Can you have colored headlights or underglow lights on your car in GA? What the law says
Time to ride in style, Georgia.
We’re talking aftermarket colored headlights and underglow lights to customize your vehicle and the laws pertaining to this subject.
Here’s what to know:
Can I have colored headlights on my vehicle in Georgia?
While there are laws regarding colored lights on vehicles, they aren’t terribly in depth. Here’s what Georgia law states:
“It shall be unlawful for any person to use any motor vehicle equipped with flashing, blinking, revolving, or stationary blue lights.”
However, Georgia code 40-8-34. does say that all lighting on vehicles must be in accordance with Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J578 standards, which details the chromaticity requirements for lighting on vehicles. The code states that white and yellow/amber are the only permitted colors for headlights in Georgia.
So, what are the rules associated with aftermarket underglow lights for vehicles in the Peach State? Here’s what we know:
What rules are there about colored underglow lights on vehicles?
If you are unfamiliar with underglow lights or glow lights, they are usually attached to the chassis of a vehicle to make the ground glow underneath the vehicle. Cool, right? Well, there are some things to know before you deck out your car in a Christmas light show:
The law in Georgia does not specifically touch on underglow lights on a vehicle. So, it’s not prohibited to have them, but there are some rules to know. Much like headlight laws, Georgia law has a clause saying the colors of vehicle lighting must comply with SAE standards.
The underglow rules stated in the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) standards say:
Red, blue, purple and green underglow lights are not allowed because they are reserved for emergency vehicles and law enforcement.
So, using underglow lights is legal, provided you stick to white and amber colors that match the spectrum standards of your vehicle’s other lighting.
What are the penalties if you break the headlight/underglow light rules?
According to Georgia Car Laws blog, penalties include a citation for a traffic violation, which means you will have to modify your car to conform to standards. You may also be required to pay a fine.
“In Georgia operating a vehicle which is not up to state regulations is considered a misdemeanor,” as stated in the blog.
Other than that, light it up.
Have you ever used colored headlights or underglow lights on your vehicle? Have you been stopped by law enforcement for them? Let me know at cmadden@mcclatchy.com
This story was originally published May 17, 2024 at 6:05 AM with the headline "Can you have colored headlights or underglow lights on your car in GA? What the law says."
