This bad driving habit could cost you £1,000 this winter

Drivers who do not correctly use their fog lights during wintery conditions could end up receiving a large fine.

Concerningly, a new survey conducted by eBay found that 60% of drivers use their fog lights at the wrong times.

According to the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA), fog lights should only be switched onto full beam when visibility drops below 100 metres when driving on British roads.

The research also found that 13% of those who took part in the survey would use fog lights when visibility was less than 300 metres.

This means that they are at risk of a fine of up to £1,000 and three penalty points on their driving licence.

Drivers who took part in the research also revealed that they do not stay on top of regular car maintenance when it comes to car fog lights.

Just 15% say they check them every month – and shockingly, 24% stated that they had never checked their fog lights.

Fines can also be issued if the fog lights are faulty. So, drivers who leave the repairs and maintenance to the annual MOT test, could be in trouble if the fog lights aren’t functioning.

In fact, 20% of those surveyed said they would feel uncomfortable sourcing replacement headlight bulbs for their vehicle.

eBay analysed data from the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) on MOT pass rates, and found that between June 2024 and June 2025, 4.3 million MOT failures relating to front and/or rear lights.

Further analysis revealed around 31,000 of those MOT failures were due to front or rear fog lights.

There’s also uncertainty surrounding the use of headlights on full-beam, with 48% of drivers saying they activate full-beam headlights when it is dark, regardless of oncoming traffic and other road users.

Abir Tewari, UK director for parts and accessories at eBay, said: ”As the days get shorter, more motorists will be making journeys in the dark.

“It is important that all drivers know when to use the appropriate lights on their vehicle and how to keep them maintained.”

• Driving in the dark – tips on how to stay safe
• Ten signs that your car is not ready for winter
• Car lights and headlights – what are they and when do I use them?

This data from eBay follows the RAC’s latest research into dazzling headlight glare.

Of the 1,701 respondents who took part in the survey, 38% said they are nervous about driving in the dark, and 75% of this group said their fears were caused by bright headlights.

The issue is becoming such a concern that as many as one-in-four drivers (25%) who find headlights too bright are actually driving less as a result.

A further 22% say they wish they had the option to drive less at night, but don’t have another form of transport. 

RAC senior policy officer Rod Dennis said: “Unfortunately, for a lot of drivers the annual onset of darker evenings coincides with another unwelcome arrival – that of overly-bright headlights that they believe make driving more difficult due to dazzle and discomfort.

“While most of us have no choice other than to adapt to driving at night more often as the clocks go back, the fact headlight glare is the leading cause of nervousness underlines it’s a problem that needs tackling.

“At the same time, it’s important to remember that brighter headlights can give drivers a better view of the road ahead – so there’s a balance to be struck. “