Everything you need to know about amber lighting on trailers

This table shows where each colour of lighting is permitted:

Position on the vehicle	Light function	Colour
Position on the vehicle: Side	Lightfunction: Side marker light	Colour: Amber-yellow
Position on the vehicle: Side	Lightingfunction: Retroreflector	Colour: Amber-yellow
Position on the vehicle: Rear	Lightfunction: Indicator	Colour: Amber
Position on the vehicle: Rear	Light function: Rear light / brake light	Colour: Red
Position on the vehicle: Front	Light function: Markeror position light	Colour: White

What is amber lighting?

‘Amber’ is the technical term for the orange-yellow colour you often see on the roads. In everyday use, amber, ‘orange’ and ‘yellow’ are used interchangeably, whilst official sources usually refer to ‘amber-yellow’. The colour name itself says nothing about its permissibility; that depends on the light function. You can read more about this in our explanation of the term amber’.

Where should you fit amber lighting on a trailer?

Side

amber is the standard colour for the sides. Side marker lights and side reflectors are amber , so that other road users can immediately see that they are approaching the side of your trailer.

Back cover

At the rear, the indicator may be amber . The rear light, brake light and rear fog light remain red. Amber and red are often housed in a single unit, but they serve different functions.

Front

Only white lighting may be fitted at the front of a trailer. We therefore do not see any amber lighting at the front of a trailer. The only exception is for safety signals, but in practice this does not actually occur at the front of a trailer.

When are amber side marker lights compulsory?

Under UNECE R48, side marker lights are mandatory for certain categories of vehicles and trailers, depending on factors such as the length and category of the vehicle. In practice, many trailers longer than six metres are required to be fitted with amber side-marker lights. You should also always check which version of the regulations and which national approval requirements apply in the market where the trailer is used. You can read the full requirements for each situation in our guide to the rules governing trailer lighting.

Are flashing amber indicators permitted on a trailer?

An indicator must be amber and must flash. In addition, an amber side marker light may, under certain conditions, flash in sync with the indicator on the same side. A red rear side marker light must not do so. You can read about how to connect this in our article on marker lights with indicator function on trailers.

White points forwards, amber to the side and red to the rear. Anyone following this logic can see at a glance whether a light is in the correct position. An amber light in a position where a white or red light should be therefore unintentionally sends the wrong signal about the vehicle’s orientation.

Frequently asked questions about amber lighting on a trailer

Is an amber rear light permitted on a trailer?

A rear light is red, just like the brake light and rear fog light. In product descriptions, the term amber rear light’ usually refers to the amber indicator in a combined rear light unit. The red rear light function and the amber indicator are then housed in a single unit, but operate as separate functions.

Can the rear side marker light be red?

Yes, in a specific configuration. The rear side marker light may be red when it is grouped or combined with certain red rear light functions. The other side marker lights remain amber. Please note: a red rear side marker light must not flash in synchronisation with the indicator; only amber side marker lights are permitted to do so.

Is amber the same as orange and yellow?

‘Amber’ is the technical term for the orange-yellow colour you often see on the roads. In everyday language, amber, ‘orange’ and ‘yellow’ are often used interchangeably. Official regulations generally refer to ‘amber-yellow’. Whether a light is approved depends on whether the light function prescribes or permits this colour in that location.

Can I fit individual amber lights to my trailer?

An amber light is not automatically permitted everywhere. Whether you are allowed to fit one depends on its function and position. Additional lighting without a recognised function, fitted purely for styling purposes, is not permitted. So choose a light with the correct function, colour and E-mark for that specific location on your trailer.

Find the right amber lighting for your trailer straight away

Are you looking for certified amber side marker lights or marker lights for your trailer? Browse TRALERT®’s range of LED marker lights and work with our specialists to put together the right set.