What do the colors of dashboard lights mean?
Quick answer
Dashboard lights follow a traffic-light code. Red means a serious problem or safety risk: stop as soon as it is safe. Amber (yellow or orange) means something needs checking soon. Green and blue are information lights that tell you a system is switched on, such as your headlights or high beam.
The symbols on your dashboard can be cryptic, but their colors are not. Car makers broadly follow the same code, set out in the international standard ISO 2575, which works like a traffic light. Once you know it, you can tell in a second how worried to be, even before you know what the symbol means.
To look up a specific symbol, use our dashboard warning light tool.
Red: stop as soon as it is safe
National Highways, which runs England's motorways, puts it simply: a red warning light means there may be a serious fault, and you should not begin a journey with one showing. AAA says red warnings need immediate action.
Red is used for problems that can damage the engine quickly or affect your safety. If one comes on while you are driving, find a safe place to stop, switch off the engine if the light is about the engine, and check your owner's manual. The most important red lights:
- Oil pressure light (oil can): the engine may not be getting enough oil. Stop now.
- Engine temperature light (thermometer): the engine is overheating. Stop now, and never open a hot radiator cap.
- Brake warning light (exclamation mark in a circle): check the handbrake is off. If it stays on, have the brakes checked before driving.
- Battery warning light (battery): the charging system has failed. Drive straight to a garage, or stop and call for help.
- Airbag warning light: the airbags may not work in a crash. Get it checked soon.
A few red lights are reminders rather than faults: an unfastened seatbelt or a door left open. Fix them and the light goes out.
Amber, yellow or orange: get it checked soon
National Highways describes amber lights as advisory: your car needs maintenance or checking. AAA says they need attention, but action can usually wait until you can arrange service. In most cases you can carry on to your destination, as long as the car drives normally.
Common amber lights:
- Check engine light (engine outline): the engine computer has found a fault. Book a check.
- Tire pressure light (horseshoe with an exclamation mark): a tire is low. Check pressures at the next stop.
- ABS warning light: normal brakes work, but anti-lock may not.
- Traction or stability control (car with wavy lines): flashing means it is working on a slippery road; steady means it is off or has a fault.
- Low fuel and washer fluid lights: fill up soon.
A flashing amber light is more urgent than a steady one. The most important example is the flashing check engine light, which means a serious misfire: slow down and stop when you safely can. The AA treats a flashing engine light as needing a mechanic immediately.
Green: a system is on
Green lights are information, not warnings. They confirm that something you switched on is working: dipped headlights, indicators, cruise control, or an eco driving mode. National Highways says you do not need to stop for them.
Blue: high beam, mostly
Blue is reserved for a few specific lights. The one almost every car has is the high beam (main beam) indicator, which reminds you to dip your lights for oncoming traffic. Some cars also show a blue thermometer when the engine is still cold, which AAA says means you should drive gently until it warms up.
White: information
Some cars use white for general information, such as a reminder that a system is ready. National Highways groups green, white and blue together as lights you do not need to stop for.
When a light comes on: a quick routine
- Note the color. Red: plan to stop safely now. Amber: plan a garage visit. Green or blue: no action needed.
- Note whether it is steady or flashing. Flashing usually means more urgent.
- Notice how the car feels. Noises, smoke, smells, shaking or heavy steering make any warning more serious.
- Check your owner's manual for the exact meaning on your car, or use our warning light tool.
- Do not ignore lights that come and go. The fault is often still stored and can be read.
If several warning lights come on together, or you are not sure what you are looking at, treat it as red: stop safely and get advice. Our symptom checker can help you work out what to do next.
Questions drivers ask
Is a red warning light always an emergency?
Not always. A few red lights are reminders, such as the seatbelt or door-open light, or the handbrake light when the handbrake is on. But any red light you do not understand should be treated as serious until you have checked your owner's manual.
Can I keep driving with an amber light on?
Usually, yes, if the car drives normally. Amber means get it checked soon, not stop now. The exception is a flashing amber light, such as a flashing check engine light, which needs action straight away.
Why did all the lights come on when I started the car?
That is a bulb check. Most warning lights come on for a moment when you switch on the ignition, then go out once the engine starts. A light that stays on after that is the one to worry about.
Are the colors the same on every car?
The general scheme is shared, based on the international standard ISO 2575 and on regulations, but symbols and exact colors vary between makes. Some manufacturers use white for information lights. Your owner's manual is the final word for your car.
Sources
- National Highways: Dashboard warning lights (accessed November 6, 2026)
- AAA Club Alliance: A warning-light road map (accessed November 6, 2026)
- ISO 2575: Road vehicles, symbols for controls, indicators and tell-tales (accessed November 6, 2026)
- The AA: Engine management light (accessed November 6, 2026)
General information only. Every car is different: check your owner's manual, and if anything involves brakes, steering, tires or a burning smell, have a qualified mechanic look at it before you drive on.