27.09.2019
Car owners, wanting to improve their car, often wonder: is it possible to install LEDs in the low beam? The installation of LED lamps in headlights, diodes in PTFs and dimensions is regulated by traffic regulations. It is necessary to carefully study all the requirements before installing LEDs in headlights so as not to break the law and avoid punishment.
Features and advantages of LED lamps
LED or led bulbs are considered the most environmentally friendly light sources. No harmful substances such as mercury are used in their production. They have a very long service life. The energy consumption of such light bulbs is significantly lower than all others. The light from such lamps is brighter.
Despite all the significant advantages, LED lamps are quite expensive. There is such a thing as LED crystal burnout. Over time, they begin to shine weaker, and then go out completely. The light from such lamps is directed in a narrower beam, without scattering. Therefore, when using diode lamps in car headlights, the design of the optics is developed specifically for them.
Options for using LEDs in car headlights
It is possible to install LED bulbs in car headlights, but this will not always be a legal action. The design of the base and its location allows you to install diode lamps in sidelights, headlights or LEDs in foglights. But this is not permitted by law in all cases.
Headlights
Car enthusiasts who are passionate about tuning often modify their car. Changing headlights is the easiest of all other equipment. Installing xenon and LEDs in headlights is not particularly difficult; anyone can do it. Such modifications are not always legal, but these motorists drive on the roads at their own risk. At the same time, they often cause inconvenience to other road users.
Incorrectly adjusted headlights can blind oncoming drivers. On average, it will take more than a minute for a driver to regain vision.
LED headlights illuminate the road worse if they are not installed according to the rules. A regular reflector does not diffuse light as required. Therefore, it is unacceptable to install LEDs in headlights if this is not provided for by the design of the car.
Fog lights (PTF)
Drivers install LED lamps in their fog lights because... They are believed to have a great resource and resistance to changing environmental conditions. Installing LEDs in PTF is not difficult.
If initially PTFs were not provided for by the design of the car at all, then they should be installed on the car in accordance with GOST 8769-75 41 and GOST 48-2004. The installation of LED lamps in the PTF is a change in the design of the car and is regarded as a violation of the regulations on the admission of vehicles to operation. LED lamps in fog lights must have white or selective yellow light.
Legal installation of diode lamps in fog lights is possible if the conditions for compliance with the labeling of LEDs and fog lights are met. At the moment, this issue has not yet been fully regulated by law.
Vehicle dimensions
It is prohibited by law to install LED lamps in dimensions. First of all, this is due to the discrepancy between the markings of the headlights and the light bulbs installed in them. But the principle works here: when you can’t, but really want to, then you can.
LEDs are sized according to their glow temperature up to 5000 K, with preference given to cool shades.
Properly mounted LED lights will not attract the attention of traffic inspectors, so such tuning will go unnoticed.
Is it allowed to install LEDs in headlights?
You can read about the possibility of replacing lamps in headlights in paragraph 3.4 of the List of malfunctions and conditions prohibiting the operation of the vehicle. It states that a malfunction is considered to be a mismatch between the types of lenses and the lamps themselves. In simple terms, the lamps installed must correspond to the markings indicated on the headlights.
Markings suitable for LED lamps
The classification and marking of headlights is given in the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union. To decipher the markings, you will need to know the symbols: R – low beam, C – high beam, CR – lamp with the ability to switch the beam range. If the lenses are suitable only for halogen headlights, then the letter H is placed in front of the corresponding letters. Xenon lamps can be installed in lenses whose markings begin with the letter D, and the symbols B or F3 indicate fog lamps.
As can be seen from the classification, the Technical Regulations do not provide for markings for LED lamps. But they can still be installed on cars. Moreover, on some car models, LED lamps are standard, and the headlights are marked with halogen lenses. That is why forensic experts allow the installation of LED lamps only in halogen lenses: HR - low beam, HC - high beam, HCR - one lamp with a two-mode operation option.
