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If the LED headlights you`re looking at don`t advertise that they`re CERTIFIED OR APPROVED BY THE DOT, chances are they`re not really legal to use on the road. As of 2/2022, LED headlights will no longer be legal changes for cars homologated for use on the road or on the road. If you put a pair of GTR Lighting Ultra 2 in your climbing Jeep Wrangler that you slide on the trail, then you`re all set. Otherwise, it`s not technically legal for headlight applications. It is important to know the laws of your state, province or country before you fully commit to using LED lights or headlights. It`s just as important that you do your research to find out what is DOT compliant and what is not. Today, we`re going to look at what is and isn`t considered DOT compliant in a broader sense, and look at some real-world examples. The DOT-compliant embossed sticker or logo does not mean that the headlights or products you buy are truly DOT compliant. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “THE DOT does not approve motor vehicles or automotive equipment that comply with all applicable FMVSS. Rather, it is the responsibility of the original manufacturer of the vehicle or equipment. If you`re not so sure, look for reviews of their products on Amazon, eBay, YouTube, and forums for the vehicle you`re looking for. Typically, projectors under $100 that you see on marketplace sites like Amazon or eBay won`t meet dot regulations and will likely perform very poorly.

The bill was sponsored by Senator Dorsey Ridley of Henderson and restricts how drivers can change the headlights and taillights of their cars. At present, there are only a handful of companies that produce LED headlights, such as JW Speaker, Truck-Lite, GTR Lighting, United Pacific, Morimoto, Alpharex and a few others. The new law, enacted this week, requires vehicle headlights and taillights to have a standardized color. Many consumers are concerned about whether the headlights they are interested in pass an inspection or are considered “DOT compliant.” If your headlights indicate “DOT” or “DOT-compliant” or “DOT-Approved”, it`s a safe bet that your headlights will be classified as such. However, many brands use this nickname to fool you when they are anything but legal. Many even deceive you about their performance. We recently had the opportunity to integrate new 7×6 headlight housings and high-performance LED headlights into a 1995 Toyota Tacoma. This truck originally used H6054 sealed rectangular headlight housings, so the first step in installing the new LED headlight technology was to replace the original housings with new housings that could accommodate a replacement bulb. For this purpose, we installed Vision X #VX-57 waterproof rectangular beam housings. These new cases are DOT approved and equipped with ordinary H4 halogen lamps, which would be 30% brighter than the original sealed headlights. Essentially, it is up to the manufacturers of the headlights to determine whether they meet the requirements. If you are looking for something that can put you to sleep, you can read these requirements here.

In short, there are specifications for every possible application, every vehicle and every mounting position. In the United States, lamps, reflective devices, and related devices are regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Although these types of LED lights can be used instead of an original halogen lamp, it is not legal to use them in vehicles approved for road use. This type of modification can only be made if it is used in a fog light application, a special off-road application or in a jurisdiction outside the United States where it is allowed. For more information on how to determine if this type of product is safe to use and legal to use on public roads in the United States, click here for a more detailed breakdown of compliance. Stephen Alexander of Evansville said, “I see no point in making it illegal because it`s not like trying to shoot someone with blue lights instead of flashing red and blue lights.” According to a 2018 test by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 80% of all vehicles on the road are now equipped with factory headlights classified as “good”.