Is it Iowa LAW to Turn on Your Headlights in the Rain?

It's more than just being safe, it's the LAW in Iowa.

321.384 When lighted lamps required.

Every motor vehicle upon a highway within the state, at any time from sunset to sunrise, and at such other times when conditions such as fog, snow, sleet, or rain provide insufficient lighting to render clearly discernible persons and vehicles on the highway at a distance of five hundred feet ahead, shall display lighted headlamps as provided in section 321.415.

Remember: automatic headlights can be ‘tricked’ if conditions are right. Make sure that you manually switch your headlamps ON during daytime fog, snow, and/or rain.

Iowa is one of 14 states that require to have headlights turned when conditions are ‘adverse’ or when there’s not “sufficient lighting.”

• Connecticut
• Florida
• Georgia
• Iowa
• Minnesota
• Montana
• New Hampshire
• North Dakota
• Oklahoma
• Tennessee
• Utah
• Vermont
• West Virginia
• Wyoming

However, in 18 states, if your windshield wipers are on, then your headlights must be on as well:

• Alabama
• Arkansas
• California
• Delaware
• Illinois
• Kansas
• Louisiana
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Missouri
• New Jersey
• New York
• North Carolina
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• Virginia

Side Note: PLEASE dim your headlights when meeting traffic at night. My eyeballs thank you.