THE LAW AND REGULATIONS ON UPGRADED LIGHTS - HID's, LEDs, Tinted lights, Underglow, DRL's and more!
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- Опубліковано 24 чер 2024
- In today’s video, we take a look at the law and regulations on everything upgraded lights for your car.
From the law on tinting your lights to upgrading your bulbs this video has got it covered!
If you plan on modifying your lights just ensure to do so in line with the UK law, all rules and regs if you would like to read up on them yourself are posted below with the included link -
www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1...
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#LightingRegulations #ObligatoryLight #TheLaw - Авто та транспорт
Can we change the laws and legislations to ban numberplates that try and spell Boss.
I agree. Personally I like plates that represent the car not the driver. Like cl55 fst for a focus st for example or ck60 gtr for a gtr. I. Don't see the point in a license plate that barely represents the word or name you're trying to spell where only a select few of your mates even get it.
@@theCinator Not if it’s followed by bitch lol 😂
I think all 'private' plates make you look a bit of a tool.
@@R33Racer I agree, Instead of paying what could be thousands for a private plate just change your name by deed pole to whatever your reg is ...£18...Job done.
@@paultaylor319 Brilliant.
I co-run a car group, I love content like this because it makes it easier to make sure the me and my mates don't cause the wrong kind of attention at our meets and others.
We are currently in the mix of trying to modify certain member cars, and this video was shared by me, into our group chat as an example. So thank you
I just learned a new word. Interpretate.
And interpretating, AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH SSTTTTTTTTTTTOOOOOOOOOPPPPPPPPP
😂
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
I just was looking on internet info about underglow. Thanks. You just save my time
I got pulled tonight about my lights and was told to watch this video and Sarge you proved me right in the argument. I can have amber on the front. I wish all coppers were like you I would have respect.
I get pulled for my registration number being to similar to a back BMW on a 17 plate 😆 on the regular. It's only what 2001 silver golf
We can't have underglow because they're a distraction, yet lorries can have 27 million lights on it that will blind a car that's lowered or small, or maybe HID/LED lights, I understand that they're not making the right pattern but in the modern age where a 2005 car's lights are no match to anything new, I believe that used cars should also be allowed to have the same level of bulbs, its only fair.
Love these videos, and very interesting to know that I can use neon light on the road as long as they are not flashing and only certain colours
Great Video and was good to meet you at IOW!
Love this content! Just wish all officers were as understanding as this, have seen people getting tickets while stationary, engine off as the car was displaying something against the construction and use If it was on the road, such as red underglow at the front, or flashing blue and red lights.
The use of discretion is down to the individual officer and the drivers attitude also has alot to do with the outcome.
@@bighaith I've just retired from the Job. I spent 15 years on Traffic in my career and been trained as a Prohibition Officer. I used to like the meets because I'm a petrol head myself. When being deployed to a meet (forcefully) I used to say to the sprogs I worked with that you'll never find any issues with the cars because it's the be all & end all of enthusiasts ; nothing wrong with the car, ergo no defects. I'm going back about 15-20 years now but the girls from 'Max Power' will always be in my head. I loved walking around and taking my white cap off and get to know the mod's they were doing. There are nice Coppers out there mate but few & far between
If parked on the public highway surely its still an offence whether moving or not.. but on private property not anything to do with the police
If the vehicle is on the public road or public land then yes you will! Doesn't matter if your moving or not.
Spot on video. Very informative and helpful. I’m assuming interior lights doesn’t matter as you shouldn’t have them on while driving anyway then
Great advice, and well presented, thanks.
Ex designer here. The basic rule is red at rear, white at front and amber turns and that’s it. Wen designing u have to abide by this as to not cause distraction to other road users and that’s the key. Anything that is out of the ordinary or too bright/ not bright enough causes distractions which could cause accidents. Car designers abide by these rules and any mods made after it leaves the factory have to as well for road use. Hope that helps
headlights can be yellow too
Very informative 👍
I always thought having underglow using white for front amber for sides and red for rear would be a benefit for road use to increase visibility & this safety (other colours for shows if you like)
There are clearly laid out regulations on the positioning and particularly minimum/ maximum height for all lights.
