Is it legal for a car to have two different colored headlights? – Jalopnik

Headlights seem quite simple. If you have a car – and not a motorcycle – you must have two headlights. Those headlights must of course also work, but you must pay attention to additional rules surrounding them, including basic rules for their color. You might be tempted to change your headlights to a different color, or even have one headlight one shade and the other headlight a different color. If that’s what you were hoping to do on your ride, you’ll be disappointed.

In the United States, it is absolutely illegal to have different colored headlights on a car. Not only that, but there are also restrictions on what the colors can actually be, how bright light can be, or even the use of additional lighting such as light bars. While it may seem like a no-brainer to some, the rules and regulations surrounding vehicle lighting can be quite complex and in some cases even confusing.

Vehicles sold in the United States are regulated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the rules are set forth in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS). FMVSS 108 clearly states that the bottom and top bars must be white and that the white shade must fall within certain color limits to officially meet specifications. Other countries have not always followed these guidelines; There was a time in France when cars had yellow headlights.

The rules for mandatory lighting are quite strict. For example, the front direction indicators must be orange. The rear turn signals can be red or amber, but the brake lights must be red. If your car has adaptive headlights (the type that turn when you turn), they should only work when other manually selected lights, such as fog lights, are not on.

Speaking of fog lights, it is not a legal requirement to have them on a new car in the United States, so there is no specific rule at the federal level surrounding their color. Car manufacturers are even eliminating fog lights. However, there are rules at the state level. For example, in Washington you can use amber or white fog lights. Federal regulations only require that this additional lighting not interfere with the operation of the required lighting.

Brightness is not limited by lumens, but by candela output at specific test angles. That’s why BMW’s Laser Lights are no longer available here. As for area lighting, these are not permitted on the street. As mentioned earlier, there is a clause in the FMVSS which states: “No additional lamp, reflective device or other motor vehicle equipment shall be installed which will impair the effectiveness of the lighting equipment required by this standard.” Regardless of whether they are neatly mounted, aimed low or even emitting the correct white, fog lamps and off-road lights can exceed the candela limit, produce uncontrolled beams of light or cause dazzle to oncoming traffic.

It’s also worth noting that you absolutely shouldn’t use blue unless you want the attention of the police, as that color is only intended for emergency vehicles. While these federal rules are the law of the land, state and local regulations can also affect lightning, so it’s best to research that before making any changes. Headlights are designed to help you see and drive safely at night. Stick with lights that are designed and engineered to perform exactly that function, and leave the vehicle modifications to parts that aren’t about safe driving.