2026

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(a) When lighted headlamps required.

(1) Every vehicle upon a highway within this state, except a parked vehicle, which shall be subject to Section 32-5-244, shall display lighted lamps and illuminating devices required by this section for different classes of vehicles at the following times:

a. From a half hour after sunset to a half hour before sunrise.

b. At any time when the windshield wipers of the vehicle are in use because of rain, sleet, or snow, except when the use is intermittent because of misting rain, sleet, or snow.

c. At any time when there is not sufficient light to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of 500 feet.

(2) Notwithstanding subdivision (1), whenever motor vehicles or other vehicles are operated in combination during a time that lamps and illuminating devices are required to be lighted, any lamp, other than a tail lamp, that, by reason of its location on a vehicle in the combination would be obscured by another vehicle of the combination, need not be lighted. This subdivision shall not affect the requirement that lighted clearance lamps be displayed on the front of the foremost vehicle required to have clearance lamps or that all lamps required on the rear of the rearmost vehicle of any combination shall be lighted.

(b) Head lamps on motor vehicles.

(1) Every motor vehicle, other than a motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, shall be equipped with at least two but not more than four head lamps, with at least one but not more than two on each side of the front of the motor vehicle. The head lamps shall comply with the requirements and limitations of Section 32-5-242.

(2) Every motorcycle and every motor-driven cycle shall be equipped with at least one and not more than two head lamps which shall comply with the requirements and limitations of Section 32-5-242.

(3) Every head lamp upon every new motor vehicle sold after January 1, 1950, including every motorcycle and motor-driven cycle, shall be located at a height measured from the center of the head lamp of not more than 54 inches nor less than 24 inches to be measured as set forth in Section 32-5-242.

(1) Every motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, and pole trailer and any other vehicle which is being drawn at the end of a train of vehicles shall be equipped with at least one tail lamp mounted on the rear which, when lighted as required, emits a red light plainly visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear. When vehicles are drawn in a train, only the tail lamp on the rearmost vehicle need actually be seen from the distance specified.

(2) Every tail lamp upon every vehicle shall be located at a height of not more than 60 inches nor less than 20 inches to be measured as set forth in Section 32-5-242.

(3) Every motor vehicle shall have a tail lamp or a separate lamp so constructed and placed as to illuminate with a white light the rear registration plate and render it clearly legible from a distance of 50 feet to the rear. Any tail lamp or tail lamps, together with any separate lamp for illuminating the rear registration plate, shall be so wired as to be lighted whenever the head lamps or auxiliary driving lamps are lighted.

(d) Additional equipment required on certain vehicles. In addition to other equipment required in this article, the following vehicles shall be equipped in the following manner:

(1) On every bus or truck, whatever its size, the following shall be on the rear: Two red reflectors, one at each side, and one stop light.

(2) On every bus or truck 80 inches or more in overall width, in addition to the requirements in subdivision (1):

a. On the front, two clearance lamps, one at each side.

b. On the rear, two clearance lamps, one on each side.

c. On each side, two side marker lamps, one at or near the front and one at or near the rear.

d. On each side, two reflectors, one at or near the front and one at or near the rear.

(3) On every truck tractor:

a. On the front, two clearance lamps, one at each side.

b. On the rear, one stop light.

(4) On every trailer or semitrailer having a gross weight in excess of 3,000 pounds:

a. On the front, two clearance lamps, one at each side.

b. On each side, two side marker lamps, one at or near the front and one at or near the rear.

c. On each side, two reflectors, one at or near the front and one at or near the rear.

d. On the rear, two clearance lamps, one at each side, also two reflectors, one at each side, and one stop light.

(5) On every pole trailer having a gross weight in excess of 3,000 pounds gross weight:

a. On each side, one side marker lamp and one clearance lamp which may be in combination, to show to the front, side, and rear.

b. On the rear of the pole trailer or load, two reflectors, one at each side.

(6) On every trailer, semitrailer, or pole trailer having a gross weight of 3,000 pounds or less: On the rear, two reflectors, one on each side. If the load or dimensions of any trailer or semitrailer obscures the stop light on the towing vehicle, the towed vehicle shall also be equipped with one stop light.

(e) Lamps on other vehicles and equipment. All vehicles, including animal-drawn vehicles and those for which special permits have been issued under authority of Section 32-9-29, not otherwise specifically required to be equipped with lamps, shall at the times specified in subsection (a) of this section be equipped with at least one lighted lamp or lantern exhibiting a white light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the front of the vehicle and with a lamp or lantern exhibiting a red light visible from a distance of 500 feet to the rear.

(f) Stop lamps required on new motor vehicles. It is unlawful for any person to sell any new motor vehicle, including any motorcycle or motor-driven cycle, in this state or for any person to drive the vehicle on the highways unless it is equipped with a stop lamp meeting the requirements of Section 32-5-242.

(g) New motor vehicles to be equipped with reflectors.

(1) No new motor vehicle first sold on or after January 1, 1950, other than a truck tractor, motorcycle, or motor-driven cycle shall be operated on a highway unless the vehicle carries on the rear, either as a part of the tail lamps or separately, two red reflectors. Every motorcycle and every motor-driven cycle shall carry at least one reflector, meeting the requirements of this section. Vehicles specifically provided for in subsection (d) of this section shall be equipped with reflectors as required by that subsection.

(2) These reflectors shall be mounted on the vehicle at a height not less than 20 inches nor more than 60 inches measured as set forth in subsection (a) of Section 32-5-242, shall be of such size and characteristics, and shall be so mounted as to be visible at night from 300 feet.

