What Are Fog Lights on a Car?
Fog lights can help you see while driving in poor visibility settings—but they’re not designed for every bad weather situation, so here’s what to know.
Written by Kathryn Mae Kurlychek
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
Table of Contents
- What are fog lights?
- How to use fog lights
- Do I have rear fog lights?
- Find hassle-free car insurance
- FAQs
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Inclement weather situations may require the use of fog lights, which are an extra pair of lights designed specifically to help you see in dense fog, heavy rain, snow, smoke, and more. Here’s what to know about using your car’s fog lights.
Headlights and high beams are often too bright to help you see through fog alone—which is why some vehicles come equipped with built-in fog lights, designed specifically for tackling low-visibility driving. But when it comes to using your fog lights, there’s a somewhat complicated list of dos and don’ts you’ll need to know to operate them safely.
That’s why
Jerry
, the trusted super app
for drivers, has put together this handy guide on how to use your car’s fog lights. We’ll cover what you need to know, including how to use your fog lights, where to find them, and whether they’re protected as part of your car insurance
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What are fog lights?
Fog lights—also known as fog lamps—are an extra pair of specially designed lights typically mounted below the vehicle’s headlight assembly for the express purpose of aiding drivers in low-visibility driving conditions.
As the name implies, fog lights are primarily meant to be used in foggy conditions—just not exactly in the way you might think. Above all else, fog lights are meant to make your vehicle more visible to other drivers on the road when visibility is low. They’re also useful for helping you see the road ahead while driving in dense fog.
Because fog typically hovers about one to two feet above the ground, fog lights are mounted low and angled in such a way as to illuminate the road beneath the fog.
Most fog lights have a shorter range of light than regular headlights (or even your daytime running lights) and are meant to be useful only in low-visibility, low-speed settings.
Are fog lights the same thing as high beams?
No, fog lights are not the same thing as high-beam headlights—they’re actually quite the opposite!
For one, high beams are intended to help you see further distances in the dark, making them more reflective and resulting in a longer range of light. Fog lights, on the other hand, have a stunted beam—they’re only meant to help you see what’s right in front of you.
Fog lights and high beams also use different light bulbs, with fog lights lacking the same reflectors that headlights and high beams have.
High beams won’t help you see in fog and can actually make seeing more difficult by reflecting light back into your eyes. The bright, white light of your high beams won’t hold a candle to the softer, yellow light of your fog lamps in low-visibility weather.
Another difference? High beams are a standard vehicle feature, whereas fog lights are not—only some models come standard with front fog lights, and in most cases, they’re a feature reserved for upper trim levels.
How to use fog lights
Let’s say you’re driving in poor visibility conditions and you want to turn on your fog lights. Assuming your vehicle has them, you’ll be able to turn on your fog lights with a dedicated switch or button inside your car.
Exactly where this switch or button is located can vary based on your vehicle—for example, some cars come with a fog light switch on the collar of your headlight stalk. You’ll be able to spot it by looking for the fog light icon, which is typically expressed as a semi-circle symbol in front of three horizontal lines intersected by a wavy vertical line. Other times, they may be activated by a button on your steering wheel or dashboard or by pulling the headlight stalk toward you.
In any case, your fog lights will have a designated switch separate from your headlights and taillights. Once you’ve found it, simply twist the collar or press the button to activate your vehicle’s fog lights. Most fog lamps are connected to a light in the instrument cluster that lets you know when they’re on.
When to use fog lights
You should use your fog lights exclusively in low-visibility weather conditions such as:
- Dense fog
- Heavy rain
- Snow
- Mist
- Smoke
- Dust storms
Fog lights should be used in addition to your regular headlights to help you see in these types of bad weather. Once the weather situation has passed or visibility has improved, you should turn your fog lights back off.
When not to use fog lights
Fog lights aren’t made for every situation—and it’s important to know when not to use them for the safety of other drivers on the road.
You should never use fog lights when visibility conditions are normal or in substitution of your regular headlights—especially at night. Fog lights won’t help you see in the dark, even if you use them alongside your headlights, so it’s better to keep them off at night altogether (unless it’s a foggy evening).
You also shouldn’t use fog lights if it’s only lightly raining (no fog). Because fog lights are angled low, they can reflect off of wet road surfaces, causing you to inadvertently dazzle oncoming drivers—and creating potentially dangerous driving situations for other road users.
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Do I have rear fog lights?
Most of the time, fog lights are attached to the front of the vehicle—not the back. That being said, some vehicles do have rear fog lights installed in place of a brake light or in the center of the vehicle’s rear bumper cover, although they’re not exceedingly common. Other times, drivers may choose to install aftermarket rear fog lights as an added precaution.
However, in some places rear fog lights are a legal requirement. Many western states (such as Oregon and California) have laws regulating when you can and cannot use fog lights. In other states, there are no regulations—but while it may technically be okay to use your fog lights, it’s not advisable to use them outside of low-visibility situations.
Find hassle-free car insurance
In many new cars, fog lights are starting to disappear—but if your vehicle is one that is equipped with fog lights, you may be surprised to learn that they’re not always protected from damage under your insurance coverage. If you don’t carry
comprehensive coverage
, you may not be covered for fog light damage due to hitting a tree or vandalism, among other things. Whether you’re looking to expand your policy or simply shave a few bucks off your premium,
Jerry
can help. Jerry is an insurance comparison super app that shops for low quotes from dozens of name-brand companies for free—and you can use it right on your phone. Once you download Jerry, just answer a handful of questions and we’ll take care of the rest—from collecting affordable quotes to helping secure your new policy. We can even assist you in canceling your old insurance!
The best part? On average, Jerry users save over $800+ a year on car insurance.
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FAQs
When should I use fog lights?
Fog lights are designed to be used in low-visibility conditions like heavy rain, dense fog, snow, smoke, dust, etc. You should use them in addition to your normal headlights in these situations to improve your own visibility and help ensure your vehicle is visible to other motorists on the road.
Is it OK to drive with fog lights on?
You shouldn’t drive with fog lights on outside of low-visibility driving conditions since the extra light can be potentially distracting for other drivers. In fact, many states have
fog light laws
that dictate when it is and isn’t legal to use your fog lights. In any case, it’s illegal to drive with only your fog lights illuminated.Estimate your repair costs for free with GarageGuard™
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