Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Standards & Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
Basic equipment required on all trucks, buses, & MPVs
| D E S C R I P T I O N | M A N D A T O R Y R E Q U I R E M E N T S | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Equipment | (SAE Lens Coding) | Functional Purpose | Quantity | Color | Location | Height mm (in.) from the ground |
  | Headlamps - Lower Beam | (H, HR) Attention: US: "DOT" lettering required on lens Attention: US & Canada: light source code required on lens | Forward road illumination | Minimum 2 | White | On the front - symmetrical - as far apart as practicable (If 4 lamp system - outboard or above upper beams) | 560-1370 (22-54) |
| Headlamps - Upper Beam | (H, HR) Attention: US: "DOT" lettering required on lens Attention: US & Canada: light source code required on lens | Forward road illumination | Minimum 2 | White | On the front - symmetrical ( If 4 lamp system - inboard or below lower beams ) | 560-1370 (22-54) | |
| Parking Lamps-Attention: Required only on vehicles less than 2032mm wide | (P) | Indicate parked vehicle | Minimum 2 | White or Yellow | Front - symmetrical - as far apart as practicable | 380-1530 (15-60) | |
| Daytime Running Lamps - Attention: for Canada required, for US optional. | (Y2) Attention: for US, "DRL" lettering required on lens if device is not headlamp | Indicate in-use vehicle | Minimum 2 | White or Yellow | Front - symmetrical - as far apart as practicable | 380 (15) minimum Maximum depends on type of DRL | |
| Front Turn Signal/Hazard Warning Lamps | (l) | Indicate direction of turn / identify disabled vehicle | Minimum 2 | Yellow | Front - symmetrical - as far apart as practicable | 380-2110 (15-83) | |
 | Front Clearance Lamps- Attention: Required for vehicles 2032mm wide or wider | (P2, PC* or P3*,PC2) *photometrically certified at installation angle | Show vehicle's width | Minimum 2 | Yellow | At widest point - symmetrical - on the front or near the front - facing forward | As high as practicable |
  | Front Identification Lamps (ID) | (P2 or P3) | Indicate presence of a wide vehicle | Exactly 3 | Yellow | on the front - center - horizontally spaced 150 mm (6 in.) to 300 mm (12 in.) apart | As high as practicable or on top of cab |
  | Front Side Marker Lamps | (P2, PC* or P3 ,PC2*) *photometrically certified at installation angle | Minimum 2 | Yellow | Each side at front - as far forward as practicable | 380 (15) minimum | |
 | Front Side Reflex Reflectors | (A) | Front and Rear side marker lamps / side | Minimum 2 | Yellow | At front - symmetrical - as far forward as practicable - facing sideward | 380-1530 (15-60) |
  | Rear Side Marker Lamps ** | (P2, PC* or P3, PC2*) *photometrically certified at installation angle | reflex reflector indicate vehicle's presence and length | Minimum 2 | Red | Each side at rear - as far back as practicable | 380 (15) minimum |
 | Rear Side Reflex Reflectors** ** not required on Truck Tractors | (A) | Minimum 2 | Red | Each side at rear - as far back as practicable - facing sideward | 380-1530 (15-60) | |
 | Rear Clearance Lamps Attention: Required for vehicles 2032mm wide or wider, but not required on Truck Tractors | (P2, PC* or P3, PC2*) *photometrically certified at installation angle | Show vehicle's width - MAY NOT be combined with tail lamps | Minimum 2 | Red | At widest point - symmetrical - on the rear or near the rear - facing rearward | As high as practicable-may be lower only if rear ID lamps are at the top |
| Rear Identification Lamps (ID) Attention: Required for vehicles 2032mm wide or wider, but not required on Truck Tractors | (P2 or P3 ) | Indicate presence of a wide vehicle | Exactly 3 | Red | Rear - center - horizontally spaced 150 mm (6 in.) to 300 mm (12 in.) apart, facing rearward | in Canada : at the top - maybe lower if door header narrower than 25mm in USA: as high as practicable |
| Tail Lamps | (T) | Indicate vehicle's presence and width | Minimum 2 | Red | On the rear - symmetrical - as far apart as practicable | 380-1830 (15-72) |
