How to Choose the Best Car LED Lights

In the world of automotive lighting, LED lights have become increasingly popular for their energy efficiency, brightness, and longevity. Whether you're looking to upgrade your headlights, taillights, underglow or interior lighting, choosing the best car LED lights can significantly enhance both the style and performance of your vehicle. In this guide, we'll walk you through everything you need to know to make an informed decision.

1. Different types of LED lights for cars.

When selecting LED lights for your car, you have a variety of options. It's important to determine whether you're enhancing your car's lighting performance or aiming to make it more distinctive in the parking lot. For improving performance, consider LED headlights, tail lights, or light bars for enhanced forward visibility. Alternatively, for adding style, explore options like underglow kits, interior lighting, or accent lights that can make your vehicle stand out on the road.

2. How to choose LED headlights and fog lights for your car.

LED headlights and foglights are major upgrades from your stock halogen headlight, but there are so many options. How do you know which ones to choose? Here are a few things to look for when choosing LED headlights for your car:

• Check Compatibility- There are many different size types when it comes to car headlights. Ensure the LED headlights are compatible with your car.

• Lumens- This is the measurement of how much light the bulb is producing. The higher the number of lumens the brighter the light bulb is, although this number can be heightened by manufacturers. For instance, a bulb may emit 3,000 lumens at start up, but after 30 minutes of driving, its output could decrease to 1,500 lumens. Therefore, evaluating cooling mechanisms and beam patterns of LED headlight bulbs is crucial when making a decision.

• Color Temperature- The color temperature of car headlights bulbs typically range between 5000k to 6500k. 5000k light bulbs produce a “warmer” more yellow light vs. the 6500k produces a “cooler” more blue light.

• Beam Pattern- This is the “spread” of the light output. The beam pattern correlates closely with the "brightness" of the LED headlight bulb and uses a reflector to create the pattern. It is important to get bulbs that share the same or similar low and high beam pattern as OEM bulbs.

3. Different types of LEDs for underglow and accent lighting.

Two common types of LEDs used in car underglow are RGB and RGBW. RGB stands for red, green, blue, while RGBW includes an additional 'W' for white. Both types are capable of changing colors, but RGBW LEDs have a separate white LED chip, producing a pure white light. In contrast, RGB LEDs create white light by combining red, green, and blue, often resulting in a slightly bluish tint. If you prefer running your lights on white, you should be looking for RGBW LED lights for your car!

4. Different ways to control LED car lights.

When selecting LED car lights it’s important to consider how they are operated. This may seem straightforward but there are actually several options out there. Basic LED light kits feature a simple on/off switch. For color-changing lights, you might opt for a dash-mounted controller, enabling adjustments to colors and patterns by cycling through buttons. Alternatively, smartphone-controlled lights provide extensive customization for underglow and accent lighting. There are also addressable LED light kits that can be controller by your smart-phone and a key fob controller. These kits put a ton of customization right at your finger tips, whether you want to use your phone or press a button. Some smartphone controlled LED light kits even have sensor wires that can turn the underglow lights on the car into additional turn signals or brake lights. 

5. Installation.

If you're considering installing LED lights on your car yourself, it's important to carefully consider the installation requirements when choosing which lights to purchase. Understanding these requirements not only helps you select a kit that's easy to install but also ensures durability and optimal light performance. Some automotive LED light kits utilize a "daisy-chain" wiring method, where lights connect in series from the controller. Alternatively, there are kits that feature custom electrical connectors for enhanced waterproofing and reliability. These kits typically offer straightforward installation and greater longevity. On the other hand, certain kits may only provide lights and wires, requiring special tools, connectors, or soldering for installation, which can be time-consuming and introduce potential weak points in the lighting system. For a hassle-free installation and a dependable LED light setup for your car, prioritize kits with "daisy-chained" lights and specific electrical connections on both lights and wiring.

6. Want to stand out from the crowd?

Now, let’s say you are building your dream car and you want it to be seen from space… here is what you need! Underglow will shine light completely under the car, giving it the UFO look. Wheel ring lights are mounted behind your wheels and will shine through your wheels and light up everything inside of them. For the interior of the car, interior light kits will come with flexible strips to light up all of the footwells and under the seats of your car. There are even LED bulbs that will fit directly into your dome lights and will connect to your phone to change colors. If you want to give the interior a premium look, check out fiber optic kits. If you want more visibility at night, slim light bars are a popular upgrade to be hidden in a front bumper or even behind the grill.

When selecting the best LED lights for your car, whether it's interior lighting, underglow, the best LED headlights, or tail lights, the key is finding a balance between style, functionality, and legal compliance. Each type serves a unique purpose in enhancing both aesthetics and safety. Whether you go for vibrant underglow to turn heads on the road, bright headlights for clear visibility, LED tail lights for added safety, or ambient interior lighting for a comfortable driving experience, your choices should reflect your personal preferences while keeping practicality in mind. Take your time to research and select the right LED lights based on your needs, preferences, and vehicle specifications.