Why Police Officials Across India Are At War Against LED Lights
In India, it isn’t uncommon to find people installing aftermarket lights (often LEDs) on their vehicles. Many of them face legal action for the same. Have you ever wondered why the police, MVD and other enforcement agencies have long been at war against these lights? What is the problem in installing them? This article will explain in detail.
In a recent crackdown, the Surat Regional Transport Office (RTO) reportedly fined 242 vehicles for violations related to the use of unauthorised bright white LED lights. A video of the same has now surfaced online showing an official asking drivers of vehicles fitted with bright White LED lights to pull over. The text on the video states that the RTO took action against 50+ vehicles.
This enforcement drive is known to continue in the coming days as well. Authorities have clarified that actions in such cases, will not be limited to vehicle owners alone. It will also extend to garage owners and workshops that undertake the installation process. Authorities have asked vehicle owners to remove any installed (illegal) aftermarket lights voluntarily to stay clear of penalties and other action.
It isn’t just Surat that has been on war against high-intensity LED headlamps and other aftermarket lights. In cities like Bengaluru, Ahmedabad, Mangalore, and Rajkot, we have seen motorists getting fined for using aftermarket lights on their vehicles. So what is the real problem here?
Yes, most high-intensity distcharge (HID) aftermarket headlamps are illegal. Most of them do not comply with the set standards related to glare, beam pattern and certification. Our laws and regulatory bodies have set standards and guidelines for automotive headlamps, to ensure safety of the vehicles and people around. Aftermarket LED headlamps often violate these by being too bright or blinding to oncoming vehicles.
We have even seen people swap LED bulbs into the housings meant for halogen units. This can lead to a complete tampering of the beam pattern. Light may bounce off reflectors at unintended angles and get scattered. This can ruin the overall efficiency of illumination.
More dangerously, scattered beams can spill above the ‘cut-off line’ and reach the eyes of oncoming drivers directly, thereby blinding them. Exposure to such intense White light can cause serious discomfort to our eyes. This increases the risk of accidents and the vehicle going out of control.
For a headlight to be fit for road use, it must meet specific government safety standards (AIS in the case of India). The use of one that doesn’t have this certification is illegal and can be dangerous as well.
Now comes our own motor vehicle laws. Under the Central Motor Vehicle Rules (CMVR), any modification that alters the original vehicle specifications should be declared in the RC and get approved by an RTO. This is almost impossible for low-quality aftermarket headlamps that lack certification. The officials thus have every right to book your car, if you’ve been using these. The question isn’t about the personal freedom to customise one’s car anymore, as the use of these even puts the lives of those around at risk.
In October 2025, the Supreme Court of India directed states and union territories to strictly regulate and ban the use of dazzling LED headlights that can blind oncoming drivers temporarily.
Let’s admit. Not all variants of every car come with good headlamp units. Not all of them provide healthy illumination. This makes a lot of people consider aftermarket headlamps or bulb replacements. Implementing a blanket ban on these raises a question: What to do if your car’s headlamps have sub-par performance?
The answer to this is simple: Install aftermarket headlamps that comply with recommended luminance and beam angle, and the ones that come with regulatory certifications. Also, make sure to get them approved in the vehicle’s RC.