Love these videos, and very interesting to know that can I use F1 rain light.
Bloody good show chaps! 👍
I have a 20-year-old motorcycle with 20-year-old lighting, rear lights are fine but the front headlight from factory is abysmal, fitted a 50% brighter h4 bulb which helps, but I've also fitted an independently switched 7 inch 30watt led light bar beneath the headlight and dipped it in-line with the dipped beam headlight and boy has it made a difference. Other road users can actually see me now. Some lighting upgrades will help protect your life !!
And yes, it's passes the mot, so no issues with it 👍
Bright lights and loud pipes save lives 💪
Yep agree. Why do we have sirens on emergency vehicles? So it draws attention to them and you can then get out of the way. Same with bikes, if I hear an exhaust I check my mirrors to she where they are.
I have the same issue,24 year old zr7,main beam is fine dip is like a bloody candle! Makes it really difficult to see when conditions are good,throw in a misty or rain soaked visor and new led/laser headlamps and I can't see much at all. It came with an aftermarket led headlamp that was crap to say the least. Sourced a genuine Kawasaki headlamp for my model and ended up with the terrible lighting I have now. For my safety and that if others I'm going to upgrade my headlight to a modern one from a newer Kawasaki,unsure what yet as I need to do research to find the best. Failing that it'll be a pair of led spot lamps mounted low down and pointing to where I need to see. Out of courtesy I dip my lights but sometimes I question wether,for my ability to see,I leave em up! Ride safe and be seen and heard,loud enough for deaf people to feel the noise! Dreamland again!!
Another great video 👍
I remember about 20yrs ago, getting pulled for red illuminated washer jets 😂
Must of had nothing better todo
I've had blue illuminated washer jets and been pulled
Had a print out of the legislation, saying they weren't flashing
Just at that point a HGV with green, blue and orange lights all over the front passed by and they let me go, couldn't do anything anyway
@@jjmmjj9999 Mate, it was the usual thing then, "If you can't see over it, don't stop it"
Remember getting mine from a car mag 😂😂
Beats me how some cars get their lights type approved, particularly Audi LED indicators, which are close to invisible if the brake lights are on.
Problem with HID upgrade bulbs, the focal point doesn't match the original bulbs, so don't match reflectors causing glare.
Actually you explaining this in your comment was much easier for me to understand.
What the copper was saying 👍🏿
@@zigzag7194 another problem with HID in reflector lamp the reflector behind the housing cannot control the beam pattern which is why it basically send the light everywhere and that’s what causes to dazzle other drivers coming towards you. This police officer needs to explain more rather than just saying “No you can’t do this, you can’t do that, you can’t have this, you can’t have that”
There is an option with HID bulbs that can be used for reflector lamp is anti-glare. For example (H7R) while normal
HID bulbs doesn’t use anti glare stripe which is why it should be used in a projector headlight is that got the black stripe over the bulb, now what that does is that controls the pattern and reduces glare from reflector headlight which doesn’t dazzle other drivers if you know what I mean? I used to have a pair of them but the cut off line isn’t great but there’s no glare to others! Hope this helps you out a bit!
Brilliant video wish there was more officers like this just a quick on you spoke about tinting headlight is it OK to have yellow head lights if it dosnt effect the beam
No, white or Amber to the front only.
I've had under car leds on whilst driving, always kept on solid colour and not flashing, never had issue with police. So long as as its used sensibly.
great video guys
I once had an electrical fualt. I tracked it down to a loose connection on the main/dip relay. When driving it made the lights flash between main and dip at about the same frequency as the flashing light beacons. Peope were very quick to move out of my way on that journey.
The MOT Tester Manual sometimes gets into conflict with the category of defects manual (VOSA) or now VDSA
Another great video
The ST is the pre-facelift version of the Mk2, so even the Un-modified lights only had half the cluster as opposed to the RS’s full length red lights, as the RS is a face lifted version of the Mk2 Focus.
Yep
Yes the facelift ST225 and Titanium models with the city pack have the same led rear and HID headlamps as the RS
Fantastic video lots of good advice for us all. just a quick question i would like to add, can I fit LED indicator bulbs to my vehicle that are brighter than normal?
