Vehicle Equipment, Safety, and Registration Requirements
Keeping the Vehicle Legal and Safe
A vehicle must be both registered and insured to operate legally. Registration ties the vehicle to an owner and requires current plates and tags; driving with expired registration is a violation. Insurance - at minimum liability coverage - protects others if you cause harm. Carry proof of registration and insurance, and produce them when requested.
Required equipment typically includes working headlights (white, front), taillights and brake lights (red, rear), turn signals, a horn, mirrors, a speedometer, seat belts, and a windshield that isn't obstructed. Child safety seats are required for young children, and seat belts are mandatory for adults. Headlights must be used at night and in poor visibility, and high beams must be dimmed for oncoming traffic and when following closely.
Maintenance matters legally as well as mechanically: bald tires, faulty brakes, burned-out lights, and cracked windshields in the driver's view can all be violations. Check tire pressure, fluid levels, and lights regularly.
Seat belts save lives and are required; the driver is responsible for ensuring passengers are properly restrained, and children must use appropriate seats.
Traps to Watch
Questions often test which documents must be carried versus which must merely exist - registration and insurance proof should be in the vehicle. Another trap: high-beam rules (dim within a set distance of oncoming vehicles and when following). Watch for questions on child seats versus booster seats and on whether a cracked windshield is legal (it isn't if it obstructs the driver's view). Also remember that equipment violations can affect both safety and legality.
Rule of Thumb
If a required light, mirror, or belt doesn't work, the vehicle isn't legally roadworthy - fix it before driving.