Texas Car / Permit practice question · Safe Driving Practices

Texas law requires you to turn your headlights on:

Answer choices

• only on unlit rural roads
• only after it is completely dark
• from a half hour after sunset until a half hour before sunrise, and whenever visibility is poor— Correct answer
• just during heavy rain

Why this is the answer

Texas requires headlights from 30 minutes after sunset until 30 minutes before sunrise, and any time people or vehicles cannot be seen clearly at 1,000 feet or less, such as in fog or heavy rain. So waiting until it is fully dark, or using them only in rain, is too late. Switch to low beams within 500 feet of an approaching vehicle.

Source: Texas Driver Handbook — Headlights and Lights

Content reviewed against official driver handbooks · August 12, 2026