Debs - yeah, they should tell you that at the time. If not, its printed on the back of the form, but I doubt most people read that.
172 - hmmm, not sure about the EU directive, you may be right, I've never looked into it. All new cars seem to have them these days, even vans so you are probally right, though I dont believe they are covered by UK legislation (at the moment). Incidentally, this whole '3rd brake light' thing started as a trend in the US and it wasnt until Volvo fitted it that it became a safety thing! I remember when they first started appearing and all and sundry with their old heaps were running to Halfords to get a cheap knock up 3rd brake light which they fitted to the rear window with sticky tape to look 'cool' (they never managed to get them straight), it was the chav add on at the time!!
Stu - at least you know now, lol!