I know you have to inform your insurance company of any different bulbs fitted because it's classed as a modification (comes under 'driving lights' I believe). Extra insurance cost of as much as £90 just for changing stop/tail bulbs to LEDs
I always thought you had to turn off underglow when you go on the road, interesting to know, love these videos always learning from them and much more clearer then written rules ect. Keep up the good videos :)
I often drive around with my under glows on, mainly have purple so don't fall in to the banned colours, I haven't passed any police yet so who know if they would actully stop me.
but do all Police know the rules though. I bet they dont
@@MCraigyboy7 yep and might pull you over and find a a whole host of illegalities, I 'd be f#cked 🤣🤣
@@MCraigyboy7 Crimebodge used to have them on film googling for the correct offence and or legislation. Most of them are worth nothing, make the laws up on the spot, interpret it how they see fit, will gladly stitch you up given the opportunity. But you're ok if you are a criminal only the innocent cause them paperwork after reporting said crimes.
From what I got with this, green and blue neons is ok as long as they're not flashing.
No, because if you can see your underglows from the rear and they're any other colour then red then you fall foul of displaying a colour other then red to the rear. You can have static green or blue lights to the front of your vehicle. So I guess you could have static green or blue neons to the front. But not on the sides or the back. Because if they were on the sides of the vehicle you'd see them to the back. You're pretty much limited to static events.
@@zulut1876 not quite true. As was mentioned with the registration lamps, because the physical light source isn’t visible, it’s not classed as showing that colour to the rear, hence why the bright LED plate lamps tbat shine white on the floor are legal. It’s not classed as showing a white light to the rear, as the physical light source isn’t visible, it’s just the reflection.
You can have underglow on, any colour as long as it’s not flashing, it’s just on a solid colour and the physical light source isn’t visible, just the reflection of the light on the ground
@@KylesCarsYT good points, gettin neons on my car next week, bit nervous but want to drive with them on
@@KylesCarsYT I have a challenger put I don’t like the yellow/orange halo lights, can I install leds on it and drive with them? I’m in texas
just go with purple
I’m so glad that the police know how to prioritise keeping the public safe. Good job we don’t have any vulnerable member of the public go missing, as the police intimate knowledge of vehicle type approval will be so useful to finding them.
great vid. spotlights
Way Back In The 90s I Got Pulled In Mk4 Escort RS For Some Blue Globe Caps From Motorworld. You Put Then Over Halogen Bulbs To Give A White Look, You Could Get Ones To Give A Rainbow 🌈 Effect Too, Got Told To Take Them Out There And Then At The Side Of The Road. And They Were Bleeding Hot!!🔥
With regards to amber strobe lights, my van came with them when I brought it and I’ve never had any issues with them with regards to the police or mot or anything. There’s a switch in the cab but I’ve never used them and they’ll be a pain to unwire I imagine.
Thats a commercial vehicle, construction and use regs. A are is a passenger carrying vehicle not a commercial vehicle.
The Focus MK3 is gorgeous!
Great video, is it possible to fit front fog lamps to a 2010 mk2.5 focus which have the plastic covers fitted ?
So, I could do solid blue all round as long as it doesn’t flash? Or you can do white at the front and sides, but not the back.
George didn’t listen to him at all 😂😂
clearly didn't interpretate what was being said.... *facepalm.
@@ClassicCarDriver Hahaha. Was giving me a headache listening to him say that over and over. I'm not one for pointing out mistakes but Jesus Christ.
Will the MOT test the capability of the driver to know how to use an indicator (audi) and the fact if you do actually indicate its not a god given right to move in that direction instantly in front of traffic.
Here in Doncaster, it seems nobody uses their indicator.
Top man 🙌🏽
Very interesting
Nice vid but have you seen some rear clusters on new cars? They cannot be type approved. A bit of sun and you cannot see the indicators, or differentiate between rear lights and brake lights.
I agree, indicators too close to headlights is a particular problem.
Enjoyed this video. I think LED stop lights are safer as they come on a fraction quicker than standard bulbs. I think there's an issue with the amount of cars driving around with illegal number plates. Wrongly spaced or sized letters and numbers which could cause confusion by an older person.