Additional requirements for installing LEDs
For LED lamps, as for xenon lamps, there are additional requirements in addition to compliance with the labeling. The car must have automatic headlight levelers and headlight washers. Without them, the use of LED lamps is also prohibited
What regulates the installation of lamps in headlights?
The installation of any lamps in car headlights is regulated by traffic regulations. The appendix to the “Basic provisions for the approval of vehicles for operation” contains a list of faults that prohibit the use of a car.
Those who intend to install or change the lighting equipment of their car should carefully study the third point of this list on external lighting devices. If modifications to headlights using LED lamps meet these requirements, then there will be no problems with traffic inspection.
Are LED headlights allowed?
First of all, the rules provide for road safety, and improperly installed lighting in a car can blind an oncoming driver and lead to an emergency.
In two cases, installing diode bulbs in headlights is completely legal:
- the car is initially equipped with LEDs at the factory;
- The line of this model includes configurations with LED headlights.
In the first case, installing lamps does not cause any difficulties. Simply replacing a burnt-out light bulb with an identical one solves the problem.
In the second case, you need to completely change the headlight by purchasing a spare part from a more expensive version of this car. Such a replacement will not raise questions from traffic police inspectors and will not cause a dangerous situation on the road, since it does not fall under the category of making changes to the design of the car.
You cannot install LED lamps in headlights yourself if the design of the car does not provide for this. Such a change is an administrative offense and entails punishment.
Installing LED bulbs in halogen headlights
First, let's look at the simplest option. You have a car equipped with standard halogen light bulbs. Accordingly, the headlights themselves (reflectors) are designed to work with halogen lamps. The driver finds LED bulbs with a similar base and installs them in the headlights.
In this case, there is a violation of paragraph 3.1 of the list of faults and conditions under which the operation of vehicles is prohibited:
3.1. The number, type, color, location and operating mode of external lighting devices do not meet the requirements of the vehicle design.
Deprivation of rights for diode lamps until 2021
Until mid-2021, the courts considered the installation of LED light bulbs as a violation under Part 3 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses:
3. Driving a vehicle on the front of which there are installed lighting devices with red lights or red reflective devices, as well as lighting devices, the color of the lights and the mode of operation of which do not comply with the requirements of the Basic Regulations for the admission of vehicles to operation and the duties of officials ensuring road safety, -
entails deprivation of the right to drive vehicles for a period of six months to one year with confiscation of the specified instruments and accessories.
Thus, the punishment for installing LED bulbs in halogen headlights was a deprivation of rights for 6-12 months . If you wish, you can study the judicial practice on this issue and make sure that until 2021, magistrates deprived people of rights for diode bulbs in headlights.
Penalty for LED light bulbs in 2021
On June 25, 2021, Resolution No. 20 of the Plenum of the Supreme Court of the Russian Federation was published, which contains clarifications regarding the imposition of penalties for the improper use of lighting devices:
6. Installation on the front of the vehicle of lighting devices with red lights or red reflective devices, as well as lighting devices, the color of the lights and the mode of operation of which do not comply with the requirements of the Basic Provisions for the admission of vehicles to operation and the duties of officials to ensure road safety ( hereinafter referred to as the Basic Provisions), entails administrative liability under Part 1 of Article 12.4 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. In this case, driving a vehicle on the front of which the specified lighting devices or retroreflective devices are installed, as well as putting such a vehicle on the line, is subject to qualification, respectively, under Part 3 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation or Part 3 of Article 12.31 of this Code. ... When applying the above standards, it should be taken into account that the objective side of the relevant administrative offense can only occur in the event of a simultaneous discrepancy between the color of the lights and the operating mode of such devices with the requirements specified by the manufacturer in the operational documentation, and in cases of installation of additional lighting devices - with the conformity assessment carried out changes made to the design of the vehicle (clause 3.1 of the List of faults and conditions under which the operation of vehicles is prohibited (appendix to the Basic Provisions).
At the same time, if only the color or operating mode of the light devices installed on the vehicle does not comply with the above requirements, driving such a vehicle can be qualified under Part 1 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation.
