According to a 2018 test by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 80% of all vehicles on the road today have “good” factory headlights. Only 20% of all vehicles tested had headlight characteristics that would be considered comfortable or easy to drive. Many consumers question whether the headlights they are interested in pass an inspection or are considered “DOT compliant”. If your headlights say “DOT” or “DOT compliant” or “DOT approved”, chances are your headlights will be classified as such. Many brands use this nickname to fool you when they are anything but legal. Many even deceive you about their performance. It is important to know the laws of your state, province or country before you completely decide to use LED bulbs or headlights. It`s equally important that you do your research to find out what`s DOT compliant and what`s not. Today, we will look at what is considered DOT compliant in the broadest sense and what is not, and look at some concrete examples. Another good indicator of the quality of the headlights you want to buy is when they say “SAE certified”: we recently had the opportunity to integrate new 7×6 headlight housings and high-power LED headlight bulbs 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 sealed rectangular bracket housings. These new housings are DOT approved and equipped with regular H4 halogen bulbs, which would be 30% brighter than the original Sealed Beam headlights.
If the LED headlights you`re looking at don`t advertise that they`re DOT certified or approved, chances are they can`t really be used legally on the road. From 2/2022, LED headlights are no longer legal changes for vehicles registered for road traffic. If you put a pair of GTR Lighting Ultra 2 in your climbing Jeep Wrangler that you are towing on the trail, then you`re done. Otherwise, it is technically not legal for headlight applications. The DOT compliant sticker or embossed logo does not mean that the headlights or products you buy are truly DOT compliant. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), “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, those sub-$100 headlights you see on marketplace sites like Amazon or eBay won`t meet DOT regulations and will likely perform very poorly. At present, there are only a handful of companies producing LED headlights, such as JW Speaker, Truck-Lite, GTR Lighting, United Pacific, Morimoto, Alpharex and a few others. When a product is listed as “SAE certified”, it means that it has been sent to SAE for testing and certification and the stamp essentially means “This is a very high quality product!” This is NOT the same as DOT compliance. This is for product quality, not legality. There are other components that are more specific to the type of headlights or bulbs you`re using, but that`s usually what you should look for. “In the United States, lamps, reflective devices and related devices are regulated by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Although this type of LED lamp can be used instead of an original halogen lamp, it is not legal to use it on vehicles approved for road use. This type of modification can only be made if used in a fog lamp application, special off-road application, or in jurisdictions outside the United States where permitted. For more information on how to determine if this type of product is safe to use and can be legally used on public roads in the United States, click here for a more detailed breakdown of compliance. Essentially, it is up to projector manufacturers to determine whether they meet the requirements. If you are looking for something to fall asleep, you can read these requirements here.
In short, there are specifications for every possible application, vehicle and installation position. Want to see who`s the best and smartest on the market? Watch this shooting video: Many headlight products seem to be just as good as others because of a specific lumen rating, brightness, or quality control. A true beacon should have two main features: Websites like HeadlightRevolution.com will include a disclaimer to inform buyers about where LED bulbs can and cannot be used: “SAE is an international professional organization of engineers and related technical experts in the aerospace, automotive, and commercial vehicle industries dedicated to education and standards development. It exists to advance the interests of mobility and related industries through the development of performance standards and the administration of quality assurance, accreditation and certification programs and related activities for the benefit of industry, government and the public. “JW Speaker`s LED floodlights are among the best in the world! If you`re not entirely sure if what you`ve found counts as DOT compliant, send us a feedback and we`ll help. 1. Have a separate dipped-beam headlamp and main-beam headlamp (or single beam)2. A defined beam with hot spots, cut-off lines and high quality width.