5. Your Vehicle

• 5.1. Equipment Standards
• 5.2. Bumper Height Requirements
• 5.3. Limitations on Towing
• 5.4. Anti-lock Braking
• 5.5. Bicycles
• 5.6. Mopeds
• 5.7. Vehicle Licensing
• 5.8. Study Questions

Bumper Height Requirements

Owners of automobiles and pickup trucks are required to have both front and rear bumpers mounted within certain height levels. Height limitations are governed by the net shipping weight of the vehicle, not the modified or altered weight. The maximum allowable heights between the pavement and bottom of the front and rear bumper, provided by section 316.251, Florida Statutes, are:

• Cars with a net weight of less than 2,500 pounds - 22 inches front and rear.
• Cars 2,500 pounds or more but less than 3,500 pounds - 24 inches front and 26 inches rear.
• Cars 3,500 pounds or more - 27 inches front; 29 inches rear.
• Trucks under 2,000 pounds 24 inches front; 26 inches rear.
• Trucks 2,000 pounds or more but less than 3,000 pounds - 27 inches front, and 29 inches rear.
• Trucks 3,000 pounds or more but not more than 5,000 pounds - 28 inches front; 30 inches rear.

Additional Equipment Required on Certain Vehicles

Trailers must have the following equipment:

• Every trailer or semi-trailer weighing more than 3,000 pounds: On the front, two clearance lamps, one at each side. On each side, two side marker lamps, one at or near the front and one at or near the rear. On the rear, two clearance lamps, one at each side, and two reflectors, one at/or near the front and one at/or near the rear. There must also be two stoplights on the rear of these vehicles. One stoplight is permitted on vehicles built before January 1, 1972.
• Every pole trailer weighing more than 3,000 pounds: On each side, one side marker lamp and one clearance lamp (which may be in combination), to show to the front, side and rear. On the rear of the pole trailer or load, two reflectors, one at each side.
• Every trailer, semi-trailer or pole trailer weighing 3,000 pounds or less: On the rear, two reflectors, one on each side.
• Every trailer must have a stop light if the trailer covers the stop lights on the towing vehicle.

Every trailer or semi-trailer weighing 3,000 pounds or more must have brakes which can be operated by the driver in the towing motor vehicle. The brakes must be designed and connected so that they will automatically stop the trailer if it breaks away from the towing vehicle.

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