They are but the most are badly built Chinese tat that will start flashing, they may not light at all or rapidly have LEDs die. If its a well engineered bulb it would be an improvement
He didn't say that LEDs can't be used. He said that they can't be used in lights that are not type approved for LEDs. The issue here is effect on light performance. The type approval regulations for lights will specify both the brightness and the angles that the light should be visible. This is achieved by the design of the reflector and lens based on the bulb it was designed for. An LED replacement bulb may throw all of this out meaning that the light no longer meets the regulation.
You could ask if the average police officer or MOT station has the ability to check this. After all they're not going to start pulling apart the light and checking the bulbs used against the type approval or sending them off to a lab for testing, all they are going to do is look at the light and make a judgement if they seem to be OK.
A bigger problem with number plates is the (illegal) fashion for hiding the front one on the dashboard instead of keeping them where they should be - on the front of the car 🤷♂️ .....and then there's the tinted plates; what's the point of those!???
I lived in four European countries ... I probably drove most of the car and I can definitely say that the UK is the most tolerant police I have ever dealt with!!! Most of the countries you can forget about any tinted lights! About neons under the car even don't think!! Gentlemen, I think you have to appreciate it more, instead of cursing at the sight of the police. Good job mate 👍 Thank you to the police officer for your time and thorough explanation! Safe journeys 4all👍👍 ( don't drink and drive)
I am not sure your comment about the tolerant police applies to the whole UK. The Devon and Cornwall police are the best I have ever met. I am from Hertfordshire but worked in Honiton for 10 years.
Steven Westhead you beat me to it!!! 🤣🤣🤣
So white underglow on the front, red underglow on the back and orange underglow on the sides. Years ago I used red underglow indirect lights to make the tyres and road red. I'd have thought this would be a good thing.
Just commenting on a random video hope u see, did u ever do a video on the foot well blue light u have or what did u do for these, just got a focus st3 mk2 but driving on a night I need them lights
I don't understand how some modern cars, like some versions of the Mini get through type approval. Who thought it was a good idea to have the front indicators in the headlights. I nearly had an accident when a mini turned across me on a mini roundabout at night. He was indicating but it was almost invisible with the headlights on.
I know what you mean, pig at roundabouts. Some even newer cars now turn headlight off while indicating.
Thanks for this interesting video however, since the front lights of my 2007 vehicle are totally inadequate for night road use nowadays, especially with these new HID & Laser headlamps of oncoming more recent cars ! . . . So ? How do I fix the problem legitimately when I cannot even upgrade to a different and more reliable type of bulb?
What about adding extra driving (spot) lights and LED light bars? E markings and how bright they can be (100w bulbs, HIDs and LEDs etc).
Nice dude 👌
Thanks good information
Would love an update on this , so if there's any news on the outcome please tell. We want a fencing ripping out party 🥳
Hi, love your videos and think that it is a great way to get the public on side and give them a source of information they can trust.
There is one point that was confusing.
You said no red to the front, that bit is clear. But then you said only white or Amber to the front. But then added you can have static blue or green.
My understanding was under the Road vehicle lighting regulations 1989 that any optional lights fitted to the front would likely be deemed optional position lamps or headlights and therefore have to meet specific colour requirements, being white or if in a headlamp capable of displaying only yellow, then yellow.
This would mean that although blue and green are not defined as a prohibited light colour like red, they are not permitted under the regulations either.
The RVLR also states that a vehicle cannot be fitted with a blue light that resembles a warning beacon whether in working order or not, which is something people should take into account when fitting the lights even for show purposes. Obviously most officers would deal with the matter in context of the situation. (A warning beacon would also be not less than 1200mm from the floor so probably not relevant for most optional lamps fitted to cars.)
What about additional mounted lighting, most commonly seen on camper, work or other vehicals
Is it ok to have amber running lights at the front. For example having indicators always on as running lights?
