Are fog lights a legal requirement?

[Granny B]

My boyfriend is looking to buy a new car and is considering a Golf.  We were surprised to see that front fog lamps are an optional extra on this car!  I always assumed all cars have to be fitted with fog lamps.  Is this quite common when you buy a new car or is it just Volkswagen penny-pinching?  (Seems a little odd that cruise control is fitted as standard but not fog lamps!!)

[Shipstabber]

It is a UK legal requirement for cars to have at least one rear fog light. Front fog lights are optional.

[stream]

You may be cofusing fog lamps with the beam function of headlights. fog lamps are increasingly becomin standard on all cars but it is probably true to say that most cars in the U.K. did not come with fog lamps as standard. The beam function of the headlights, i.e. when you increase the intensity of the light coming from the headlights is standard on all new golfs it's the extra two lights below the bumper that the option list is refering to.

[verrecchia]

the law in the UK only requires a vehicle to have ONE rear foglight on the drivers side, it must be in working order even if any other foglights fitted do not work this one must, if the one on the passenger side works and the drivers doesn't you will still get done, there must also be a visible warning light either on the instrument panel, or on the switch for the light, which will lightup when the fog light is on.

[Granny B]

Thanks to all of you!

I still find it surprising that they are considered as an optional extra, especially considering all the fancy twiddly stuff you get as standard!  Maybe they don't get much fog in Germany!?!

[sddsddean]

Front fog lights should be banned! Hardly anyone knows when to use them properly, but will insist on driving with them on (with or without headlights) to dazzle oncoming traffic. Are these people just ********* or what!?

[Greenbhoy]

As other posters have said, front fog lights are optional and one rear one is mandatory. If your man goes for the front fog lights he'd better beware. Refer to my earlier post (dated 25/02/05) if he uses the front fog lights when he should, he can be fined with a fixed penalty of �30. 

[Hammer]

About five years ago, my little old Fiesta had a problem with a dodgy rear fog lamp, and failed it's MOT because of it.

It was bolted to the bottom of the car under the rear bumper, and the mechanic said that you did not have to have them, but if you did then they had to work. He just took it off, passed the MOT and away I went.

Was he telling porkies then?