Your trailer, caravan, boat trailer or horsebox should meet several lighting requirements. The manufacturer supplies the towed object in such a way that these requirements are met. As owner, from the moment of purchase, you are responsible for keeping everything in working order. Therefore, you should always check whether the blinkers, reverse lights, mist tail lights and brake lights of your trailer are working before driving off.
Over 750 kg
If your trailer, caravan, boat trailer or horsebox has a maximum allowed mass of over 750 kg, the towed object should have the same lights as your towing car, meaning two red tail lights, two orange blinkers, two brake lights and reverse lights. In addition, it is mandatory to have a mist tail light for trailers which have been punt into service in the Netherlands after 31 December 1997.
Under 750 kg
As of July 2006, trailers, caravans, boat trailers or horseboxes with a total allowed weight under 750 kg should have one or to mist tail lights as well. If the towing car has no mist tail lights, the trailer does not need to have them either.
Adjusting headlights
Visibility is important, but being seen at least equally so. You have to make sure that fellow road users are not troubled by the beam of your headlights. Due to the weight of the trailer, almost every car comes up a bit at the front, so that the headlights can blind fellow road users. Therefore, you should adjust the headlights. For some cars, this is an automatic process. If that is not the case, you will have to manually adjust your headlights.
