Europe-wide comparison
Daytime lights by country
See where dipped headlights or daytime running lights are mandatory, seasonal or limited to certain vehicles and roads.
| Country | Rule summary | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Albania | Mandatory outside built-up areasDipped headlights at all times on motorways and interurban roads; motorcycles and mopeds always, on all roads. | Official source ↗ |
| Andorra | No general daytime requirementLights are mandatory between sunset and sunrise, in tunnels and whenever visibility is reduced. | Official source ↗ |
| Austria | Mandatory for motorcycles and mopedsHeadlamps are mandatory in daylight only for motorcycles and mopeds. | Official source ↗ |
| Belarus | Seasonal requirement for passenger cars; motorcycles all yearAll vehicles must use daytime lights 25 May – 5 June and 25 August – 5 September; motorcycles, convoys, towing and child transport all year. | Official source ↗ |
| Belgium | Not stated in the standardized source | Official source ↗ |
| Bosnia & Herzegovina | Mandatory all day | Official source ↗ |
| Bulgaria | Mandatory all day | Official source ↗ |
| Croatia | Seasonal requirement for passenger cars; motorcycles all yearMandatory for motorcycles and mopeds all year; mandatory for other vehicles during winter time. | Official source ↗ |
| Cyprus | Mandatory for motorcycles and mopeds | Official source ↗ |
| Czechia | Mandatory all day | Official source ↗ |
| Denmark | Not stated in the standardized source | Official source ↗ |
| Estonia | Mandatory all day | Official source ↗ |
| Finland | Mandatory all day | Official source ↗ |
| France | Not stated in the standardized source | Official source ↗ |
| Germany | Not stated in the standardized source | Official source ↗ |
| Greece | Not stated in the standardized source | Official source ↗ |
| Hungary | Mandatory outside built-up areas | Official source ↗ |
| Iceland | Mandatory all dayHeadlights must be on at all times, day and night. | Official source ↗ |
| Ireland | Daytime running lights required as vehicle equipment on newer carsThe source states that all new cars must have daytime running lights, mandatory since 2011. | Official source ↗ |
| Italy | Mandatory all day | Official source ↗ |
| Kosovo | Mandatory all day | Official source ↗ |
| Latvia | Mandatory all day | Official source ↗ |
| Liechtenstein | RecommendedThe source recommends driving with dipped headlights. | Official source ↗ |
| Lithuania | Mandatory all day | Official source ↗ |
| Luxembourg | Not stated in the standardized source | Official source ↗ |
| Malta | Not stated in the standardized source | Official source ↗ |
| Moldova | Seasonal requirement for passenger cars; motorcycles all yearCars without factory daytime running lights must use dipped beams 1 November – 31 March; motorcycles, novice drivers and several other categories all year. | Official source ↗ |
| Monaco | No general daytime requirementLights are mandatory from nightfall to sunrise and by day when conditions require. | Official source ↗ |
| Montenegro | Mandatory all day | Official source ↗ |
| Netherlands | Not stated in the standardized source | Official source ↗ |
| North Macedonia | Mandatory all day | Official source ↗ |
| Norway | Mandatory all day | Official source ↗ |
| Poland | Mandatory all day | Official source ↗ |
| Portugal | Not stated in the standardized source | Official source ↗ |
| Romania | Mandatory on selected roadsMandatory on national roads, motorways and expressways. | Official source ↗ |
| Russia | Mandatory all day | Official source ↗ |
| San Marino | RecommendedDaytime use of lights is expressly recommended; mandatory only in poor visibility. | Official source ↗ |
| Serbia | Mandatory all day | Official source ↗ |
| Slovakia | Mandatory all day | Official source ↗ |
| Slovenia | Mandatory all day | Official source ↗ |
| Spain | Mandatory for motorcycles and in low visibilityMandatory for motorcycles; for other vehicles, mandatory only in reduced visibility. | Official source ↗ |
| Sweden | Mandatory all day | Official source ↗ |
| Switzerland | Mandatory all dayEffective from 1 January 2014. | Official source ↗ |
| Türkiye | No general daytime requirementLow beams are required by day only in fog, precipitation or reduced visibility. | Official source ↗ |
| Ukraine | Mandatory outside built-up areasOutside built-up areas daytime running lights or dipped beams must be on year-round. | Official source ↗ |
| United Kingdom | No general daytime requirementLights are required between sunset and sunrise and when visibility is seriously reduced; no daytime running light mandate. | Official source ↗ |
This is a planning summary, not legal advice. Road signs and current national rules take priority. Always check the linked official source before departure.