Driver's License Test Prep
Texas Practice Vehicle Equipment

Your Texas car came from the factory with a third, high-mounted brake light. According to the manual, what is the rule for that third lamp?

  1. A.
    It is optional as long as the two lower brake lights work
  2. B.
    It must be operational along with the two lower brake lights Correct
  3. C.
    The two lower lights are optional as long as the third works
  4. D.
    Only one working brake light is required if the car has three
The Why

The answer is "It must be operational along with the two lower brake lights"

Once a car left the factory with a third high-mounted brake light, all three lamps must work. Drivers who pick 'only one required' are reaching for the pre-1960 exception, which applies only to vehicles built before 1960 and only to the lower brake lights.

Why the others miss

The traps in the wrong answers

A. It is optional as long as the two lower brake lights work

The third lamp counts as required once it was factory equipment. This answer reads a stock third brake light as an accessory rather than a required part of the lighting system.

C. The two lower lights are optional as long as the third works

The two lower brake lights are always required on modern cars, not optional. This answer inverts the rule so the newest lamp replaces the old requirement instead of adding to it.

D. Only one working brake light is required if the car has three

Modern cars still need two working brake lights; the pre-1960 exception does not apply. This answer borrows the one-brake-light exception the manual carves out only for cars manufactured before 1960.

The Rule

This question tests your knowledge of Vehicle Equipment in Texas. Source: Texas Driver Manual, "Required Equipment for Vehicles - Lights (Brake / Stop Lights)," p.15..

More from this topic

Related Texas questions

More than a book

You just took one Texas question apart. The book does it for the whole test.

The Texas book unlocks a free companion: an adaptive study plan, progress synced across your devices, a denser laminate cheat sheet, and a test-day walkthrough. Verify your copy once, usually in seconds; there's nothing extra to buy.

Get the book on Amazon

$18.99 paperback, free companion included.

Free study plan

Your free Texas study plan

A short run of study emails for the Texas DPS test: what to drill, the rules people trip on, and a final pre-test checklist. The printable cheat sheet is free to grab either way.

One email a few times a month. No spam, unsubscribe anytime. Privacy.