It follows from this paragraph that deprivation of rights is imposed only if light bulbs are installed in which both the color of the lights and the operating mode do not meet the requirements. However, when installing LED bulbs, the color of the lights usually does not change. That is, the headlights both shone white with halogen lamps and continued to shine white with LED lamps.
Thus, in 2021, the penalty for a driver using LEDs in headlights is a fine of 500 rubles .
Despite this, since in the described situation the type of light bulb does not match the type of reflector, it will not be possible to legalize the design. That is, fines will be imposed until the driver returns the halogen lamps to their place.
Attention! In addition to imposing a fine, traffic police officers can cancel the registration of a car for illegal modification of the design.
Headlight markings for LED lamps
The markings of low and high beam headlights have their own symbols and depend on the type of lamp:
- for standard incandescent lamps R – low beam, C – high beam;
- for xenon headlights - D, low and high beam are designated DR and DC;
- For halogen and LED lamps, the same designation is provided: H, low - HR, high - HC.
Lamps that are simultaneously intended for low and high beam are marked RC, DRC, HRC, respectively. Fog lights are designated by the letter B.
Additional Installation Requirements
The color of the LED lamps can be decisive for an inspector on the road. The rules state that the front lights must be white, yellow or orange, and the rear lights of the car can be yellow, orange or red.
In addition, there is a ban on flickering lights. If the operating mode of the light bulb is disrupted, and instead of a constant light a flashing light is visible, then this also falls under an article of the administrative code.
When installing diodes in headlights, they require proper adjustment. It is best to additionally equip the car with automatic headlight leveling.
When is deprivation of rights applied for LED and led lamps?
You can lose your driver’s license for installing LEDs and led lamps in two cases:
- For installing LEDs in a car whose equipment does not include the initial installation of LED lamps. For example, if the manufacturer provides for the installation of halogen headlights, but the driver installs LEDs without permission to re-equip the vehicle.
According to clause 3.1. Russian traffic regulations consider this to be a violation of the car’s equipment, for which the driver, in addition to a fine of 500 rubles, risks losing his license for a period of 6 to 12 months. Regulates the procedure for punishment, Part 3, Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of Russia.
- For the installation of red light lights, as well as their installation in special devices for retroreflection - reflectors. They should be understood as all types of reflectors, including stickers on windshield wipers or the side of the vehicle. In practice, there are often cases when, for installing red “eyelashes” on the headlights, the owner is given a protocol for an offense that entails deprivation of a driver’s license.
The color and mode of operation of such lights does not comply with legally defined standards, for which the driver is deprived of his driving license for a period of 6 to 12 months, including the confiscation of installed devices. The punishment procedure is regulated by Part 3 of Art. 12.5 Code of Administrative Offenses of Russia.
Installing LED lamps in halogen headlights
Technically, installing LED lamps is not difficult at all. In some cases, for LED lamps of dimensions, it is necessary to install a blende, since the car sensors, configured for high power consumption, are triggered.
But such tuning does not always bring the desired result. The design of the halogen headlight is such that it allows the light from the halogen lamps to be directed through the factory reflectors. LED headlights have a much narrower beam of light, so if you put such lighting in a headlight designed for halogens, it will illuminate the oncoming traffic rather than the road.
If the LED lamps on the fog lights are installed incorrectly, the driver will see not the road, but a veil in front of the windshield.
Installing LED lamps instead of halogen lamps contradicts paragraph 3.1 of the list of vehicle malfunctions for which its operation is prohibited.
What LED lamps are allowed?
Only special automotive lamps can be used. First of all, the markings on the headlight housing or their glass are checked (if the structure is non-removable or difficult to remove). In special documentation, light-emitting diodes are designated LED; most often, the data is not only in the factory markings, but also on the reflector. In some cases, only the letter L is used.
It is important that the documentation for the machine clearly indicates the possibility of using LED equipment. Then you can install lamps without fear of fines .
Lamps with markings that are similar to halogen lamps H1, H7, H11, etc. are used. Although this is incorrect, manufacturers display exactly this data to make it easier for drivers to navigate and select equipment. In this case, products may have the same designation, but distribute light differently.