Hi mate, can I ask whether pace car indicators are legal? Eg on Golfs or Audis
I’ve got led strip lights inside my Vauxhall mareva design automatic and manual in the foot wells
George... What about the Euro reverse light mod in place of the red fog light..? (so from a symmetrical point of view you have two white lenses on the rear instead of a white one on the N/S and a red one on the O/S.) As long as it lights up red its OK right?
Some factory cars do this and have a red bulb for the fog light, afaik the light coming out of the lights have to be the right colours and intensity, so the lenses can be any colour, years ago you could buy green, yellow, red, blue, smoked, clear lenses but the light showing was the right colour and intensity so were legal.
True content love it
I’m that rare, circumstance specific case that makes a good moot point.
As a First Aider of many years, & general kindly type, I’ll stop to assist at RTCs & breakdowns in awkward places.
May I use amber beacons in those cases, to ensure greater safety?
Having rewatched, it seems that if I’m using for those purposes only, I may
Great video, really interesting to have definitive information on what I can do to my car. If my car is fitted with halogen DRL lights, can I legally change them to white LED’s? Cheers
Yeah I’m pretty sure you can. It’s just low beam and high beam that are illegal to change to leds
@@jacobbrown6086 Cheers mate, that’s what I thought.
@@daveonions9978 even if they were, there’s a very small chance you’d get caught, most garages don’t even bother checking my the if you have Leds despite it being a requirement on an mot test
What about led sequential in the wing mirrors?
Basically aslong as its visible in daytime then tinted lights shouldn't be a problem and hid must be fitted in projector housings only not reflecters
so, if i wanted my underglow purple, i could have my purple underglow turned on while im driving around?
Front fog lights yellow color are legal as well. I like led lights but problem with some of them is visibility on angles. To stay behind vehicle every light is very bright. But indicator led light in crocc roads very often are hopeless on visibility way from angle view.
Leds are classed as a laser product, so have to be carefully designed.
Did I miss the part about front fog lights? Or was it not mentioned in the video? Are the colours for front fog yellow/white only?? Thanks.
The high-level third brake light will indeed fail an MoT if there is insufficient light but if it doesn't work at all it is not tested and so will not fail the test, therefore, having it fitted does not mean it has to work. The MoT inspector has to assume it has been disconnected or switched off.
High level brake light if fitted, must work,
@@melvinplant8637 Nope, it does not have to work as it may be disconnected or switched off meaning the MoT tester cannot check the light output. Unlike the two mandatory brake lights the high-level third brake light does not have to be fitted but, if it is fitted then it has to have sufficient light output. In other words, if say it has 9 LED bulbs and only 4 illuminate then it will fail the test. Anything over around 50% will be okay but only the MoT tester can confirm that as they will probably use a light meter.
@@mda5003 easiest way if its not working put tape over it, can't fail my megane passed third light was knackered put black tape over it passed
Hey, i live in exmouth… where do you get most of your mods from? And body work done?
Great video. But i see some lorry on the road street with the underglow neon and the color it s green and blue. It s not flashing. If I put the underglow neon on my car and I drive with the blue or red on the road can I have problem with the law?
Can you confirm wether infinity mirror tail lights are legal or not as i want to make some for my fiesta
So if my car is factory fitted with halogen bulbs I can’t put LED bulbs in the car? Because at night where I live there’s a lot of back roads and I find it hard to see with halogen bulbs I’d much prefer the bright led lights they are much more clear and help a lot more
In regards to the third brake light, I drive a low car 124 spider, can I add a flasher module to it for better visibility/safety when braking, ie it flashes 3 or 4 times before staying lit under braking?
I had one and got told to take it off plus I had the strobe bulbs. (Back brake lights)
I only ever used them when I went on the motorway.
So for the Neons underglow, it seems that if the LED around the front is showing white and the transition to the back showing red, then it should be ok ? since from the back u only see the red and front only see the white ?
So you can have an indirect white light for a number plate light on the rear (which when upgraded to led usually shine on road) but can’t have indirect underglow in white at the rear doing the same thing doesn’t make sense
What a top Bobby 👮♀️
modern factory fitted led lights suffer from prism effect anyway especially when the self leveling is trying to adjust the aim over bumps.
self dipping lights are a bad idea too, it encourages drivers to leave main beam on permanently with no failsafe if the system develops a fault
Can u fit an addition DTR lights ?
