Theory Mastery

The marker board: who, when, how big?

What the exam asks here: Most learners think: 'load sticks out, so a board is required.' The CBR exam designer counts on that reflex.

14 minutes · 7 sections · 9 questions

The trap

Many learners think: A passenger car with >1 m overhang must display a marker board.

The rule is: The marking-board requirement applies to the trailer, not to the passenger car itself

Challenge

Most learners think: 'load sticks out, so a board is required.' The CBR exam designer counts on that reflex. But the book ties the board duty not to the car, but to the TRAILER — and even there only at certain protrusion thresholds. On the passenger car itself a marker board is never required.

Read this section on its own page: Challenge: The marker board: who, when, how big?

The model

On the passenger car a marker board is never required; on the trailer it is — if the load protrudes more than 10 cm at a side or more than 1 m at the rear (Book p.229). The legal minimum is a square board of 0.42 x 0.42 m, red-white diagonally striped and retroreflective. At night: white light at the front, red light at the rear.

Read this section on its own page: The model: The marker board: who, when, how big?

Core

WHO: the board duty applies to the trailer, not the passenger car. So on a car with protruding load a marker board is not required (Book p.229). WHEN (trailer): required if the load protrudes more than 10 cm at a side, or more than 1 m at the rear. HOW BIG: the legal minimum is a square board of 0.42 x 0.42 m. The often-quoted '50 x 50 cm' is a common commercial size, not the legal floor. WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE: red-white diagonally striped, retroreflective, with stripes 7 to 10 cm wide. Red-white, not blue-white. AT NIGHT: at least one white light at the front (for oncoming traffic) and one red light at the rear (for following traffic) — just like ordinary vehicle lighting.

Read this section on its own page: Core: The marker board: who, when, how big?

Why it matters

The board and the night lighting exist so others can see where your load ends, especially in the dark. A wrong-coloured light (red at the front) confuses oncoming traffic about your direction of travel.

Read this section on its own page: Why it matters: The marker board: who, when, how big?

Active recall

It is dusk on the weekly-market car park and the lamps flick on. On your trailer you mount a square marker board of 45 by 45 cm. Someone says it is too small. Does 45 x 45 cm comply with the law?

Read this section on its own page: Active recall: The marker board: who, when, how big?

Teach back

Explain: for which vehicle does the board duty apply, at what protrusion, and why is '50 x 50 cm' not the legal minimum size?

Read this section on its own page: Teach back: The marker board: who, when, how big?

Memory hook

Car: no board. Trailer: yes — side >10 cm or rear >1 m. Min. 0.42 x 0.42 m, red-white; at night white front, red rear.

Read this section on its own page: Memory hook: The marker board: who, when, how big?

Source: WVW 1994 art. 5 · checked 2026-10-22

The picture

Marker board: who, when, how big, and at night?TrailerPassenger carBoard required?✓ yes, at protrusion✗ never (dimension rule)When requiredside >10 cm or rear >1 m— (no board duty)Board size (legal min.)square ≥ 0.42 x 0.42 mn/aColour / stripesred-white diagonal, retroreflective, 7-10 cmn/aAt night (extra light)white front, red rearn/a
What to look at: Comparison table marker board: trailer yes, passenger car no.

Signs and law

Test yourself

At the Boerenbond in Nijmegen you load long gutters into your car; they stick out 1.3 m at the rear. Your neighbour says: 'Then you need a marker board on it.' Is that true for a car?

Show the answer

On the passenger car a marker board is never required; on the trailer it is — if the load protrudes more than 10 cm at a side or more than 1 m at the rear (Book p.229). The legal minimum is a square board of 0.42 x 0.42 m, red-white diagonally striped and retroreflective. At night: white light at the front, red light at the rear.

Exam questions on this topic

It is dusk on the weekly-market car park and the lamps flick on. On your trailer you mount a square marker board of 45 by 45 cm. Someone says it is too small. Does 45 x 45 cm comply with the law?

  1. Yes — 45 cm is above the legal minimum of 0.42 x 0.42 m
  2. No — a marker board must legally be at least 50 x 50 cm
Show the answer

Correct answer: Yes — 45 cm is above the legal minimum of 0.42 x 0.42 m

Legal min. = square 0.42 x 0.42 m; 50x50 is only a commercial size, so 45x45 complies.

Why learners get this wrong: A marker board must legally be 50 by 50 cm.

Open this question

About The marker board: who, when, how big?: which statement is WRONG?

  1. On every trailer a marker board is always required, regardless of the load.
  2. The marking-board requirement applies to the trailer, not to the passenger car itself.
  3. The marking board is RED-AND-WHITE diagonally striped and retroreflective.
  4. The legal MINIMUM is a square board of 0.42 x 0.42 m; 50x50 is only a common commercial size, not the legal floor.
Show the answer

Correct answer: On every trailer a marker board is always required, regardless of the load.

The board is required at side >10 cm OR rear >1 m protrusion; without that protrusion there is no board duty.

