Knowledge Base
Automotive LED Lighting Laws by State (2025 Guide)
Where and when color-changing LEDs are legal, what “street-legal” actually means, and how to stay compliant while still turning heads with your build.
Are Color-Changing LED Lights Legal?
Short answer: Yes and No… No state in the U.S. allows color-changing (RGB, RGBW, Flow Series) exterior lights to be used while driving on public roads. But that doesn’t mean you can’t install them—you just have to be responsible and know the laws and regulations in your area. These are strictly for off-road use, car shows, or when your vehicle is parked.
- Legal Use: Color-changing LEDs are legal when parked, at meets, or on private property.
- On Public Roads: Using color-changing or non-white lights while driving can result in a ticket. Blue and red are especially prohibited.
- Lighting Trendz Advantage: Most Lighting Trendz kits let you instantly switch to a pure white mode. Set your lights to white before you hit the road to stay compliant—save the color show for meets, events, or when parked.
Federal vs. State Laws
- Federal DOT Standards: White/amber for front, red for rear, no flashing/strobing.
- State Laws: Can be stricter, especially for accent, underglow, or color-changing lights.
- Local Enforcement: Police may interpret laws differently—always check your local rules.
How to Stay Street Legal with Lighting Trendz Kits
- Switch to White: All color-changing kits include a pure white mode for legal driving.
- Use Color Modes When Parked: Enjoy RGB, chasing, or animated patterns at events, meets, or on private property.
- No Flashing or Strobing: These are almost always illegal on public roads.
- Check Local Rules: If in doubt, set to white or turn off while driving.
Automotive LED Lighting Laws by State (2025)
Click on your state below to view the latest LED lighting laws and compliance tips.
Color-changing LEDs not legal while driving. Only white or amber for the front, red for the rear.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Must not be blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No color-changing or underglow while driving. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not legal while driving.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not distracting.
No red or blue underglow. No color-changing while driving.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not red/blue, not flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No flashing or strobing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: No flashing/strobing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
Underglow is legal if not red, blue, or flashing and does not exceed 0.05 candela per sq in.
- Headlights: Only white/yellow bulbs allowed (no blue, red, green).
- Interior Accent: Permitted if not visible outside.
- Rear Lights: Red only.
No color-changing/blue/red lighting on public roads. Underglow legal if white/amber, not flashing.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not distracting.
No flashing or color-changing while driving. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not flashing/color-changing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue, red, or green. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/green.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
Underglow must not be distracting. No color-changing while driving.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not distracting, not color-changing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No red, blue, or flashing lights. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not red/blue/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue, red, or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No color-changing or underglow lights while driving. White/amber only for front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not legal while driving.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
Underglow and accent lighting not legal if visible while driving. Blue and red strictly prohibited.
- Headlights: White or amber only for front. No blue/red/green.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
- Rear Lights: Red only.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
No blue/red or flashing. White/amber only for the front.
- Headlights: White or amber only.
- Underglow: Not blue/red/flashing.
- Interior Accent: Allowed if not visible outside.
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