How to Turn On the Headlights

Locate the headlight control panel. The position of the headlight control panel can vary between different vehicles, but there are several common spots. Look for the control panel or switch near the steering wheel.

• In some cars, the headlight control panel is placed directly below the main dashboard, on the left side of the driver. This setup is common in larger vehicles with wider dashboards. Look for a small panel with a dial that has standard headlight symbols around it.
• Other manufacturers place the headlight control on a stalk attached to the base of the steering wheel. This stalk can be located to the left or right of the wheel, and the headlight dial is typically positioned at the end of the stalk. The dial will be marked with standard headlight symbols.

Check the "off" position. By default, the headlight control is set to the "off" position. Take note of the symbol that marks this position and its location on the dial so you can turn the headlights off when not needed.

• The "off" position is usually located at the far left or bottom of the dial and is commonly marked by an open circle or an empty circle.
• Many vehicles today come with "running lights," which automatically turn on when the car is in motion, and your headlights are off. If your headlights seem to be off but you still see light from the front of your vehicle, it could be the running lights.
• Always make sure the headlights are turned off when you turn off the engine. Leaving them on while the car is off can drain the battery, preventing your vehicle from starting. If you forget and the battery drains, you will need to jump-start your car to get it running again.

Turn the knob to the correct symbol. Grip the control knob between your thumb and index finger and rotate it until it reaches the desired setting. Each setting is represented by a unique symbol, and you will hear a "click" as the knob passes each setting.

• The first setting on most vehicles is the parking lights. These are orange at the front and red at the rear of the vehicle.
• The next setting is typically the "low beam" or "dipped beam" headlights. These provide forward and side lighting while minimizing glare, so they are best used on busy roads when vehicles ahead of you are within 60 meters.
• "Fog lights" may also be found on the dial, though some car manufacturers place the fog light control on a separate button next to the standard headlight control. Fog lights provide a broad, downward-facing beam of light to illuminate the road. You should use them in poor visibility conditions, such as fog, rain, snow, or dust.
• You will not find the "high beam" or "main beam" setting on the low beam control. This setting is usually located on a stalk on the steering column, sometimes as part of your turn signal stalk, and is always separate from the low beam control. High beams can be activated by pushing or pulling the turn signal stalk forward or backward. These lights are stronger and produce more glare, so they should only be used when there are no vehicles around or when they are far ahead.

Test the results. If you’re unsure, check how the headlights react when you rotate the control to each setting.

• If someone is available to assist you, have them stand outside and in front of the parked vehicle. Roll down your window so you can communicate with them, then rotate the headlight control to each position. Pause at each setting and ask them to identify which mode the headlights are in.
• If you don’t have help, park your vehicle in front of a garage door, wall, or similar structure. Rotate the headlight control to each setting, stopping long enough after each one to observe the light pattern on the surface. You will be able to identify the mode by the brightness of the light.

Know when to use your headlights. Always use your headlights when visibility is low. If you cannot see 150 to 305 meters ahead, you must switch on your headlights.

• Always use headlights at night. Use low beams when other vehicles are nearby, and switch to high beams in other conditions.
• Use headlights at dawn and dusk. Even though it may still be light, shadows from buildings and other structures can make it difficult to see other vehicles. At least use low beams during these hours.
• Use fog lights in bad weather such as rain, snow, fog, or dust storms. Do not use high beams, as the reflection and glare they produce can make it harder for other drivers to see clearly in these conditions.

Find the basic headlight symbol. Most headlight control buttons will feature the standard headlight symbol. Look for this symbol on the side of the control dial.

• The standard headlight symbol often resembles the sun or an inverted light bulb.
• On many headlight control dials, you will also find a circle next to this indicator symbol. This circle marks the side of the dial that controls headlight settings. Align this circle with the desired headlight setting.

Identify the indicator symbols for each setting. Every type of headlight setting is labeled with its own unique symbol, and these symbols are usually consistent across different vehicles.

• If your car is equipped with parking lights, these are represented by a symbol resembling the letter "p", with a few lines extending behind a circle at the front.
• The "low beam" symbol looks like a rounded triangle or the uppercase letter "D", with diagonal lines extending down from the flat side of the shape.
• The "fog light" symbol looks similar to the "low beam" symbol with slanted lines, but it includes a wavy line passing through the center of the diagonal lines.
• The "high beam" symbol also looks like a rounded triangle or the letter "D", but the straight lines extend horizontally from the flat side of the shape.

Track warning symbols on the dashboard. Vehicles with electronic or digital dashboards may display warning lights when certain lights are not functioning correctly. If any of these warning lights flash, you should get them fixed or replace them with the appropriate headlight.

• If the headlights are malfunctioning, your car may display the standard headlight warning symbol with an exclamation mark (!) or an "x" above it.
• Additionally, the car might show the low beam indicator with an exclamation mark above it.