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Bettesworth Construction
car safety

How to Find and Use Your Car’s Hazard Light Button

Find the hazard triangle control, learn how hazards operate, and check vehicle-specific behavior and local rules.

By Bettesworth Construction Team 10 min read
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Look for a dashboard button marked with a hazard warning triangle. Its location varies by vehicle, so check the owner’s manual for your car’s make, model, year and market if you can’t spot it quickly.

Where to look for the hazard light button

Use the triangle symbol as a visual clue, not a promise about the button’s color, size or position. Search the dashboard and nearby controls; the button may be in a different place—or be available through a display control—depending on the vehicle. The symbol is a more useful starting point than assuming the switch will be in one standard spot.

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Check the areas identified in your vehicle’s manual rather than relying on a location you remember from another car. A dashboard layout can differ between manufacturers, models and model years. Even examples from the same broad category—such as a physical button on a panel versus an option on a screen—are not interchangeable instructions for every vehicle.

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Vehicle example Location described by the manufacturer
Hyundai, 2025 owner-manual example Center fascia panel
Ford MKZ, 2016 owner manual Instrument panel
Volvo EX30 support information Overhead console, with a display control also available
Kia, 2026 owner-manual example Center front panel

These are examples from specific vehicles and years, not a survey of all cars or a guarantee that another model uses the same layout. The Hyundai and Kia examples describe a center-area control, while Ford’s MKZ example places it on the instrument panel. Volvo’s EX30 is a useful reminder that a vehicle may provide both an overhead-console button and a display option. None of those examples establishes a universal position.

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If the triangle symbol is not immediately apparent, use the manual for the exact vehicle rather than pressing unrelated controls to see what they do. Make, model, year and market all matter when matching a manual to a car: the same nameplate can have different equipment or instructions in different versions. If you are using a manufacturer’s manual lookup, enter the vehicle details requested so the instructions correspond as closely as possible to your car.

Also check whether your vehicle’s manual describes a physical button, a display control, or both. On the Volvo EX30, Volvo’s support information describes both an overhead-console button and a display option. That is a model-specific interface, not evidence that every car has a screen control or that every screen presents the hazards in the same way. If your vehicle uses a display option, follow the manual’s directions for finding it rather than assuming where it appears.

How to switch the hazard lights on and off

  1. Identify the correct control. Look for the hazard warning triangle and confirm its location in the manual for your make, model, year and market. Do not assume that the position shown in another vehicle’s manual applies to yours.
  2. Use the control when a warning is needed. Whether hazards may be used while a vehicle is moving depends on local rules. If you are unsure of the rule where you are driving, check local guidance; do not treat another country’s exception as permission in your location.
  3. Press the hazard control to switch the flashers on. In the cited Hyundai and Ford examples, pressing the control once turns the flashers on. Look for the exterior lights flashing to confirm the warning is active. The Hyundai and Kia manuals describe all turn signals flashing simultaneously when their hazards are on.
  4. Press again to switch them off. The cited Hyundai and Ford manuals describe pressing the control a second time to turn the flashers off. Check that the flashing has stopped. If you need to use an ordinary turn signal, confirm hazards are off first, because the Hyundai manual says normal turn signals do not work in the usual way while its hazards are active.

The single-press, second-press sequence is documented for the cited Hyundai and Ford examples; it should not be treated as a universal guarantee. Controls and operating behavior can differ. Use the procedure in your own vehicle’s manual, especially if the control is on a display or if pressing it does not produce the expected result.

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When checking that the hazards have turned on or off, look for the exterior lights rather than relying only on a guess about the button’s position. The Hyundai and Kia manuals specifically describe the turn signals flashing together. If the lights continue flashing after you believe you have switched them off, consult the manual for the vehicle-specific procedure rather than assuming the switch has behaved exactly like another model’s.

It is worth learning where the control is before you need it, using the correct manual for the vehicle. That preparation is particularly helpful when the control is not in the center area or when a display option is involved. The practical sequence remains simple: identify the triangle, operate the correct control according to the manual, and check whether the exterior lights are flashing.

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What changes while the hazards are active

In Hyundai’s 2025 owner-manual example, all turn signals flash together while the hazards are on, and the normal turn signals do not work in the usual way until the hazards are switched off. If you need to signal a turn, switch off the hazards first and check that the normal signal is operating. Do not assume a turn signal will be communicated normally while the hazard flashers are active on this example.

Kia’s 2026 owner-manual example also says all turn signals blink simultaneously. This supports the practical warning that hazards can make the vehicle’s turn signals behave differently, but the Hyundai manual is the cited source that specifically states ordinary turn signals do not work in the usual way while hazards are active. Follow the wording in your own manual for your vehicle; do not extend one manufacturer’s exact description to all cars.

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Some vehicles may activate hazards automatically in specific situations. Volvo says the EX30 can do so under described emergency-braking or collision conditions; some behavior depends on local regulations. This is an EX30-specific feature, not a general rule for other cars. Do not assume that your car will automatically switch its hazards on after a collision or hard braking, and do not rely on an automatic feature instead of learning how to operate the manual control.

The Volvo support information was updated on August 9, 2025. Its description concerns the EX30 and includes behavior that can depend on local regulations. It should not be used to infer that an older Volvo, another Volvo model, or a different make will have the same automatic response, the same display control, or the same conditions for activation.

When to use hazard lights

Hazard lights warn other road users to exercise caution. Hyundai describes roadside repairs and stopping near the edge of a roadway as examples of situations in which its flasher may be used. These examples explain the warning purpose; they do not make an unsafe stop or otherwise dangerous or illegal parking safe. Whether you may use hazards in a particular situation, especially while moving, depends on the rules where you are.

