Brake Light Vs Tail Light: What’s The Difference?
Brake light and tail light are two types of automotive lighting that most car owners often confuse. Some even use the two names interchangeably. If you are looking for more details about how the two lights differ, this article will help you out.
Brake light vs tail light: Brake lights sit inside the taillights of a car and alert other drivers when you apply your car brake pedals to slow down. Taillights illuminate whenever you turn on your car headlights and help create visibility to the drives behind you, especially when driving at night or in adverse weather.
In this article, we will discuss more in-depth details about the difference between tail light and brake light. By the time you’re done reading this article, you’ll find out whether they’re the same bulb, operate on the same fuse, and more.
Brake light vs tail light: Key differences

As we have just hinted in the intro, brake light and tail are two completely different types of vehicle lights that serve different purposes.
Brake light | Tail light | |
---|---|---|
Functions | Primarily indicates deceleration or stopping May feature flashing to indicate emergency braking | Enhances visibility when driving in low light conditions May incorporate parking lights, turn signals, and reverse lights |
Location | Located at the vehicle rear, usually on the outer edges | Located at the rear end of a vehicle |
Color | Red | Red. Can also be amber or white for added functions |
Appearance | Brighter, more intense | Produces a soft glow, with low intensity |
Regulations | Some jurisdictions may govern the number of lights, placement, and brightness | Some jurisdictions may govern the number of lights, placement, and brightness |
Below, we take a more in-depth look at how the brake light and tail light compare:
Purpose
One of the key differences between the two lights is their function. The brake light indicates to other drivers behind you when your vehicle is decelerating or stopping.
When you press on the brake pedal, the brake lights illuminate. This alerts the drivers behind you to slow down or stop, thus preventing accidents from happening on the road.
Tail lights, on the other hand, are primarily for making your vehicle visible to other drivers behind you, especially when riding in low-light conditions.
These lights also come on when you turn on your car headlights or parking lights, helping indicate your vehicle presence and width to drive behind.

Appearance
The two lights also differ in terms of appearance. Brake lights are usually brighter, with higher intensity, to make them easily distinguishable from tail lights.
The bulb used for these lights usually features a higher wattage than tail light bulbs.
The tail light bulbs are less bright and tend to emit a soft glow. This enables them to improve your visibility without distracting other drivers.
Location
Both the brake light and tail light are located at the rear of the vehicle. Brake lights, in particular, are placed at your car’s outer edges for maximum visibility.
They can be presented as separate units or they may be integrated into the tail light assembly. As for tail lights, they usually sit adjacent to brake lights.
In some car models, the brake and tail light may come integrated into a single unit.
Are tail lights and brake lights the same bulb?
Most modern vehicles have separate bulbs for brake lights and tail lights. However, it is not uncommon to come across a car using the same bulb for both types of lights.
Generally, a car using separate bulbs for the two lights is preferable as it promotes easy distinction between the different light functions.

As we’ve just said above, the brake lights are generally brighter to enable other drivers to easily recognize when you’re slowing down or coming to a stop.
Separate bulbs for tail light and brake light also ensure independent wiring and control. This way, if one of the bulbs fails, it won’t affect the other function.
Besides, separate bulbs allow for flexibility in incorporating additional automotive lighting, e.g. reverse, turn, and parking lights.
If you’re not sure about the configuration of your car’s tail and brake light bulbs, we advise you to consult your user manual or a qualified auto mechanic on your car’s bulb configuration.
Are tail lights and brake lights on the same fuse?
Tail light and brake lights aren’t on the same fuse in most vehicles. The two lights are configured to have separate circuits with dedicated fuses controlling the operation of each of them.
However, the fuse configuration is likely to vary depending on your vehicle’s make, model, and year of manufacture.
For more info regarding your car’s tail and brake lights fuse configuration, be sure to consult your user manual.

The use of separate fuses is helpful in that if one circuit develops a problem, the functionality of the other one isn’t affected.
Having separate fuses also allows for electrical protection and ensures easier troubleshooting in case of any faults.
For instance, if the brake lights do not come on, you can identify and address this issue easily by simply checking the brake light fuse and related components without affecting the tail light functionality.
Why are the brake lights and tail lights not working?

