Requirements for using dipped headlights
Use dipped headlights during the day is compulsory in many European countries. They serve as daytime running lights. Their use is aimed at improving vehicle visibility for pedestrians and other road users.
On the map below blue color shows the countries in which using of dipped headlights in the daytime optional, but red - is necessary.
| Country | Compulsory | Fines | Comment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austria | no | compulsory for motorcycles | |
| Azerbaijan | no | compulsory for motorcycles | |
| Albania | no | ||
| Andorra | no | compulsory for motorcycles | |
| Armenia | no | ||
| Belarus | no | compulsory for motorcycles; compulsory when towing a trailer | |
| Belgium | no | compulsory for motorcycles | |
| Bulgaria | yes | BGN 20 (€ 10) | |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina |
yes | BAM 30 (€ 15) | In the event of an accident the fine will be increased several fold |
| Great Britain | no | ||
| Hungary | yes | HUF 10,000 (€ 24) | compulsory outside built-up areas and for motorcycles |
| Germany | no | only recommended; compulsory for motorcycles | |
| Greece | no | compulsory for motorcycles | |
| Georgia | no | ||
| Denmark | yes | DKK 500 (€ 67) | |
| Ireland | no | compulsory for motorcycles | |
| Iceland | yes | ISK 5,000 (€ 34) | |
| Spain | no | compulsory for motorcycles | |
| Italy | yes | € 38 | compulsory outside built-up areas; compulsory for motorcycles |
| Cyprus | no | ||
| Latvia | yes | € 10 | |
| Lithuania | yes | € 86 | |
| Liechtenstein | no | ||
| Luxembourg | no | only recommended; compulsory for motorcycles | |
| North Macedonia |
yes | MKD 2,000 (€ 32) | |
| Malta | no | ||
| Moldova | yes | MDL 450 (€ 23) | compulsory from the November,1 to the March,31; compulsory for motorcycles |
| Netherlands | no | ||
| Norway | yes | NOK 2,000 (€ 172) | |
| Poland | yes | PLN 200 (€ 46) | |
| Portugal | no | compulsory for motorcycles | |
| Romania | yes | RON 134 (€ 27) | compulsory outside built-up areas |
| Serbia | yes | RSD 3,000 (€ 26) | |
| Slovakia | yes | € 65 | |
| Slovenia | yes | € 40 | |
| Turkey | no | ||
| Ukraine | yes | compulsory from the October,1 to the April,30 | |
| Finland | yes | € 50 | |
| France | no | only recommended; compulsory for motorcycles | |
| Croatia | yes | € 30 | compulsory from the October, 1 to the March, 31 |
| Montenegro | yes | € 30 | |
| Czech Republic |
yes | CZK 2,000 (€ 79) | |
| Switzerland | yes | CHF 40 (€ 43) | |
| Sweden | yes | SEK 1,200 (€ 103) | |
| Estonia | yes | € 200 | |
| Russia | yes | RUB 500 (€ 5) |
Use of fog lamps during the daytime instead dipped headlights is prohibited.
From February 1, 2011, according to UNECE №87, all new vehicles must be equipped with daytime running lights. There is no requirement to retro-fit DRLs (Daytime Running Lights) to existing cars.