North Dakota Headlight & Wiper Law
Run your headlights sunset to sunrise, and any time rain, snow, sleet, hail, or fog drops your view of a vehicle below 1,000 feet (NDCC 39-21-01). North Dakota has no bare wipers-on line, but the Highway Patrol reads the weather clause the same way: if it is coming down hard enough for wipers, you cannot see 1,000 feet, so lights are on. Use low beams, and turn the switch to full headlamps - DRLs leave your tail lamps dark.
A detail here is flagged medium confidence — confirm the exact figure with the state DMV before you rely on it.
When you light up in North Dakota
Run your headlights sunset to sunrise, and any time rain, snow, sleet, hail, or fog drops your view of a vehicle below 1,000 feet (NDCC 39-21-01). North Dakota has no bare wipers-on line, but the Highway Patrol reads the weather clause the same way: if it is coming down hard enough for wipers, you cannot see 1,000 feet, so lights are on. Use low beams, and turn the switch to full headlamps - DRLs leave your tail lamps dark.
Night, low visibility, and daytime
- NIGHT: sunset to sunrise (farm tractors: half-hour after sunset to half-hour before sunrise). LOW VISIBILITY: any time rain, snow, sleet, hail, fog, or smoke keeps a person or vehicle from being clearly discernible at 1,000 feet ahead (NDCC 39-21-01).
- Work zone: no separate statewide daytime work-zone headlight statute - obey any posted 'Lights On' signs, which create the duty. Designated stretch: signed sections govern by sign, not the base statute. DRL: North Dakota does not mandate daytime running lights, and DRLs do NOT satisfy 39-21-01 - they light the front only and leave your tail and marker lamps dark. Switch to full headlamps (not AUTO/DRL).
North Dakota Headlight Law FAQ
Do you need headlights when using wipers in North Dakota?
When are headlights required in North Dakota?
What is the headlight fine in North Dakota?
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 Traffic laws change and this can be out of date, so always confirm the current statute and obey posted signs before you rely on it.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://ndlegis.gov/cencode/t39c21.html. See our Terms & Disclaimer.
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