| Stop Lamps | (S) | Indicate braking | Minimum 2 | Red | On the rear - symmetrical - as far apart as practicable | 380-1830 (15-72) | |
| Rear Turn Signal/Hazard Warning Lamps | (I) | Indicate direction of turn/ identifies disabled veh. | Minimum 2 | Red or Yellow | On the rear - symmetrical - as far apart as practicable | 380-2110 (15-83) | |
| Rear Reflex Reflectors | (A) | Show vehicle's presence and width | Minimum 2 | Red | On the rear - symmetrical - as far apart as practicable - facing rearward | 380-1530 (15-60) | |
 | Backup Lamp | (R) | Illuminate ground behind the vehicle and alert road users | Minimum 1 | White | Rear | No requirement |
  | License Plate Lamp(s) | (L) | Illuminates license plate | Minimum 1 | White | On the rear - above or at the sides of license plate | No requirement |
 | Center High Mounted Stop Lamp Attention: Required for vehicles less than 2032mm wide and 4536kg | (U3) | Indicates braking | Minimum 1 | Red | On the rear - centerline of the vehicle | 860 (34) minimum |
VEHICLES 9.1 m (30 ft.) LONG OR LONGER
| D E S C R I P T I O N | M A N D A T O R Y R E Q U I R E M E N T S | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Equipment | (SAE Lens Coding) | Functional Purpose | Quantity | Color | Location | Height mm (in.) from the ground |
 | Intermediate Side Marker Lamps | (P2 or PC) | Indicate presence of a long vehicle | Minimum 2 | Yellow | Each side near center | 380 (15) minimum |
| Intermediate Side Reflex Reflectors | (A) | Indicate presence of a long vehicle | Minimum 2 | Yellow | Each side near center - facing sideward | 380-1530 (15-60) |
| D E S C R I P T I O N | M A N D A T O R Y R E Q U I R E M E N T S | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Conspicuity Treatment | DOT Coding | Quantity | Color | Location | Height | Options |
 | Rear Upper Body Marking | DOT-C, DOT-C2, DOT-C3, or DOT-C4 | Exactly 2 pairs of 300mm long strips | White | Rear upper corners of cab - facing rearward | As high as practicable excluding fairings | |
  | Rear Marking | DOT-C, DOT-C2, DOT-C3, or DOT-C4 | Exactly 2 sections of min. 600mm each | Red/White | Rear - facing rearward - on fenders, on mud flaps brackets, or within 300mm below of the top of mud flaps | As horizontal as practicable and not higher than 1525 mm from the ground | If mud flaps not used - on the cab or frame mounted brackets |
Basic equipment required on all trailers
| D E S C R I P T I O N | M A N D A T O R Y R E Q U I R E M E N T S | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Equipment | (SAE Lens Coding) | Functional Purpose | Quantity | Color | Location | Height mm (in.) from the ground |
  | Tail Lamps | (T) | Indicate vehicle's presence and width | Minimum 2 | Red | On the rear - symmetrical - as far apart as practicable | 380-1830 (15-72) |
| Stop Lamps | (S) | Indicate braking | Minimum 2 | Red | On the rear - symmetrical - as far apart as practicable | 380-1830 (15-72) | |
| Rear Turn Signal Lamps | (I) | Indicate direction of turn | Minimum 2 | Red or Yellow | On the rear - symmetrical - as far apart as practicable | 380-2110 (15-83) | |
| Rear Reflex Reflectors | (A) | Indicate vehicle's presence and width | Minimum 2 | Red | On the rear - symmetrical - as far apart as practicable- facing rearward | 380-1530 (15-60) | |
 | License Plate Lamp(s) | (L) | Illuminates license plate | Minimum 1 | White | On the rear - above or at the sides of license plate | No requirement |
| Rear Side Marker Lamps | (P2,PC* or P3, PC2*) *photometrically certified at installation angle | Front and rear side marker lamps / side reflex reflectors indicate vehicle's presence and length | Minimum 2 | Red | Each side at rear - as far back as practicable | 380-1530 (15-60) no max. for veh. under 2.032m(80") wide |
| Rear Side Reflex Reflectors | (A) | Minimum 2 | Red | Each side at rear - as far back as practicable facing sideward | 380-1530 (15-60) | ||
| Front Side Marker Lamps | (P2, PC* or P3, PC2*) * photometrically certified at installation angle | Front and rear side marker lamps / side reflex reflectors indicate vehicle's presence and length | Minimum 2 | Yellow | Each side at front - as far forward as practicable | 380 (15) minimum |
