Minnesota Headlight & Wiper Law
Minnesota is a wipers-on, lights-on state by statute: headlights any time it is raining, snowing, sleeting, or hailing (Minn. Stat. 169.48), plus sunset to sunrise and whenever you cannot see 500 feet. It is a petty misdemeanor, roughly $110-$130 with surcharge. Turn the switch to full headlamps - daytime running lights leave your tail and marker lamps dark, so a spraying 70-foot rig is invisible from behind. Low beams in the weather.
When you light up in Minnesota
Minnesota is a wipers-on, lights-on state by statute: headlights any time it is raining, snowing, sleeting, or hailing (Minn. Stat. 169.48), plus sunset to sunrise and whenever you cannot see 500 feet. It is a petty misdemeanor, roughly $110-$130 with surcharge. Turn the switch to full headlamps - daytime running lights leave your tail and marker lamps dark, so a spraying 70-foot rig is invisible from behind. Low beams in the weather.
Night, low visibility, and daytime
- NIGHT: sunset to sunrise. PRECIPITATION: any time it is raining, snowing, sleeting, or hailing. LOW VISIBILITY: any other time visibility is impaired by weather, smoke, or fog, or persons and vehicles are not clearly discernible at 500 feet ahead (Minn. Stat. 169.48).
- Work zone: no statewide daytime work-zone headlight statute - obey posted 'Lights On' signs. Designated stretch: signed sections govern by sign. DRL: Minnesota does not mandate daytime running lights, and DRLs do NOT satisfy 169.48 - they leave tail and marker lamps dark, and troopers do ticket DRL-only rigs running in rain or snow. Switch to full headlamps, not AUTO/DRL.
Minnesota Headlight Law FAQ
Do you need headlights when using wipers in Minnesota?
When are headlights required in Minnesota?
What is the headlight fine in Minnesota?
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 Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it.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://www.revisor.mn.gov/statutes/cite/169.48. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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