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Think of hazards as a warning signal, not a substitute for choosing a safe place to stop or following parking rules. The UK Highway Code addresses hazards as a warning in defined circumstances, and warns against treating them as permission to park dangerously or illegally. Its guidance does not say that switching on flashers makes an otherwise prohibited stop acceptable.

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Hazards can also be relevant when a vehicle is temporarily obstructing traffic while stationary, according to the UK Highway Code. This is UK guidance, and it does not create a worldwide standard. Check the rules for the jurisdiction where you are driving, including any limits on using hazards while moving or while being towed.

Rules depend on where you are

Do not assume that the same rules apply everywhere. In the UK, the Department for Transport’s The Highway Code, Rule 116, allows a narrow use while moving: warning traffic behind about a hazard or obstruction on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway. The rule says: “Only use them for long enough to ensure that your warning has been observed.” Rule 116 also addresses stationary warnings and cautions against treating hazards as permission to park dangerously or illegally.

The moving-use exception is specifically UK guidance for the stated road types and warning purpose. It is not a general permission to drive with hazards flashing, and it should not be applied automatically in another country. The Highway Code also addresses use while driving or being towed; check the full local rule for the precise restrictions that apply to your situation. If you are outside the UK, follow the law where you are rather than relying on this UK example.

For a practical decision, separate two questions: does the vehicle’s manual explain how the control works, and do local rules permit using it in the circumstances you face? The manual answers the vehicle-operation question. It does not replace local road rules. Conversely, a road rule does not tell you where a particular model’s button is located. Check both when needed.

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Using hazards with the engine off or while towing

Whether the hazards operate with the engine off depends on the vehicle. Hyundai’s 2025 example says its flasher works with the Start/Stop button in any position. Ford’s 2016 MKZ manual warns that using the hazards while the vehicle is not running may drain the battery. These statements describe different model-specific details; neither should be turned into a rule for every car.

For the same reason, do not assume that a vehicle’s hazards will stop working when the engine is off, or that leaving them on has no effect on the battery. Check the manual for the exact vehicle. If you do not need the warning any longer, switch the lights off according to the manual instead of leaving them on without a reason. Ford’s warning is specifically about the 2016 MKZ and says use while the vehicle is not running may drain its battery; it does not specify a universal time limit or battery-drain rate.

Check the manual before using hazards while towing. Kia’s 2026 owner-manual page includes a caution about hazard use while towing. The existence of that caution is a reason to consult the vehicle-specific instructions, not a basis for declaring one towing rule that applies to every model or jurisdiction. Local rules may also matter, so check those separately.

A quick checklist

  • Find the hazard warning triangle; do not rely on a universal button position.
  • Match the owner’s manual to the vehicle’s make, model, year and market.
  • Check whether your car uses a physical switch, a display control, or both.
  • For the cited Hyundai and Ford examples, pressing once turns hazards on and pressing again turns them off; verify your own model’s operation.
  • Check that the exterior lights are flashing when on and have stopped flashing when off.
  • With hazards active, remember that Hyundai’s cited manual says ordinary turn signals do not work in the usual way.
  • Follow local law for stationary use, moving use and towing; UK Highway Code Rule 116 is UK-specific.
  • Check the manual for engine-off operation and any battery or towing caution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is the hazard light button in a car?

Look for a control marked with a hazard warning triangle, but do not expect one standard location. A 2025 Hyundai manual places it on the center fascia panel, the 2016 Ford MKZ manual describes it on the instrument panel, and Volvo’s EX30 support information identifies an overhead-console button as well as a display option. Use the manual for your exact make, model, year and market.

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How do I turn my car’s hazard lights on and off?

The cited Hyundai and Ford examples turn the flashers on when you press the hazard control and off when you press it again. Confirm that your own vehicle uses the same operation in its manual, then check the exterior lights to verify whether they are flashing.

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Can I use hazard lights while driving?

It depends on local law. UK Highway Code Rule 116 gives a narrow exception for warning traffic behind about a hazard or obstruction on a motorway or unrestricted dual carriageway, and says to use hazards only long enough for the warning to be observed. That is UK guidance, not a worldwide rule; check the law where you are.

Do hazard lights work when the engine is off?

It depends on the vehicle. Hyundai’s 2025 example says its flasher works with the Start/Stop button in any position, while the 2016 Ford MKZ manual warns that using hazards while the vehicle is not running may drain the battery. Check your own manual and avoid leaving them on longer than needed.

Can I use hazard lights while towing?

Check both your vehicle manual and local rules. Kia’s 2026 owner-manual page includes a caution about hazard use while towing, but that model-specific caution does not establish a rule for every vehicle or jurisdiction.

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Why are my turn signals behaving differently when the hazards are on?

In Hyundai’s 2025 manual example, all turn signals flash simultaneously while hazards are active, and ordinary turn signals do not work in the usual way until the hazards are switched off. Switch the hazards off before using an ordinary turn signal, then check that the signal is operating. Follow your own manual for your vehicle’s behavior.

Can a car turn its hazard lights on automatically?

Some vehicles can. Volvo says the EX30 can activate hazards under described emergency-braking or collision conditions, with some behavior depending on local regulations. This feature should not be assumed on other models; check your vehicle’s manual.

The Bottom Line

Find the hazard triangle in the manual for your exact vehicle, press its control as directed, and verify that the exterior lights flash. Press again to switch them off only if that is the operation specified for your model. Hazards affect turn-signal behavior on some vehicles, can have battery or towing caveats, and are subject to local rules—especially when driving or being towed.

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