Your Complete Guide to Car Fog Lights: When and How to Use Them

Drive confidently in low visibility! Discover how car fog lights help improve visibility in fog, dust, and rain, plus tips for installation and usage.

Driving in foggy conditions can be nerve-wracking — especially when visibility is reduced to a mere few feet ahead of your vehicle. Knowing how and when to use fog lights is essential to keep your journey stress-free and, most importantly, safe. In this article, we’ll de-mist-ify fog lights by explaining how they work and when you should use them.

What Are Fog Lights?

Fog lights are unique lamps designed to illuminate the road during low-visibility driving conditions like thick fog, minor dust storms, and light rain or snow. Positioned lower on your vehicle than regular headlights, they cast a wide, short beam that shines below fog without reflecting light into your eyes. Unlike high beams, which can dazzle other drivers in such conditions, fog lights provide clarity close to the ground, helping improve visibility. 

Many cars in the United States are equipped with front fog lamps, which help you see the road ahead better. Though uncommon in the US, other countries, like the United Kingdom, legally require all vehicles to be fitted with rear fog lights, which make your vehicle more visible to drivers behind you. 

Do All Cars Have Fog Lights?

While many modern vehicles include them as standard features, not all cars in the US come equipped with fog lights (whether front or rear), as they are not a legal requirement. To determine whether your vehicle has fog lights, look for lights mounted near the bottom of the front or rear of your car. If you find any, they’re likely fog lights! 

If your vehicle doesn’t have fog lights, consider your local weather patterns and typical driving conditions. Retrofitting fog lights can be a valuable investment if you frequently drive in areas prone to rain, fog, or dust storms. 

How to Turn on Fog Lights

• Turn on Your Normal Headlights: To comply with road vehicles’ lighting regulations, fog lights won’t turn on unless your headlights are also on.  
• Find the Correct Control: Search near your headlight controls for a button or dial on your vehicle’s blinker control stick for the fog light symbol. The symbol resembles half of an oval next to a wavy vertical line with three dashes crossing through it. On vehicles equipped with both front and rear fog lights, the position of the half-oval will designate which set of fog lights you are turning on.
  • On front fog light symbols, the half-oval will be on the right side of the vertical line. 
  • On rear fog light symbols, the half-oval will be on the left side of the vertical line. 
• Activate the Desired Fog Lights: If the fog light controller is on the blinker control stick, rotate the dial with the fog light symbol to engage the lights. If the controller is on a button on the dashboard — typically near your headlight controls — press it to turn them on.
• Look for the Fog Light Symbol: You’ll know you have successfully turned on your fog lights when a dashboard indicator light illuminates, showing the fog light symbol near your car’s gauge cluster. Typically, front fog light indicator icons are green, while rear indicator lights are yellow or amber.   

What Lights Should You Use in Fog and Other Limited Visibility Situations? 

Which set of lights to use depends on which low-visibility driving condition you encounter. Below, we’ll provide some general insight into where fog lights can help and where they may not. Please be mindful that the rules for fog light usage vary, so it’s always best to read and comply with local laws and regulations. 

Foggy Conditions

You might be tempted to turn on your high beams to see through fog better, but often, this is counterproductive. Rather than cutting through the mist, high beams can reflect off of water droplets, creating glare and reducing visibility. Instead, switch to fog lights, which are specifically designed to shine through or below the fog by illuminating the road close to the ground. 

Dusty Conditions

In minor dust storms, fog lights can provide the same benefit they do when fog is thick, illuminating the road but preventing glare. However, keep in mind that in severe dust storms, they may not be effective. In severe dust storms, it’s typically best to pull over to a safe spot on the side of the road and shut off all of your vehicle’s lights until the storm passes. 

Rainy or Snowy Conditions

In minor rain or snow, where there isn’t much water or snow pooled on the ground, fog lights may provide the same benefits they do during foggy or lightly dusty conditions. However, in heavy rain or snow, fog lights can be less effective. While they can help you as a driver in dense rain or snow, they can also bounce off the road, temporarily dazzling other drivers and potentially leading to a collision. In these conditions, low-beam headlights are generally more effective than fog lights. 

Low-Light Conditions

If it’s a dark, low-visibility night, but there isn’t any fog, snow, or rain, it’s best to stick to your standard headlights. High beams can be beneficial in very dark areas, as they project higher and further than low beams — just be sure to turn them off if you see any oncoming vehicles, as they can blind drivers. 

Do You Need Fog Lights? Ed Hicks Nissan Can Help

Need fog lights installed or serviced? Or are you ready to upgrade to a vehicle that already has them? Ed Hicks Nissan can help with all your fog light needs, from the installation of genuine Nissan parts to general maintenance. Visit us today to ensure you’re prepared for those low-visibility situations. Our team is here to help you drive confidently in any weather!