If your car brake light and tail lights are not working, there are certain areas you should check into to help you find the cause of the problem.
Here are the most common causes of malfunctioning tail lights and brake lights:
Bad bulb
If your brake and tail lights are not functioning, one of the first things to check is whether their respective bulbs are still intact and functional. If any of the bulbs is burned out, broken, or simply not emitting any light, then you need to replace them with new ones.
Blown out fuse
Another common cause for malfunctioning brake lights and tail lights is a blown fuse. Check the fuse box for the fuses related to these tow lights. If they are blown, then they are definitely the reason behind the lights not working. Simply replace these fuses with new ones that have the correct rating.
Circuit related issue
Problems with circuits such as faulty wiring, loose connections, corroded bulb sockets, etc., can also cause the slights to malfunction. Also, if you’re a vehicle tuning enthusiast and you’ve connected additional light bars to your car taillights wiring circuit, it may excessive load which makes the wiring overheat and burn.
Grounding problems
The correct grounding is key to running your car’s electrical system work perfectly. Any grounding issues with your vehicle brake and tail lights will directly cause them to malfunction. Inspect your car grounding connections to ensure they are secure, clean, and properly connected.
Faulty brake light switch
If your car brake light doesn’t come on after pressing the brake pedal, then the culprit may be a faulty brake light switch. This switch may be incorrectly connected or your brake pad may be worn out and thus unable to open the circuit.
Also, if your brake lights stay on after releasing the brake pedal, then the brake switch contact could be stuck. This will cause the switch to continue powering your car brake light. If you suspect your brake light switch is faulty, you should have it checked by a reputable auto mechanic.
Bad dimmer switch/multi-function switch
Some car models have dimmer or multi-function switch controlling the operation of tail lights and brake lights. Therefore, if these switch become faulty, they will cause the respective lights to stop functioning.
Inspecting this switch is necessary to see if they’re in good working condition. Where necessary, replace them with new ones.
Why do my brake lights work but not my tail lights?
Sometimes your vehicle brake lights could be working but the tail lights are malfunctioning.

In this case, you may want to look at the potential causes discussed below.
Bad bulb
One of the most common reasons why your brake lights work but not tail lights is a blown bulb. In most cars, the brake lights and tail lights use separate bulbs. Therefore, it is possible that that tail light bulb burned out. Luckily, bulb replacement is a super-inexpensive fix and you can do it on your own.
Faulty wiring
Broken or worn-out wires may also cause your car tail lights to stop functioning. This is because the wires will be unable to send power to the tail lights, so they cannot come on. In this case, you may want to get a professional to diagnose your tail light wiring.
Damaged socket
If the socket where the tail light bulbs plug in is damaged or corroded, it may also lead to the tail lights malfunctioning. You can check the socket condition by removing the bulb and examining the socket for any broken pins or discoloration.
Failing fuse
A burned-out fuse related to the tail lights may also cause these lights to stop working. Access your car fuse box under the car hood and check if the tail light fuse is dead. If yes, replace it with a new one.
Malfunctioning sensor
Most modern cars come equipped with sensors that communicate with the car computer. If any of these sensors stop functioning, it can interfere with the car’s complex design and even cause a part to stop working. If your tail light stops working and at the same time the parking lights and headlights aren’t working, then a bad sensor could be the culprit.
Faulty control switch
The switch is responsible for controlling the tail lights and may also cause the lights to stop working if it gets faulty. You can pull this switch from the dash for inspection and check it using a millimeter. Alternatively, you can take it to mechanic for inspection.
If you’re wondering about the difference between a brake light and a tail light in your vehicle, you can check out our article on Honda CR-V brake light stays on. This article provides insights into the common causes and possible solutions for a brake light that remains illuminated. Additionally, if you’re experiencing a similar issue with your Honda Accord, our article on Honda Accord brake light stays on offers specific troubleshooting tips for that particular model.FAQs:
What is the color of brake light?
The brake light is usually red. This color makes the best choice for brake lights since it has usually associated with danger or caution.
What are tail lights used for?
Tail lights enhance the visibility of your vehicle in low-light conditions. They help indicate the presence of your vehicle and its width to other drives behind you, preventing you from getting rear-ended.
Do taillights come on when you brake?
No, taillights don’t come on when you brake. They only come on when you turn on your vehicle parking lights or headlights. Brake lights only come on when you press the brake pedal.
Conclusion
Brake light and tail light are two important lights in your car that play a crucial role while you’re driving. The brake light primarily helps alter the drivers behind you that you’re slowing down. And tail lights indicate your presence on the road to drivers and other road users, especially when riding at night or in inclement weather.
You can easily distinguish the brake light from the tail light because it illuminates in a brighter, more intense form and is usually located on the outer edges at the rear of the vehicle. The light is also red whole tail light can be red, amber, or white. Brake lights only illuminate when you press the brake pedal. Tail lights illuminate when you turn on your car headlights.