Welcome to Tesla Motors Club
Discuss Tesla's Model S, Model 3, Model X, Model Y, Cybertruck, Roadster and More.
Register
  • We just completed a significant update, but we still have some fixes and adjustments to make, so please bear with us for the time being. Cheers!

Can Taillights be on a moveable object like the Trunk?

Lysol

Member
Oct 22, 2016
100
52
Virginia
I thought that the main brake lights can't be on a moveable object like a trunk lid. With the new mules, it appears they have made all of the rear taillights part of the trunk lid. I'm basing this only on the fact that there is a line going down the outside of the taillights now that makes it look as if it's part of the trunk lid.

With that said, I don't think that is allowed.

***I'M NOT SAYING NO TAIL LIGHTS ARE ALLOWED ON THE TRUNK LID. I just thought there is a law pertaining to the actual brake lights.
 

Lysol

Member
Oct 22, 2016
100
52
Virginia
Ugh... Thread Title Fail...


I am referring to the main Brake Lights. Not tail lights as there are many cars with red tail lights on the trunk.
 

mknox

Well-Known Member
Aug 7, 2012
10,103
1,866
Toronto, ON
Tail and Brake Lights can be on the trunk. Just look at the Chevy Bolt. The Bolt does have the amber turn signals lower down on the bumper next to the backup lights, but I don't know if that's for "style" or because turn signals must be on a fixed surface.
 

pinski

Not Ludicrous
Mar 29, 2016
135
108
Greensboro, NC
Tail and Brake Lights can be on the trunk. Just look at the Chevy Bolt. The Bolt does have the amber turn signals lower down on the bumper next to the backup lights, but I don't know if that's for "style" or because turn signals must be on a fixed surface.

Yep - same goes for the Audi Q5/7 - all the taillights were on the hatch:

q5-boot-open.jpg
 
  • Informative
Reactions: strykeroz

gregincal

Active Member
Oct 26, 2012
3,763
2,294
Santa Cruz, CA
Tail and Brake Lights can be on the trunk. Just look at the Chevy Bolt. The Bolt does have the amber turn signals lower down on the bumper next to the backup lights, but I don't know if that's for "style" or because turn signals must be on a fixed surface.

No, it's not that turn signals must be on a fixed surface, it's that these lights become tail and brake lights if you are driving with the rear open. You can have tail and brake lights on the trunk, but you must have additional ones on a fixed surface (same with the Audi Q5/Q7).
 
  • Informative
Reactions: CalBlue 85D

Garlan Garner

Banned
Mar 31, 2016
11,351
6,062
Chicagoland
It was frowned upon to put bulbs on a trunk or a movable object because bulbs couldn't take the constant slamming all of the time. However....now that the majority of bulbs are LED's......they can take it. LED's don't have delicate filaments like bulbs.
 
  • Informative
Reactions: shrspeedblade

S3XY

Active Member
Nov 24, 2015
1,951
5,978
Buffalo, NY
It was frowned upon to put bulbs on a trunk or a movable object because bulbs couldn't take the constant slamming all of the time. However....now that the majority of bulbs are LED's......they can take it. LED's don't have delicate filaments like bulbs.
There have been courtesy lights in doors for a long time and they get slammed way more often than trunk lids. Sure, it's a smaller bulb than a tail light but they still have a filament.
 

Garlan Garner

Banned
Mar 31, 2016
11,351
6,062
Chicagoland
There have been courtesy lights in doors for a long time and they get slammed way more often than trunk lids. Sure, it's a smaller bulb than a tail light but they still have a filament.
Courtesy lights got replaced more than any other bulb. That was about 40 years ago when people used to come to our gas station and ask for us to replace that bulb. We used to also replace wipers and vill the car up with gas at the full service pumps.
 

Saghost

Well-Known Member
Oct 9, 2013
8,216
7,000
Delaware
There's definitely a line in the light cluster just in front of the rear lights.

I think that line is going to be the hinge line for the charge port door rather than relating to the trunk opening.
 

Autolycus

Member
Apr 1, 2016
39
35
ATL
Yep - same goes for the Audi Q5/7 - all the taillights were on the hatch:

q5-boot-open.jpg
Nope, the main brake lights for legal purposes are on the bumper. They're very clear in the picture. So no, the brake lights cannot be entirely on a lift gate or trunk. And yes, I own a Q5 and can confirm that the red stripes on the bumper are functioning lights and not just reflectors.
 

ikjadoon

Member
Aug 23, 2013
326
503
Nope, the main brake lights for legal purposes are on the bumper. They're very clear in the picture. So no, the brake lights cannot be entirely on a lift gate or trunk. And yes, I own a Q5 and can confirm that the red stripes on the bumper are functioning lights and not just reflectors.

Are those red stripes brake lights (they engage when you hit the brake) or just...rear fog lights?


 

About Us

Formed in 2006, Tesla Motors Club (TMC) was the first independent online Tesla community. Today it remains the largest and most dynamic community of Tesla enthusiasts. Learn more.

Do you value your experience at TMC? Consider becoming a Supporting Member of Tesla Motors Club. As a thank you for your contribution, you'll get nearly no ads in the Community and Groups sections. Additional perks are available depending on the level of contribution. Please visit the Account Upgrades page for more details.


SUPPORT TMC
Top