Taillights Vs. Brake Lights: What's the Difference?

For a seasoned trucker or fleet owner, talking about what makes a brake light different from a taillight may seem like going back to kindergarten, but there's a good reason to have awareness of both types of lighting — it's easy to assume they're always working and also easy to miss if they're not.

Even though your brake and taillights may live together under the same globe or cover, and U.S. law dictates that they both must be red to be compliant with Department of Transportation standards, these are two different lights with two different jobs. And knowing what they are and what to keep in mind when you need a replacement can help save you some uptime and money.

Brake Light and Taillight Replacement: What to Keep in Mind

Brake Lights. Your brake lights are there to signal to the vehicles behind you that you're slowing down or stopping, and they only come on when you've applied pressure to your brakes.

Why They Matter. Simply stated, the car behind you doesn't know that you're stopping or slowing down if your brake lights aren't working. The potential consequences of not checking and/or changing your taillights is not only a traffic accident; it could also lead to delayed delivery times, getting pulled over and cited, and potential decrease in your company's reputation.

What to Keep in Mind. When you need a new brake light and you need it fast, you need to get it right the first time so you can get back on the road safely. A few things you should know prior to shopping for brake lights are:

• • Make and model of your vehicle
• • The shape of the light — round, square, oval, etc.
• • The technology of your lights — Halogen, LED, etc.
• • Light compliance — is the lighting technology street legal?

Taillights. Your taillights, on the other hand, should come on when you turn your headlights on or when the parking brake is engaged. They help outline the outside of your vehicle to other vehicles.

Why They Matter. During nighttime driving and hazardous weather conditions, it's essential for other vehicles on the road to know where your truck is and how big it is. Your taillights signal your presence and help other motorists gauge how much distance they need to safely take between themselves and you, and if others on the road don't know where you are, that can lead to a potentially dangerous accident that you and your company could be found at fault for.

What to Keep in Mind. Taillights are in the same family as brake lights, so the considerations here are largely the same:

• • Make/model
• • Light shape
• • Lighting technology — are you keeping the same type of bulbs or is it time for an upgrade?
• • Do the lights comply with SAE/DOT standards for being street legal?

It's easy to just jump in the truck and go but making your front and rear lights a regular part of your pre-trip inspection can help you prevent situations where you're on the road with a burned-out bulb.

Additional Truck Lighting Considerations

Your brake and taillights need to be checked constantly and repaired immediately, but they aren't the only lights on your truck that need your attention. During all inspections, you should also be making note of:

• • Head lamps
• • Turn signal lamps
• • Conspicuity tape
• • Marker lighting
• • Emergency triangle kits

Lighting technology has evolved to give your truck lights a long life cycle, but like all truck parts, they're eventually going to need replacing and you don't want to already be on the road when they do. Whether you've already got a favorite brand or you're looking to branch out, you've got options when it comes to replacement truck lighting.

We Recommend: Match Made Lighting

If your full-time job is to manage a fleet of 80,000-pound trucks in all driving conditions, don't skimp on your truck lighting. Googling "low-cost truck lights" will probably get you some results but saving a few bucks up front won't necessarily guarantee performance or longevity.

Match Made Parts is an up-and-coming brand that offers high-value, high-performance lighting at price points that'll help you make smart buying decisions without having to compromise vehicle safety. With Match Made, you get one-stop shopping for headlights, taillights, stop/turn/tail lamps, and more! Now a full solution across 8+ parts categories, we have a full catalog of Match Made products in our haul of heavy-duty everything.