| Best Overall |
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OPT7 Bluetooth LED Lights Kit | CHECK LATEST PRICE |
Door assist so the lights switch on when you open the door. Bluetooth app controller to adjust the settings and mode from an iPhone or Android. Includes four LED light strips. Bass-activated technology to play in music mode. |
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| Best Value |
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Daybetter LED Interior Strip Lights | CHECK LATEST PRICE |
App integration. Multiple color combinations and modes. Creates pleasant ambient lighting in minutes. |
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| Premium Pick |
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Speclux Car Interior Lights | CHECK LATEST PRICE |
Includes a wireless remote control. Range of seven colors and the option to mix shades. Adjust brightness, gradual mode, and flicking mode. Utilizes a 12V outlet. |
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While we often focus on the practicality and safety of our beloved vehicles, sometimes it’s also important for us to make them our own. And when it’s an aspect that gives our cars a more club-like, luxury feel, we have to ask “heck, why not?” One of the best, underrated ways to spiff your interior up is through some LED lighting as they not only add some class but also have less of a draw on your car’s electrical system. We’ve thoroughly researched some of the best LED lights for your car’s interior based on performance, style, and color variety. By the time you finish moving down the list, you’re sure to find something that’ll pique your interest, and add that personal touch, and class, to your ride.
Best LED Lights For Your Car Interior Reviews & Recommendations
OPT7 designed this color LED lights kit with three primary colors into a single SMD, or, surface mounted diode. As a result, you can create the perfect blend of different color options to match your preferences and emit a bright, luminous light. There are multiple ways to illuminate the lights, from a 12V plug to a slick fuse box with tap-in plugs, making it diverse for a wide range of vehicles.
The high-quality strips are flexible enough to bend, curve, and twist around surfaces, and heavy-duty to remain weather-resistant. This four-piece set comes with advanced color dimming, multiple flashing modes, variable speed control, one-touch color selection, and LED neon lights. When purchasing these interior LED lights, bear in mind that there isn’t an option for a smooth color transition, which can temporarily put a damper on the ambiance. The light is physically larger than most LED lights, which can cause minor constraints in the car’s interior.
- Brand OPT7
- Model Aura Pro Lights
- Weight 26.4 ounces
Bright, high-quality
LED bulbs Flexible strips for a customized fit
Multiple LED lighting modes
Only uses three primary colors
Can get in the way in tighter, smaller vehicle interiors
No smooth color transition mode
These seemingly, endlessly customizable LED strips are incredibly easy to install and feature a near-endless amount of color combinations, and as many as 22 color modes. They plug into the car’s 12V outlet and are operated by an on/off switch. To customize the color and mode, simply download and connect to the Daybetter app.
Depending on the mode, the lighting will even “jump” to the beat, meaning it will alter and change based on the rhythm of the music being played. These lights adhere to your car’s interior via a peel-away adhesive backing. Some users have reported that the backing isn’t very strong, so consider utilizing stronger double-sided tape to get the job done.
- Brand Daybetter
- Model DBDACLCI02
- Weight 9.9 ounces
Lighting will alter based on the rhythm of the music being played in certain modes
Easy wired installation
Choice of eight colors
Stronger tape may be required
Ugly exposed 12V connector
Wires might be tricky to hide for a clean installation
Speclux specially designed this interior lighting system with a sound activation function in mind as the lights change color according to your selected music mode. Each system includes a versatile selection of two jump modes and two fade modes, plus three dynamic color-changing modes, and seven static lighting settings. And possessing an immense 72 LED lights on each strip, the quality of lighting is excellent, as is the brightness adjustability with levels being adjusted via the included remote control.
Unlike similar light fixtures, these lights come with a rechargeable battery that’s charged via a USB connector, which reduces the amount of heat they emit, as well as cuts down on their draw on the car’s electrical system. This kit’s strips aren’t made from a flexible material, which impedes customization and there’s no way you can bend them around corners. Because of this, you’re limited in the kinds of locations where they can safely be mounted up.
