When to Use Parking Lights vs. Headlights

Parking lights on the front of a vehicle are not the same as headlights. In most cars, parking lights are amber instead of white like a headlight.

According to federal law and SAE Standard J222, parking lights can also function as a front positioning light. But that’s only when the regular headlight fails. Parking lights are not as bright as headlights, so they won’t illuminate the roadway.

Nonetheless, turning on your parking lights provides plenty of light to alert other drivers about your car’s location when parked.

Headlights Light the Way Forward

Headlights are the primary means for a vehicle to illuminate the roadway. They project light forward to make sure that traffic and obstacles are visible. Moreover, they alert other drivers and pedestrians to your vehicle’s presence.

Headlights have two lighting patterns: a standard low beam for everyday driving and a high beam to light things up further down the road (when no oncoming traffic could be dazzled by the light in their eyes).

The low beam is sometimes called a “dipped beam” as the light dips below the typical eye level of other drivers. It also can spread the beam wide to the right side of the roadway to illuminate pedestrians, animals, and other hazards that might stray into your path.

When to Use Parking Lights and Headlights

• Parking lights should be used whenever you’re parked (not driving) in a dark area, especially near a roadway. Parking lights, in combination with reflectors, alert other drivers about your presence.
• Headlights should be used when driving (not parked) in dark conditions, whether at night, in a tunnel, or in rain and fog. Many jurisdictions also require the headlights to be illuminated in construction zones to ensure construction workers can see oncoming traffic.

In most cases, you should not use your headlights when parked because they can distract other drivers and unnecessarily use energy. Parking lights, which can be used when the engine isn’t running, barely drain the battery.

Never use your parking lights to replace your headlights unless it’s an emergency. Unaccustomed to seeing the relatively dim parking lights on a moving vehicle, other drivers will not be sufficiently alerted to your presence.

How to Operate Parking Lights and Headlights

Parking lights and headlights are often controlled by the same switch, usually to the left of the steering wheel, either on the dashboard or on a stalk. Typically, turning a knob to the first position illuminates the parking lights, and turning it to the next position will shine the headlights.

The headlights’ high beam is also typically activated by that left stalk. Some cars give a quick flash of the high beam with a pull of the stalk and will leave the high beam lit if the stalk is pushed forward. Other cars will have two “clicks” within that left stalk. The first position gives that flash, and a second, longer pull of the stalk will turn the high beam on.

Many newer cars are equipped with automatic headlights activated by sensors. As the day turns to dusk, the headlights turn on automatically. Usually, this is controlled by a different position on the stalk or dashboard switch labeled “AUTO.” To be certain, refer to your owner’s manual.

Some high beams can be automatically activated with a switch on the stalk or dashboard. Once the high beams are lit on a vehicle with automatic high beams, they will dim when sensors notice approaching traffic that might be blinded.

Adjusting your parking lights and headlights is an essential part of driving safely. A misaligned light might not light your path correctly. It’s easy to adjust your lights.

Customizing Headlights and Parking Lights

It is possible to use different colored lights or bulbs in your headlights and parking lights. However, it is illegal to do so in most jurisdictions. Some sellers offer kits that cause the lights to flash with the flick of a switch. These are typically sold for emergency vehicles only and may also be illegal.

US law requires that headlamps be white, although the exact shade and intensity of white are variable. Some warm white lamps can be almost amber, whereas a cooler color temperature white is blue-ish. Again, check with your local jurisdiction about the legality of any alternative headlight. Alternative colors can distract other drivers.

Parking lights are dimmer than a headlamp, but the law requires them to be white or amber. Modifying the parking lamp color is not recommended.