Do I need to manually turn on headlights when I rent a car?

In Canada: no — DRL turns on automatically with the engine, and most rental cars have auto-on for full headlights. In the US: depends on the rental — many modern cars have auto-on, but if your rental does not, manually switch to AUTO (if available) or ON in low visibility.

Are DRLs the same as full headlights?

No. DRLs are dimmer running lights designed for daytime visibility — they typically do not illuminate the road for nighttime driving. Full headlights must be on at night and in low visibility.

Will I get a ticket in the US for no DRL?

Generally no — DRL is not required. You may be ticketed for not having headlights on at night, in rain, or in fog depending on state law.

Headlights and daytime running lights — when are they mandatory?

Driving south from Canada into the United States is the easiest place to see this regulatory difference in action. Canadian cars sold since 1990 have factory daytime running lights that turn on automatically every time the engine starts. American cars sold in the same era often do not — DRL is optional federal equipment in the US, mandatory standard equipment in Canada.

We compare when headlights or DRL are required across the four countries. The differences are mostly about cultural and regulatory inertia rather than any disagreement about safety: every traffic-safety agency in the world agrees that lights-on driving reduces head-on crashes.

⚠️ Not legal advice. Traffic and insurance laws change. Verify with the official source before you drive. Full disclaimer.

Side-by-side comparison

Country	Headlights required	DRL required
🇺🇸United States	Sunset to sunrise; in fog/rain in many states	No federal DRL mandate. Some states require lights-on with wipers (about 20). Headlights mandatory at night and in fog/rain in essentially every state. (FHWA MUTCD)
🇯🇵Japan	Sunset to sunrise; in tunnels; in heavy rain	No DRL mandate but motorcycles must run headlights 24/7. Newer Japanese vehicles increasingly include automatic headlights as standard. (Japan NPA)
🇰🇷South Korea	Sunset to sunrise; in tunnels	DRL required on all vehicles manufactured since 2016. Older vehicles exempt but increasingly retrofitted. (MOLIT)
🇨🇦Canada	Sunset to sunrise; in fog/rain	Universal DRL mandate since 1990 — every vehicle sold in Canada must have automatic daytime running lights that activate when the engine starts. (Transport Canada)

Country detail

United States

US federal regulation makes DRL optional. NHTSA evaluated mandating it in the 1990s and again in 2008 but did not move forward. State law varies: about 20 states require headlights whenever windshield wipers are on (the so-called wipers-on, lights-on rule). Several states require headlights in any rain, fog, or limited-visibility condition. The US is the largest developed-country market where you can legally drive a car with no daytime lights.

Japan

Japan does not mandate DRL but motorcycles must run headlights 24 hours, a rule introduced in the 1990s and credited with reducing motorcycle-car collisions. Cars must use headlights from sunset to sunrise and inside tunnels. Auto-on systems are increasingly common on new Japanese cars but not yet legally required.

South Korea

Korea mandated DRL on all new vehicles manufactured from July 2016. The rule was driven by EU harmonisation and accident-reduction goals. Older vehicles are exempt but many Korean drivers retrofit.

Canada

Canada was an early DRL adopter — every vehicle sold in Canada since 1990 must have automatic DRL that activates when the engine starts. The mandate is at the federal vehicle-safety regulation level (CMVSS 108), not provincial driving law. The result: Canadian-built and Canadian-spec cars in the US still have DRL because the wiring is hardwired.

Frequently asked

Do I need to manually turn on headlights when I rent a car?: In Canada: no — DRL turns on automatically with the engine, and most rental cars have auto-on for full headlights. In the US: depends on the rental — many modern cars have auto-on, but if your rental does not, manually switch to AUTO (if available) or ON in low visibility.
Are DRLs the same as full headlights?: No. DRLs are dimmer running lights designed for daytime visibility — they typically do not illuminate the road for nighttime driving. Full headlights must be on at night and in low visibility.
Will I get a ticket in the US for no DRL?: Generally no — DRL is not required. You may be ticketed for not having headlights on at night, in rain, or in fog depending on state law.

Sources

[1]FHWA — Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) — FHWA · accessed 2026-04-23
[2]National Police Agency — Rules of the Road — Japan NPA · accessed 2026-04-23
[3]MOLIT — Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport — MOLIT · accessed 2026-04-23
[4]Transport Canada — Transport Canada · accessed 2026-04-23