I think it was an episode of police interceptors, or one of those police documentaries anyway, where they stopped someone for driving with blue illuminated washer jets on the bonnet. I thought they were steady blues on the front but the officers there said to remove them, although they didn't want them off immediately, the driver punched them smashing them off the bonnet at that time to stop them working. If steady blues are allowed at the front, why did that officer say they weren't allowed? Was it because they were on top of the bonnet making them visible from other directions directly, like the side, as a blue? I can't remember if they had an option to flash, in which case it's understandable why, but I can't remember for sure.
Back in the early 00s I received a ticket for blue lights in my grill. 😂
Hey I purchased two pairs of led low beam lights.
1. Watt 60w (30w/ bulb) & Lumens 6000LM
2. Watt 50w (25w/ bulb) & Lumens 5000LM
I obviously want high visibility but dont want to blind on coming drivers - what do you suggest?
I would have liked to know if you can swap the entire headlight assembly, not just the globe, from a halogen to led
Can you have a white light on back of a work van if they are on a separate switch in the back of the van for work purposes
Can we get an update on this for motorbikes?
Sure all the rules are the same.
The biggest problem, in my opinion, is badly adjusted lights which is amplified by high performance led lights.
Even bicycle high powered lights are a hazard to oncoming traffic of any kind.
It is interesting to note that upper priced cars etc with bright led lights are self adjusting which takes out bad human factor adjusting / setting up the lamps.
The problem with some LED conversions is that the illuminated area of the LED lamp "bulb" is much larger than the tungsten filament of the original bulb. This makes it impossible for the reflector and lens to focus the light into the correct dipped beam pattern with a sharply cut-off top to the beam, so not enough light shines on the road and too much shines into the eyes of people coming the other way.
@@cedriclynch just a pity that no one wants to legislate to make these lamps safer
@@JohnSmith-bx8zb The legislation is there; since the 1970s it has been illegal to have a lamp or bulb that is one of the obligatory lamps of a vehicle and that is not "E-approved". I doubt that the police would ever check this if the lighting performance is satisfactory, but now they often do not check even if the performance of the lamp is manifestly unsatisfactory.
The lights on new cars should be illegal. The amount of times I've had near misses at night due to being blinded by these lights
@Jeff Pugh sadly most are not fitted in self adjusting lights
Can the rear of a car have obligatory led lights to the right drivers side and bulb lights to the passenger side rear, so the cluster looks different on either side.
you said its not ok to replace the bulbs with leds in the original housing would that make it ok if you got a housing designed for leds?
My car doesn't have drls but has the imprint for where they can go on the more expensive models can I drill them holes out and put purple led lights in them (for off road use like car meets and shows)
So can I wrap my headlights yellow like the old school euro cars and GT cars use today? They help in bad weather at night
Do the DVLA have a problem with infinity lights found on the rear?
Not sure if this question has been asked, can you use chameleon head light tint?
Whats the deal with flashing reds at the rear. Are only emergency services allowed to use them when stopped? If thats the case how come some recovery and highways use them?
AFAIK the intensity of the headlight is not governed by the output illumination on standard halogen/incandescent lights, its governed by wattage so that you can fit 60/55W headlamps that give twice the standard lumen output for the same wattage.
I wonder what the laws are for me having coloured neon underglow on my motorbike. Having been knocked off at night I'd love other lights on the side of the bike fairings around the engine holes
I'd point out my van has added lights up the side and a light bar on the front. It also has lights used for lighting at the rear for unloading.
If I can run with orange lights up the side of the van why not my car or bike?
Side lights? What colour do they have to be as one time I put pink lights in but then took them out
So can I use blue LED sidelight bulbs i ordered some thinking they were a white light
Does this mean that custom tail lights are de facto not allowed? What is the process to get your type of light approved specifically? Who would I contact to have them tested?
I don't see anything in the lighting regs that would prohibit them, and they would pass an MOT as far as I know.
Back when I was a child I had fascinations with lighting on the car I've grown up now
Is there any legislation on how bright/powerful DRLs can be?