(Acts 1927, No. 347, p. 348; Code 1940, T. 36, §40; Acts 1949, No. 517, p. 754, §10; Acts 1957, No. 414, p. 577; Acts 1993, No. 93-720, p. 1407, §1.)

Notes of Decisions

Cited in 11 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1982–2025 · leading case: Strickland v. City of Dothan, AL, 399 F. Supp. 2d 1275 (M.D. Ala. 2005).

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Hall v. State, 897 So. 2d 410 (Ala. Crim. App. 2003). · cites it 2× “on October 13, 2001, when he saw Hall driving his vehicle on a public roadway without the headlights turned on, a violation of § 32-5-240(a)(1)b., Ala.Code 1975, and that he executed a routine traffic stop of Hall's vehicle.”

Strickland v. City of Dothan, AL, 399 F. Supp. 2d 1275 (M.D. Ala. 2005). · cites it 2× “Driving without headlights is a violation of 1975 Alabama Code § 32-5-240. Because Strickland was admittedly violating a state code provision governing the operation of motor vehicles, probable cause existed for the initial stop.”

Edwards v. United States, 552 F. Supp. 635 (M.D. Ala. 1982). · cites it 2× “— In addition to other equipment required in this article the following vehicles shall be equipped as herein stated under the conditions stated in subsection (a) of this section: (1) On every bus or truck, whatever its size, there shall be the following: on the rear, two red…”

Clark v. Kindley, 10 So. 3d 1005 (Ala. Civ. App. 2007). “Code 1975 (towing or hauling a disabled vehicle); § 32-5-240, Ala. Code 1975 (required lighting equipment and illuminating devices of vehicles); and § 32-5A-174(a), Ala.”

John Mark Helms v. State of Alabama (Appeal from Calhoun Circuit Court: CC-22-974) (Ala. Crim. App. 2024). · cites it 8× “63) in violation of § 32-5-240, Ala. Code 1975, 2 CR-2023-0812 a charge that was later amended, with Helms's consent, to a violation of § 32-5-241.”

Minnifield v. The Town of Brookside Alabama (N.D. Ala. 2023). · cites it 3× “CODE § 32-5-240 and cited the driver’s father who was not on the scene or driving the vehicle at the time of the stop.”

Tyus v. Reynolds, 794 So. 2d 1189 (Ala. Civ. App. 2001). · cites it 5× “” Ala.Code 1975, § 32-5-240(a)(l). The Tyuses object to the trial court’s apparent finding either that the accident occurred after sunset or while it was raining; either situation would call for the use of headlights.”

Saint Jean v. Altoona, Alabama, City of (N.D. Ala. 2025). · cites it 2× “(3) All mechanical signal devices shall be self-illuminated when in use at the time mentioned in subsection (a) of Section 32-5-240. Ala. Code. § 32-5-241(b); and, (g) Color of clearance lamps, side marker lamps, and reflectors.”

Thomas v. City of Montgomery, 690 So. 2d 546 (Ala. Crim. App. 1997). · cites it 3× “The appellant was also convicted of failing to properly illuminate his rear registration plate and of failing to properly signal his intention to turn, violations of §§ 32-5-240 and 32-5A-133, Code of Alabama 1975, respectively.”

Jones v. Town of Brookside Alabama, The (N.D. Ala. 2023). “CODE § 32-5-240(a)(1)(a). Ms. Jones alleges that the stop occurred near 6:00 P.”

Hill v. Mobile City Council (S.D. Ala. 2025). “Code Section 32-5-240, which sets the conditions for use of headlights.”

— Ala. Code § 32-5-240(a)(1) — 1 case

Hall v. State, 897 So. 2d 410 (Ala. Crim. App. 2003). “on October 13, 2001, when he saw Hall driving his vehicle on a public roadway without the headlights turned on, a violation of § 32-5-240(a)(1)b., Ala.Code 1975, and that he executed a routine traffic stop of Hall's vehicle.”

— Ala. Code § 32-5-240(a)(1)(a) — 1 case

Jones v. Town of Brookside Alabama, The (N.D. Ala. 2023). “CODE § 32-5-240(a)(1)(a). Ms. Jones alleges that the stop occurred near 6:00 P.”

— Ala. Code § 32-5-240(a)(l) — 1 case

Tyus v. Reynolds, 794 So. 2d 1189 (Ala. Civ. App. 2001). “” Ala.Code 1975, § 32-5-240(a)(l). The Tyuses object to the trial court’s apparent finding either that the accident occurred after sunset or while it was raining; either situation would call for the use of headlights.”

— Ala. Code § 32-5-240(c) — 1 case

Saint Jean v. Altoona, Alabama, City of (N.D. Ala. 2025). “(3) All mechanical signal devices shall be self-illuminated when in use at the time mentioned in subsection (a) of Section 32-5-240. Ala. Code. § 32-5-241(b); and, (g) Color of clearance lamps, side marker lamps, and reflectors.”

— Ala. Code § 32-5-240(c)(3) — 1 case

Minnifield v. The Town of Brookside Alabama (N.D. Ala. 2023). “CODE § 32-5-240 and cited the driver’s father who was not on the scene or driving the vehicle at the time of the stop.”

— Ala. Code § 32-5-240(d)(1) — 1 case

Edwards v. United States, 552 F. Supp. 635 (M.D. Ala. 1982). “— In addition to other equipment required in this article the following vehicles shall be equipped as herein stated under the conditions stated in subsection (a) of this section: (1) On every bus or truck, whatever its size, there shall be the following: on the rear, two red…”

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