Drivers warned they could be fined for having Christmas decorations in their car

Drivers are being warned they could get a fine and penalty points if they don’t follow the rules when it comes to Christmas decorations.

The warning follows a recent incident in Poole, Dorset, where police stopped a car that was covered in hundreds of multi-coloured Christmas lights.

In the UK, adding Christmas lights or decorations to your car can be festive, but it risks breaking road traffic laws.

A Dorset Police spokesperson said: “The driver was stopped and given words of advice about the traffic offences he was committing and also reminded about the seriousness of celebrating Christmas before December.

“Displaying red light to the front of a vehicle or other colours to the rear that aren't listed in Road Traffic Regulations is an offence and can land you with a £50 fine.”

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Is it illegal to put Christmas decorations on your car?

It is not illegal to decorate your car for the festive season, but you may risk a fine and penalties points on your driving licence if the Christmas decorations do any of the following:

• Obstruct the driver’s view of the road
• Add any additional lighting sources
• Attach anything to your vehicle that may cause an injury to pedestrians
• Attach anything to your vehicle that is likely to fall off and/or cause a danger to other road users

Despite the rules stating what is not allowed – it doesn’t mean that drivers aren’t allowed to get in the Christmas spirit.

This is because magnetic signs, stickers, or festive wraps are generally legal if they don’t obscure number plates or the driver’s view of the road.

Similarly, festive items inside the car, such as dashboard ornaments, are acceptable as long as they don’t obstruct the driver’s vision or distract other road users.

You must always have a full and clear view of the road ahead, failure to do so risks 3 penalty points on your driving licence and a fine of up to £1000.

Other decorations that may cause a legal issue include any red lights that could be confused with, or mimic brake lights or emergency signals.

The Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 require headlights to be white or yellow, and rear lights to be red. Any deviation from this, such as fitting multi-coloured Christmas lights, can confuse other drivers and is treated as a safety hazard.

It is important to remember that blue lights anywhere on the vehicle are also not allowed. They are reserved for emergency vehicles, so fitting them is a serious offence.

^{Image credit: Dorset Police}