No, they’re not legal. The level of brightness in LED light bars isn’t recommended to use on public roads. But then again, restrictions and guidelines for LED light bars depend on the state that you live in.

Different states have different rules, so if you don’t want to fall into trouble, it’s wiser to double-check the rules before buying LED light bars.

Also, an LED cover is considered a must if you’re driving on highways because these covers will block the lights.

So even if you turn it on mistakenly when there’s an oncoming vehicle, there won’t be any trouble.

Though they’re not legal in most states, there’re a few things that you need to know. Significantly, if you’ve been contemplating buying off-road lights, this blog will help you make an informed decision. Let’s go!

Why Buy An LED Light Bar?

Usually, when making a purchase, the most important question that every buyer must ask himself is why a particular product is needed.

So it goes the same with LED light bar; why are you planning on purchasing it? Before OEM lighting, LED light bars will help you see what’s coming in front.

If you’re someone interested in off-road journeys, this will be a handy addition.

There are two prominent factors to purchasing an LED light bar: simple installation and affordability.

Apart from that, there are some other factors such as:

Less risk with non-compliance

As LED lighting involves less risk with noncompliance, customers prefer it over other choices.

A local police ticket isn’t required for LED lighting, and so it reduces the chores.

Durable and lightweight

Durability and lightweight features make these LED lights ideal for off-road vehicles.

Apart from these features, the energy-efficient too. This will also help you save money as you don’t have to replace light bulbs often.

Efficiency and size

LED light bars are the most efficient choice available on the market. It doesn’t consume half as much wattage as other models.

The size of these light bars is small, so you don’t have to worry about adding more weight or consuming space.

These are some of the reasons why LED light bars are preferred over HID models or halogen. By purchasing LED light bars, you will be saving up money.

What Are The Legal Restrictions Limit If You Use an LED Light Bars On The Road

We already mentioned that there’re legal restrictions for using an LED light bar. So it’s vital to know the restrictions if you’re interested in using them on the road.

Whether you are driving off-road or on the road, you have to be careful about the vehicles coming at you.

It’s not safe to keep the lights on as it might blind the drivers on the road. You do it for the safety of both parties.

However, it’s important to switch off the light bars when driving off-road, at least for 15 seconds, until other vehicles pass by.

Though this isn’t a law, it’s common courtesy. Most states don’t have such rules explicitly mentioned, so it’s in the public’s hands to set up their own limits.

As different states have different rules, you must know the rules of your state.Generally, you should turn off the lights when you see an oncoming driver.

Some states have rules related to the number of light bars you can have and where you can mount them.There are rules about forward-facing light bars; some states have legalized them, whereas others have not.

Some states focus on the heights of street light bars that you’ll mount on your vehicle. One thing you should know is that, even if the light bars are street-legal, you’re not allowed to have them above the headlights.

Thus, it’s vigilant for you to mount them below or in line with your headlights.

There are rules for off-road only lights; in such a case, some states require drivers to have them covered when on the road.

For example, Australians must adhere to the Australian Design Rules (ADRs) if they want to mount LED light bars on their vehicles.

This is one of the rules that they have to follow. However, rules and limitations differ accordingly.

Can LED Light Bars Be Used On The Street

You’re not allowed to use LED light bars on the street, but there are various rules concerning it. Some states don’t have hard and fast rules, so it’s up to the driver to make up his own rules.

At the same time, some states don’t allow light bars even if they’re not switched on. In some other states, it’s a must to cover the lights if you’re driving on the road.

So all these points boil down to the state you live in. Before you mount light bars to your vehicle, make sure to check the rules and restrictions in your state.

Where Can You Legally Mount LED Lightbars?

There are a few locations where you can’t have your LED light bars mounted. If you ignore these areas, you might fall into serious trouble.

However, these specifications differ according to the state’s rules related to LED light bars. Some common rules.

