Rear lamps are multifunctional, they usually act as the brake, reverse, indicator and fog lights. Due to their important safety feature it is illegal to drive if they are not in a fully working order. Driving with malfunctioning or broken lamps means you pose a higher risk of causing or being involved in a road traffic accident.
Rear lamps are scrutinised during the NCT (National Car Test). They can result in an NCT failure for the following reasons:
1. Light Function
2. Fitment / Body Type
3. Indicator Colour
4. Date Limitation
5. Light Design/Type
6. Lens Colour
7. Fitting Position
8. Number of Light Functions
9. Section
1. Light Function
Rear lamps have several functions, the most common ones are listed below. To ensure you purchase the correct tail light from our website, compare each of the functions listed in the product details with the functions that your rear lamp has.
Rear lamps tend to vary in shape and size depending on the body type of the vehicle. The most common body types are shown below.
 |
| Body Types & Styles |
3. Indicator Colour
Indicators must emit an amber colour. There are two methods used in the automotive industry to do this. Some rear lamps will use use a clear bulb with an amber coloured lens, while others will use an amber bulb and a clear coloured lens. Both of these methods will emit an amber coloured light. Examples of both are illustrated below.
4. Date LimitationAs car manufacturers regularly update the shape of their models; some lamps will only fit a particular model of car for a specific number of years. As an example, the rear lamp below will only fit a Volkswagen Bora between the years 1998 - 2003.
5. Light Design or Type
There are two main types of lighting used in the automotive industry. These are halogen and LED's (Light Emitting Diodes). LED’s are made up of multiple small modules or diodes that emit light. It’s important to know that LED rear lamps come with the LED panel as a single unit and there is no need to purchase any other parts. Halogen lamps use bulbs rather than LED panels to produce light. It's important to be aware that some lamps are compromised of both.
 |
| LED Lamp Design |
 |
| Halogen Lamp Design |
6. Lens Colour
Rear lamps tend to have multicoloured lenses varying from amber, red, smoke grey to clear. Refer to your own tail light to ensure it matches with the tail light on our website. The colours will also be clearly stated in the product description.
Rear lamps vary from the passenger's side to driver’s side and it's important to make sure you purchase the correct one for the side that needs to be replaced. There are two options: Left (Passenger Side) or Right (Driver Side).
8. Number of Light Functions
Rear lamps have several functions as mentioned above. A tail light that contains the reverse light, stop light (brake light), indicator and tail light (parking light) all in the same unit has a total 4 light functions.
9. Section
This refers the position of the lamp and there are two variations: Outer or Inner. Some rear lamps are spread across multiple panels. The image below shows the rear lamps of a BMW that are on the rear bumper as well as on the boot lid. Inner is the part of the rear lamp that is on the inside or on the boot. lid. Whereas outer refers to the part of the lamp that is on the outer section.
.png)
Click here to start your search for Tail lights. If you have any questions, use the comment section below and we will do our very best to help you.
