Archer Florence

How to Choose and Install the Right Tail Lights for Your Car

Car lights of any kind are important for safe driving. Tail lights are the most synonymous type of car lights when it comes to notifying others of your actions. They work even when you don't have your light switch on the dashboard turned on. Whenever you hit the brake tail lights light up letting other road users know what you're doing.

Although when the headlight switch is on the tail lights won't go on, when you use the brakes they will, regardless of the position of the switch. Tail lights don't only let people know what you're doing but they also make it easy for people behind you to spot you, especially during emergency braking.

What to Look for in Tail Lights


Fit


The first and most important thing to consider when searching for tail lights is their fitment. No matter the design or type of light it comes with, a tail light should first of all be compatible. Finding the proper car back light for your car is one of the most crucial features as no matter how stylish it may look it's simply not going to be usable on your vehicle. So, make sure to first find the correct tail lights.

Brightness


Usually, the second most important factor with tail lights is their level of brightness. It's not that you should get the brightest tail lights you can find but you should get ones bright enough to make you more noticeable. Typically any pair of tail lights with more than 500 lumens is going to be fine. Make sure to not go way over the 500 mark.

Lifespan

A quality pair of car tail lights will work without causing you any issues for as long as you can remember them being on your vehicle. Certain types of tail lights will last you more than others but as you'd expect they come in at a heftier price.

Colour


Like headlights, tail lights come in all kinds of colours such as white, amber, red, and blue. The issue here is that local regulations may not allow you to use tail lights other than ones with a red light. While other states let you use different colours the number of tail light colours you can put on your vehicle is usually quite limited. For better visibility at the back, white tail lights are worth considering.

Installation Process


Both the installation and wiring process of your new automotive tail lights should be simple and easy to do even for someone who's new to aftermarket upgrades. If you don't like the wiring part you can even go for what are known as plug-n-play tail lights. Just connect some plugs and you're good to go.

How to Install Tail Lights


What You Need


Alongside your new tail lights, you'll also need trim removal tools, a ratchet, the correct size sockets, and a screwdriver. If you're going to be replacing the bulbs in the assembly then make sure to use gloves too since touching them with bare hands can hinder their performance.

Remove


1. To remove the existing car tail lights you need to first disconnect the negative cable from the battery. The rear bumper may need to be removed too, depending on the model of your car. Others need to have only the interior trim panels removed.

2. When you have access to the tail lights take off the bolts holding them in place. Pull out the tail lights but be careful not to break any plastic clips. Remove the clips and then pull the tail lights away from your car. With the tail lights out of their place, unplug their connectors.

Install


1. Once you've removed the old automotive tail lights it's time to install the new ones. First, remove any bulbs you want to replace and then reconnect the assembly to the connector.

2. Then, reinstall the bolts that held the previous assembly in place and put back the interior trim panels where they were in the first place. With everything seated properly, reconnect the battery terminal and turn the ignition on. The lights should turn on too.

Types of Tail Lights


LED


Although they were not common before the 2000s, LED car lights, in general, are far more advanced and more long-lasting than any other car back light. The same goes for tail lights which can last up to 50,000 hours. LED tail lights are also known to be quite efficient which means minimal power loss.

Halogen


If you go for a pair of halogen tail lights you will get a pair of the oldest and also the smallest tail lights you can find. But because of the above two factors, halogen tail lights are the most common type of automotive tail lights and also the most affordable. This is why they come as standard on most cars. But halogen tail lights are not as efficient or as long-lasting as LED ones.

Xenon


Used since 1991, xenon tail lights are able to produce a strong beam with an intensity higher than that of an LED light. Although xenon tail lights have a long lifespan they do not last as long as LED ones.