Alabama Headlight & Wiper Law
Lights on with your wipers, and Alabama spells it out. Whenever rain, sleet, or snow keeps your wipers running steady (not an intermittent mist), your headlights must be on (Ala. Code § 32-5-240). Same section: lights from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise and any time you can't see 500 feet. Run low beams in the wet. DRLs don't count, they leave your trailer lamps dark.
When you light up in Alabama
Lights on with your wipers, and Alabama spells it out. Whenever rain, sleet, or snow keeps your wipers running steady (not an intermittent mist), your headlights must be on (Ala. Code § 32-5-240). Same section: lights from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise and any time you can't see 500 feet. Run low beams in the wet. DRLs don't count, they leave your trailer lamps dark.
Night, low visibility, and daytime
- Night: from a half-hour after sunset to a half-hour before sunrise. Low visibility: any time you can't clearly see persons and vehicles 500 feet ahead (Ala. Code § 32-5-240).
- No statute mandates daytime headlights in work zones; watch for posted 'Headlights On' signs on bridges and mountain grades that create the duty on their own. DRLs are not required and do not satisfy the rule, they leave your tail and marker lamps dark. Turn the switch to ON, not AUTO. Dual lens: the wiper clause carves out intermittent misting, but on steady wipers troopers expect lights.
Alabama Headlight Law FAQ
Do you need headlights when using wipers in Alabama?
When are headlights required in Alabama?
What is the headlight fine in Alabama?
Reference information for planning, not legal advice. Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it. Last reviewed July 2026. Source: https://codes.findlaw.com/al/title-32-motor-vehicles-and-traffic/al-code-sect-32-5-240/. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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