LED side marker lights for trucks and trailers
Side marker lights are a legal requirement on vehicles and trailers over 6 metres in length under ECE Regulation 48. They must be amber on the sides, white at the front, and red at the rear, and they must be visible from the relevant angles as defined in the regulation. Fitting non-E-marked markers on a commercial vehicle is a roadworthiness issue that will be picked up at DVSA inspection.
LED side markers have replaced incandescent bulb markers on most new builds and are the standard choice for retrofits and replacements. The advantages over incandescent are significant: LED markers draw a fraction of the current, run cooler, have a longer service life, and are less prone to failure from vibration. On a trailer with 10 or more marker positions, the reduction in electrical load is meaningful.
Marker lamps are available in side-entry and rear-entry cable configurations, with side-entry being the more common choice for bodywork mounting where the cable runs inside the body rail. Confirm the mounting configuration and cable entry position before ordering, as converting from one to the other after fitting is time-consuming. If you need to match a specific existing marker, call us on 01527 598 000 with the dimensions or part number.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do LED side marker lights need to be E-marked?
Yes. Side marker lights fitted to commercial vehicles and trailers used on public roads must carry an E-mark to demonstrate compliance with ECE R7 or equivalent regulation. Non-E-marked markers are not roadworthiness compliant and will be flagged during DVSA inspection. All LED marker lamps in our range are E-marked.
What colour side marker lights do I need for my HGV?
Side markers must be amber on the sides of the vehicle, white at the front as position lights, and red at the rear. This is a legal requirement under ECE Regulation 48 for vehicles over 6 metres in length. Fitting the wrong colour at a given position is a roadworthiness failure.
What is the difference between side-entry and rear-entry LED markers?
Side-entry markers have the cable exiting from the side of the lamp body, allowing the cable to run along the inside of a body rail or structure. Rear-entry markers have the cable exiting from the back, which suits applications where the cable passes through the mounting surface. Check the cable routing on your existing installation before ordering a replacement.
How many side markers does a trailer need?
The number and spacing of side markers depends on trailer length. ECE Regulation 48 sets the maximum spacing between markers on the sides of vehicles and trailers. For most curtainsider and refrigerated trailers, this works out to markers at each body post or at intervals of approximately 3 metres. Check the regulation or your trailer's documentation for the requirements specific to your trailer length.
