Reflectors and markers — Utah Permit Test

A Utah vehicle must have one amber reflector on each side near the front and one red reflector on each side near the rear, visible from 500 feet at night.

Reflectors are what show the shape of a vehicle to somebody whose headlights find it in the dark.

The reflectors must be visible from 500 feet at night and placed not less than 15 inches or more than 60 inches above the ground.

Utah reflectors must be placed not less than 15 inches and not more than 60 inches above the ground.

Too low and road spray hides them, too high and they are above the beam of an approaching car.

The reflectors must be visible from 500 feet at night and placed not less than 15 inches or more than 60 inches above the ground.

A Utah vehicle 30 feet or more in overall length must have one amber reflector on each side at or near the center of each side.

A long trailer crossing a road at night is a gap between two sets of lights. The middle reflector fills it.

Vehicles with an overall length of 30 feet or more must have one amber reflector on each side of the vehicle located at or near the center of each side.

Buses, RVs, and trailers 80 inches or more in width must carry two amber clearance lights on the front and one on each side, and two red lights on the rear and one on each side at the rear.

Clearance lights show how wide a vehicle is at night, which is what an oncoming driver has to judge.

CLEARANCE LIGHTS—Buses, RVs, and trailers 80 inches or more in width must have two amber lights on the front and one on each side.

Buses, recreational vehicles, and trailers 80 inches or more in width must have two side markers on each side, amber in front and red at the rear, visible at night from 500 feet to the side.

Side markers are what make a wide trailer visible from an angle rather than only from behind.

SIDE MARK LIGHTS—Buses, recreational vehicles, and trailers 80 inches or more in width must have two side markers on each side (amber in front and red at the rear.)

A Utah vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,500 pounds or more, altered suspension or tire size, or a trailer with an unladen weight of 750 pounds or more, must have mud flaps or guards behind the rearmost wheels.

Without them a heavy vehicle throws stones straight into the windshield of whoever is following.

MUD FLAPS OR GUARDS—Any vehicle with a gross vehicle weight rating of 10,500 pounds or more, any vehicle with altered suspension or tire size, or any trailer with an unladed weight of 750 pounds or more shall be equipped with wheel covers, mudguards, flaps, or splash aprons behind the rearmost wheels.

How far must a Utah reflector be visible at night?

500 feet. Reflectors are what show the shape of a vehicle to somebody whose headlights find it in the dark. Utah Driver Handbook 2026-2027, p.92: “The reflectors must be visible from 500 feet at night and placed not less than 15 inches or more than 60 inches above the ground.”