• In the bull bar – it should be in front of the radiator but below your main hoop. This is one of the popular places to mount light bars.
• Top of the bull bar – another common place to mount light bars is the top of the bull bar. However, some states don’t allow this.
• In the bumper – if yours isn’t a bull bar, then you can consider the bumper. A slim light bar would perfectly fit inside the bumper.
• Under the bullbar – some people consider this a good position to mount their LED light bars, but it might also be vulnerable. For example, it could hit sticks, rocks, or animals moving under the vehicle.
• On the roof – this is another great place to mount your LED light bars. The canopy, roof racks, or even the roll bars can be considered ideal.

Can I Mount A Lightbar On Top OF My Bull Bar?

You can’t do this. Technically, it’s not allowed to mount the light bar in the way of the driver’s sight.

If you place the light bar on your bull bar, it will collide with your sight when you drive. If you have no loop or low set, then you’ll be fine under this rule.

Can I Mount I A LED Lightbar On My Roof?

Of course, it’s legally allowed to mount your light bar on your roof. But there are two main concerns that you should know:

• Your light bar must be mounted on the vehicle’s front view.
• As for every other driving light, you should have the option to switch it on and off.

Is There A Limit To How Many Lights I Can Have?

There are many driving lights, so there’s a certain number of lights that you should stick on to, which is 4. For LED bars, you can consider it one as long as the light functions as a single light.

It can be treated as one light bar regardless of length, but it shouldn’t have multiple switches to switch on and off parts of the bar. However, the number of light bars you can mount is 2.

Vicroads’ official words on the subject:

• As far as possible, the lamps should be installed symmetrically in pairs to the front of the vehicle.
• If lamps are not fitted as pairs (e.g., one, three, etc.), they must be fitted to the vehicle’s front, symmetrically about the center.
• A maximum of four driving lamps (including LED light bars) can be fitted to a vehicle in addition to the vehicle’s main beam headlamps.
• The lamp/s must be installed so that the light produced does not cause the driver of the vehicle discomfort either directly or by reflection.
• The lamp/s must only come when the main-beam (high beam) headlamps are used and automatically turn off when the main-beam headlamps are turned off.
• The lamps must not obstruct the driver’s view of the road.

Source: https://www.vicroads.vic.gov.au/safety-and-road-rules/vehicle-safety/fog-and-driving-lights

South Australia official words on the subject:  

• The light or lights must be installed to be forward-facing and in a position that does not obscure the driver’s view of the road ahead.
• As far as possible, the lights should be installed symmetrically in pairs of between 2 or 4 lights.
• If the lights are not fitted as pairs, they must be fitted symmetrically about the vehicle’s centerline.
• The lights may be fitted to the roof of the vehicle.
• The light or lights must not be fitted or be used in any way that is likely to dazzle another road user and must be installed in a way that the light produced does not cause the driver of the vehicle discomfort either directly or by reflection.
• The light/s must only come when the main-beam (high beam) headlights are used and automatically turn off when the main-beam headlights are turned off.
• The driving lights may be fitted with an isolator switch to allow the high beam to be switched on without the driving lights also being switched on.

Source: https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/transport-travel-and-motoring/motoring/vehicles-and-registration/vehicle-standards-and-modifications/lighting-and-instrumentation

Western Australia’s official words on the subject:  

• The LED light bar(s) must be installed at the front of the vehicle and not higher than the front edge of the bonnet.
• The LED light bar(s) must be installed horizontally and located symmetrically about the vehicle’s longitudinal centerline.
• The LED light bar(s) must be forward facing and positioned in a way that the light produced does not cause the driver of the vehicle discomfort, either directly or by reflection while in the normal driving position.
• The LED light bar(s) must only operate when the high-beam headlights are in operation and automatically turn off when the high-beam headlights are turned off.
• A manual switch must be provided to allow the LED light bar to be deactivated so that it is not on whether the high beam is on or off. This switch must be accessible to the driver of the vehicle from the normal driving position.
• The LED light bar(s) must only emit white light.
• The LED light bar(s) shall not obstruct the driver’s view of the roadway more than 11 meters ahead of the driver’s eye position when looking through the windscreen, with the driver’s seat in the rearmost position.
• One or more (to a maximum of four) LED light bars may be fitted as additional driving lamps.

Source: http://www.transport.wa.gov.au/mediaFiles/licensing/LBU_VS_IB_132A.pdf