Why learners get this wrong: A passenger car with >1 m overhang must display a marker board.

Open this question

The board is required at side >10 cm OR rear >1 m protrusion; without that protrusion there is no board duty.

  1. False
  2. True
Show the answer

Correct answer: True

The board is required at side >10 cm OR rear >1 m protrusion; without that protrusion there is no board duty.

Why learners get this wrong: On every trailer a marker board is always required, regardless of the load.

Open this question

You are sawing your own square marker board for the load that sticks out behind your trailer. The DIY store sells ready-made boards of 50 by 50 cm. How long must each side of your own board be at least (in cm)? Set the slider to your answer.

Show the answer

Correct answer: 42 cm

Correct: 42.0 cm.

Open this question

For the weekly market in Deventer you load a beam onto your trailer that sticks out well over 1 m at the rear. You make the marker board for the end yourself. Which requirements must the board meet at minimum?

  1. Red-white diagonal stripes, square, at least 50 by 50 cm
  2. Red-white diagonal stripes, square, at least 42 by 42 cm
  3. Blue-white diagonal stripes, square, at least 42 by 42 cm
Show the answer

Correct answer: Red-white diagonal stripes, square, at least 42 by 42 cm

False — you take the usual shop size for the legal minimum. A 50 by 50 cm board is common, but the prescribed minimum for the rear board is 42 by 42 cm

Why learners get this wrong: A marker board must legally be 50 by 50 cm.

Open this question

On a grey Tuesday morning you are carrying a ladder on the roof of your passenger car. The ladder is firmly secured and sticks out exactly 1 m behind the car, not to the side. You are about to set off.

  1. First hang a board; whatever sticks out behind gets one
  2. First hang a board; 1 m of overhang calls for one
  3. Set off; no board is needed on a passenger car
Show the answer

Correct answer: Set off; no board is needed on a passenger car

False — You apply the trailer's board duty to the passenger car. On a passenger car a marker board for a protruding load is not required; there the load may stick out up to 1 m behind.

Why learners get this wrong: As soon as a load sticks out behind the vehicle, a marker board is required, however little it is.

Open this question

It is after sunset on the A28 near Assen. On your trailer is a boat that sticks out well behind it; the marker board is already attached. You now also have to show lights at the load.

  1. Red light to the rear; at the front the board itself is enough
  2. White light to the front and red light to the rear
  3. Red light to the front and white light to the rear
Show the answer

Correct answer: White light to the front and red light to the rear

False — You leave out the white light. When carrying in the dark, the protruding load needs both a white light to the front and a red light to the rear; the board does not replace a light.

Why learners get this wrong: With a protruding load in the dark only a red light to the rear is needed; at the front the marker board is enough.

Open this question

You are on a busy building site with several trailers. In which cases is a marker board required on a TRAILER? (multiple answers possible)

  1. If the load protrudes more than 10 cm at a side
  2. If the load protrudes more than 1 m at the rear
  3. On the passenger car as soon as the load protrudes more than 1 m at the rear
  4. Always, on every trailer regardless of the load
Show the answer

Correct answer: If the load protrudes more than 10 cm at a side; If the load protrudes more than 1 m at the rear

Why learners get this wrong: A passenger car with >1 m overhang must display a marker board.

Open this question

On the marina driveway in Heeg your load sticks out 1.2 m behind your trailer. You hang a square, red-and-white striped board of 45 by 45 cm on it, with its lower edge 0.30 m above the road. A neighbour says this is not allowed.

  1. Get a bigger board, it must be 50 by 50 cm
  2. Set off like this, the size and height of this board are fine
  3. Get another board, it should be blue and white
Show the answer

Correct answer: Set off like this, the size and height of this board are fine

False — You take the shop size for the legal size. A square rear board must be at least 42 by 42 cm; 50 by 50 cm is only a common size, so 45 by 45 cm is fine. (VekaBest p.229-230; Regeling voertuigen art. 130-132)

Why learners get this wrong: A marker board must legally be 50 by 50 cm.

Open this question

Frequently asked questions

‘A passenger car with >1 m overhang must display a marker board’ – is that true?

No. The marking-board requirement applies to the trailer, not to the passenger car itself

‘The marker board is blue-white’ – is that true?

No. The marking board is RED-AND-WHITE diagonally striped and retroreflective.

‘A marker board must legally be 50 by 50 cm’ – is that true?

No. The legal MINIMUM is a square board of 0.42 x 0.42 m; 50x50 is only a common commercial size, not the legal floor.

‘For night transport the red light goes at the front and the white light at the rear of the load’ – is that true?

No. WHITE light to the FRONT (oncoming traffic), RED light to the REAR (following traffic), just like ordinary vehicle lighting.

‘On every trailer a marker board is always required, regardless of the load’ – is that true?

No. The board is required at side >10 cm OR rear >1 m protrusion; without that protrusion there is no board duty.

Related topics

Open in the app