How many brake lights do i legally need?

[philv]

Hi

How many brake lights do i legally need on my car?

If i have three but one is not working.

Is that still legal?

Thanks

[Killer2005]

My understanding would be if you have them, they need to be working

[xreyuk]

I always thought it was at least 2. So if you had 3 and had one out you were okay.

[falkster]

You could have 50 but if only 49 are working then you'll get a tug and given 14 days to sort the 50th out.

[falkster]

xreyuk said:

I always thought it was at least 2. So if you had 3 and had one out you were okay.

Not read that anywhere??

[EDLT]

All of them need to be working.

[FraserLFA]

xreyuk said:

I always thought it was at least 2. So if you had 3 and had one out you were okay.

I heard that about mirrors...

[soad]

EDLT said:

All of them need to be working.

The right answer!

[Flibble]

Depending on the car the high level brake light might not be part of the MOT test. Whether you'd still get done under construction and use regs I'm not sure.
Both of the two side brake lights must be working.

[Riley Blue]

EDLT said:

All of them need to be working.

However many your car has - one, two or three, they all have to work.

[marshalla]

It depends on the age of the car and what other lamps are fitted - could be 0,1 or 2

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/sched...
http://www.ukmot.com/1-3.asp
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=109...

[jimmyjimjim]

marshalla said:

It depends on the age of the car and what other lamps are fitted - could be 0,1 or 2

My father was delighted to get pulled once for not having brake lights. He pointed out it wasn't a requirement for them to be fitted, depending on the age of the car, only that if they are fitted, they have to work.

The policeman had to radio the station to confirm this.

[Captain Muppet]

I have a related question.

If you have LED lights, how many LEDs have to be working for it to still count as a working light?

[ajprice]

Captain Muppet said:

I have a related question.

If you have LED lights, how many LEDs have to be working for it to still count as a working light?

Ah, the 3rd brakelight 'broken teeth' look

[Ozzie Osmond]

Captain Muppet said:

If you have LED lights, how many LEDs have to be working for it to still count as a working light?

As with many things at MOT, in the eyes of plod or when you end up in court there's no fixed answer. Common sense may appear to be out of fashion these days but that's where the answer lies.

[Adrian E]

FraserLFA said:

I heard that about mirrors...

Depends on mirror position - if you're drivers side mirror is broken then you shouldn't drive the car. If passenger side is broken and you have drivers side and interior then you're ok!

Random I know but it's the way the original requirement was written when many cars were only supplied with an interior mirror!

[RP1]

I always thought that if you had a 3rd brake light it must work. However the MOT on my latest shed only had an advisory for the 3rd brake light not working, rather than a fail.

It works now!

[Mr-B]

Captain Muppet said:

I have a related question.

If you have LED lights, how many LEDs have to be working for it to still count as a working light?

I was told just one. I have multiple led's in the side brake lights and some of them aren't working on one light cluster so asked the mot'er and he told me just one of the led's need to work to pass. He is a mate so maybe he was just being generous.

[FraserLFA]

Adrian E said:

FraserLFA said:

I heard that about mirrors...

Depends on mirror position - if you're drivers side mirror is broken then you shouldn't drive the car. If passenger side is broken and you have drivers side and interior then you're ok!

Random I know but it's the way the original requirement was written when many cars were only supplied with an interior mirror!

Am i right in saying that you don't legally need to have a rear view mirror? Lorries and Vans often can't have them because they'd just stare at a trailer, so is it the same for cars? eg If you were transporting rubbish to the tip?

[Captain Muppet]

FraserLFA said:

Adrian E said:

FraserLFA said:

I heard that about mirrors...

Depends on mirror position - if you're drivers side mirror is broken then you shouldn't drive the car. If passenger side is broken and you have drivers side and interior then you're ok!

Random I know but it's the way the original requirement was written when many cars were only supplied with an interior mirror!

Am i right in saying that you don't legally need to have a rear view mirror? Lorries and Vans often can't have them because they'd just stare at a trailer, so is it the same for cars? eg If you were transporting rubbish to the tip?

I think it's a "construction and use" thing that you have to have them if you have a glass rear window. Quite how that relates to "road legal" and MOTs I don't know.

I do know that a few people with S2 Exige Ss have binned their rear view mirror without MOT issues, but then the rear window is full of intercooler, so it obviously not any use.