Most often, LED lamps are marked by base type, similar to halogen lamps, which simplifies selection.
It is also important to take into account the size of the lamp; sometimes it is impossible to replace a standard element with an LED one due to the fact that the massive radiator in the rear does not fit into the headlight housing. Often the lids do not close, which is also unacceptable, since the tightness of the structure is compromised.
If the headlights already had LED bulbs, it is better to replace them with similar ones to ensure that good light remains.
Video block: Why you can’t install LED lamps in reflector optics.
What are the penalties?
Installation of LED lamps is punishable by a fine, and in some cases drivers face deprivation of their license.
Reason for deprivation of rights
For the unintended installation of LED headlights, drivers may be deprived of their license for a period of 6 to 12 months on the basis of paragraph 3 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses of the Russian Federation. But in practice, this measure is not always applied legally correctly. The law prescribes this punishment for the owners of those cars in which both the color glow of the headlights and their operating mode are impaired: flashing instead of constant.
If you follow the interpretation of the article of the law, then you cannot deprive your license for white, yellow or orange LED lamps in the headlights. The operating mode of the LED light bulb is also questionable. They “blink” only when there is a malfunction. However, in practice, everything is much more complicated, and the court deals with such issues.
Checking the correct installation of lamps
The essence of such a roadside check is to verify the markings of the headlights and the lamps installed in them. The inspector will not dismantle the lighting fixtures right on the road, but he may ask you to open the hood and draw up a report if the required names do not match.
When purchasing a used car, you should check the installed headlights. The previous owner could replace the standard lighting, but the new owner would have to pay the fine.
What is the penalty for installing LED lamps?
According to paragraph 1 of Article 12.5 of the Administrative Code, the fine for improperly installed LED lamps is 500 rubles. The driver is given a warning about the malfunction, and he is obliged to eliminate it.
Legal change of headlights
The installation of LED headlights on a car whose design does not provide for them can be legalized by the traffic police. It is necessary to confirm compliance of the changes made with the standards assigned by GOST and traffic rules. The driver must undergo a safety check of his vehicle. The expert institution will have to provide a large number of certificates and documents for LED headlights.
Penalty for installing LED lamps
The fine for diode bulbs in headlights that do not correspond to the factory optics is 500 rubles. The same consequence will occur in any other case of discrepancy between the technical parameters of the standard optics (for example, when replacing halogen lamps with xenon ones or installing xenon optics with LED ones). LED low beam bulbs are fined only if they do not comply with the operational documentation provided by the vehicle manufacturer or have not received confirmation of compliance as part of the vehicle.
When can your rights be revoked?
Deprivation of rights for LED lamps is possible only if independent replacement in any way affects the functioning of optical partings - changes the quantity, color according to GOST, or operating mode. All this meets the requirements of Article 12.5 of the Administrative Code. But in practice, the issue of checking and recording violations is controversial, because the procedure requires appropriate equipment, which not all traffic police posts have.
The real situation with LED lamps in headlights
In practice, traffic inspectors rarely conduct checks on drivers. If the headlight tuning is done correctly, the brightness, color, angle of the light beam meets the established standards and does not interfere with other motorists, then the traffic police officer is unlikely to notice such modifications.
Thus, it is possible to install LED lamps in the dimensions and headlights of a car, but not on all models, ideally only on those for which this is provided by the manufacturer. It is also important to choose the right light bulb according to its characteristics.
What is the fine for installing LED lamps?
There is absolutely no technical difference between LED and led lamps - they are the same light source, but with a different sound. Led is an abbreviation for the English “Light-Emitting Diode”, which means “light-emitting diode”.
Installation of LED lamps in car headlights does not provide for penalties in the case where the diode headlights were installed by the car manufacturer.
Installation of LED lamps in car headlights does not provide for penalties in the case where the diode headlights were installed by the car manufacturer. Unauthorized installation of LEDs in halogen headlights entails a fine of 500 rubles or deprivation of a driver’s license for a period of 6 to 12 months.
