What color is the light of the reverse light?
3 Answers
The light of the reverse light is white. The reverse light is installed at the rear of the vehicle to illuminate the road behind and to warn vehicles and pedestrians behind that the car is reversing. All reverse lights are white. The rear lights of a car include: turn signals, brake lights, position lights, rear fog lights, reverse lights, and parking lights. The light covers are composed of three colors: red, yellow, and white. The parking lights, brake lights, and position lights have red covers that emit red light, the fog lights have white covers that emit yellow light, and the reverse lights have yellow covers that emit yellow light. Considering the wavelength penetration of light, car lights generally come in three colors: yellow, red, and white. White lights are used where better illumination is needed, such as reverse lights and license plate-related lights. Turn signals use more noticeable yellow or red lights. Lights that need to be conspicuous and serve as warnings include: brake lights, high-mounted brake lights, nighttime lights, and width indicator lights.
I've been driving for over a decade, and the reversing lights have always been pure white—I'm absolutely certain about this. From a daily driving perspective, white light is particularly effective when reversing at night. It acts like a small flashlight, clearly illuminating the road behind the vehicle to avoid hitting obstacles or pedestrians. Other car lights have their own roles: brake lights are red to signal stopping, turn signals are yellow to indicate turning, and reversing lights are white specifically designed for illumination. The Chinese standard GB 7258 clearly stipulates that reversing lights must be white. This uniformity in color helps reduce misunderstandings and ensures driving safety. If the bulb burns out, simply replace it with a white one—don't use colored bulbs, as that could easily lead to violations. Overall, white light offers high brightness and excellent reflectivity, proving especially lifesaving in parking lots or during nighttime outings.
Having worked on many cars, the reverse lights are almost always white, and it's not a coincidence but by design. White light has strong penetration in the spectrum and the highest lighting efficiency, unlike yellow fog lights which are good for fog but not bright enough for reversing. It helps identify details at the rear and reduces the risk of blind spots. Regulations mandate the use of white to distinguish it from other light colors: red for stop, yellow for turn, and white for reverse. During maintenance, if you find the bulb burnt black, it must be replaced with a white one—using another color may be illegal and dangerous. Additionally, modern cars come with reverse cameras, and white light provides clear image quality, which is very friendly to the assistance system. Regularly checking the brightness of the lights to ensure safe travel is the golden rule.