| Front Side Reflex Reflectors | (A) | Minimum 2 | Yellow | Each side at front - as far forward as practicable facing sideward | 380-1530 (15-60) | |
Length 9.1 m (30 ft.) or Longer
| D E S C R I P T I O N | M A N D A T O R Y R E Q U I R E M E N T S | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Equipment | (SAE Lens Coding) | Functional Purpose | Quantity | Color | Location | Height mm (in.) from the ground |
 | Intermediate Side Marker Lamps | (P2 or P3) | Indicate presence of a long vehicle | Minimum 2 | Yellow | Each side near center - facing sideward | 380(15) minimum |
| Intermediate Side Reflex Reflectors | (A) | Indicate presence of a long vehicle | Minimum 2 | Yellow | Each side near center - facing sideward | 380-1530 (15-60) |
Width 2.032 m (80 in.) or Wider
| D E S C R I P T I O N | M A N D A T O R Y R E Q U I R E M E N T S | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Equipment | (SAE Lens Coding) | Functional Purpose | Quantity | Color | Location | Height |
| Rear Clearance Lamps | (P2, PC*or P3, PC2*) * photometrically certified at installation angle | Show vehicle's width - MAY NOT be combined with tail lamps | Minimum 2 | Red | At widest point - symmetrical - on the rear or near the rear - facing rearward | As high as practicable - may be lower only if ID lamps are at the top |
| Rear Identification Lamps | (P2 or P3) | Indicate presence of a wide vehicle | Exactly 3 | Red | On the rear - center, facing rearward - horizontally spaced 150 mm (6 in.) to 300 mm (12 in.) apart | in Canada : at the top - maybe lower if door header narrower than 25 mm in USA: as high as practicable |
 | Front Clearance Lamps | (P2, PC*or P3, PC2*) * photometrically certified at installation angle | Show vehicle's width | Minimum 2 | Yellow | At widest point - symmetrical - as far forward as practicable - facing forward | As high as practicable |
Width 2.032 m (80 in.) or Wider and GVWR 4536 kg (10,000 lb.) or More
| D E S C R I P T I O N | M A N D A T O R Y R E Q U I R E M E N T S | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Area | Conspicuity Treatment | DOT Coding | Quantity | Color | Location | Height | OPTIONS |
 | Rear Upper Body Marking | DOT-C, DOT-C2, DOT-C3, or DOT-C4 | Exactly 2 pairs of 300mm long strips | White | On the rear upper corners - facing rearward | At the top | Reflex reflectors may not be required if they are replaced, in their required location, with conspicuity treatment Optional in Canada Rear lower body and side conspicuity treatment may also be solid white, solid yellow, or white and yellow. |
 | Bumper Bar Marking | Continuous | Red/White | On the rear bumper bar's horizontal element - full width - facing rearward | No requirement | ||
| Rear Lower Body Marking | DOT-C, DOT-C2, DOT-C3, or DOT-C4 | Continuous | Red/White see options | On the rear - full width of the vehicle - facing rearward | As horizontal as practicable and as close as practicable to the range of 375 to 1525 mm from the ground | |
 | Side Marking | see location | Red/White see options | Each side - facing sideward - continuous, or evenly spaced over minimum of 50% of length, starts and ends as close to the front and rear or vehicle as practicable | As horizontal as practicable and as close as practicable to the range of 375 to 1525 mm from the ground | ||
IMPORTANT NOTE: Every lamp, reflex reflector, and conspicuity treatment (device) must be permanently attached in the location specified below and must comply with all applicable requirements prescribed for it by FMVSS/CMVSS 108. The face of any device on the front/rear and sides should be, respectively perpendicular and parallel to vehicle centerline, unless it is photometrically certified at installation angle. No part of the vehicle shall prevent any device from meeting its prescribed requirements unless an auxiliary device meeting all prescribed requirements is installed.
IN CANADA: Manufacturers and importers of vehicles must have the proper certification test records demonstrating compliance of lighting components with all prescribed requirements.