- Brand Speclux
- Model Car Interior Lights
- Weight 10.4 ounces
72 LED lights for ultimate brightness
Super strong 3M adhesive on the back of each strip
Highly responsive remote control buttons
Rechargeable battery that can make for a much cleaner installation (no plugs sticking out)
No activation sensors, such as turning on and off when you open and close your door
Strips aren’t flexible to bend around surfaces
Can’t connect to a smartphone
These LED lights offer eight solid colors with gradient lighting, enabling you to make your car more attractive and personalized. You can also change the color according to your music’s tempo to provide a fun strobe effect that your passengers will love. These lights don’t require any kind of complex wiring, simply insert the power plug into your car’s 12V socket and peel off the double-sided tape from the back. Then, place the strips in the footwell and other areas. A remote is included for making color changes a snap.
Note that this lighting kit only comes with 36 interior car lights, which is on the lower end of the kits we mention in this guide. This means the lighting can’t get as bright as others, though to some potential buyers that’s a benefit. Why would you want to spend more for a kit when you’re not going to be taking full advantage of its maximum brightness? The included double-sided tape also doesn’t always securely stick to carpeted surfaces, meaning the strips can sometimes become detached. Additional, stronger tape may be required.
- Brand MEWTWO
- Model Music RGB
- Weight 5.3 ounces
Lifetime warranty
Easy to install and then quickly turn on and start customizing
Choice of eight colors
Double-sided tape doesn’t stick to carpeted surfaces
Remote control sometimes gets stuck on one mode
Only 36 LED lights (others have 48 LED lights)
Govee’s car interior light kit is the ultimate way to boost the experience in your ride, and they’re a popular choice on Amazon. The kit comes with a 5.9-foot and a 2.78-foot connecting wire respectively, making installation a breeze. And includes a built-in IC chip, so each and every bulb is extra bright. Each LED strip can also be programmed to display RGBIC color effects, which means multiple colors on one strip. Unique, rainbow-like light shows can light up the night inside your car’s interior.
Similar to other products on the market, this kit includes a microphone, which allows you to adjust the settings to make the lights flicker with the speed and volume of your music. But before you decide to hit that Buy Now button, please note that the plastic coating is fairly flimsy; be careful when handling the strips or they could break. Also, if the light bulbs break, it can be difficult to find replacements, so you might need to re-purchase a whole new kit.
- Brand Govee
- Model Dreamcolor car lights
- Weight 14.4 ounces
Longer cable than most LED interior lights with fewer restrictions
Features app integration where you can change effects and adjust the brightness
A timer/auto on/off when you arrive at your destination
Microphone isn’t always sensitive to respond to your music’s mode
Difficult to find a manufacturer that replaces broken light bulbs
Plastic coating can easily break if it breaks
How We Selected The Products
We assembled this list based on examining nearly twenty popular LED lighting kits. We’ve also got some substantial experience in aftermarket modification, as well as knowing what sort of stylish LED lighting options are available in the new car market, direct from automakers.
Our main criteria for our selections were price, options, brightness adjustability, color mode customizability, ease of installation, quality of construction, as well as how clean of an install one can achieve. If a product possessed a particular option that stood out from the others, such as the included rechargeable battery in the Speclux Car Interior Light kit, we definitely took a closer look, too.
Our product selections, rankings, and awards for this story are based on research. While we haven’t conducted real-world testing on all of these products yet, we’ve looked at consumer testimonials and data, tutorials, and general discussions on social media and in forums. We also consider price and specification in the context of the segment. And, of course, we rely on our institutional knowledge of the automotive landscape to weed out weak products.
Buying Guide/What to Look For in Car Interior LED Lights
Adding an LED lighting kit to your car might not be essential to its operation, but it is a fun and inexpensive way to customize it. Plus, it’s much easier, and often much cheaper, to install than other personalization methods. These include swapping in sportier seats, re-doing the headliner, completely changing up the dashboard, and more.
However, there are some factors to keep in mind so you know what you’re looking for and select the best option for your needs.
What to Consider When Buying LED Lights For Your Car’s Interior
Popular Types of LED Lights for Your Car Interior
There are two types of LED lights to choose from and the choice is purely down to your budget or how much light you’re hoping for: LED strips and LED tubes. You should also consider the durability you’re looking for, as some light strips are longer-lasting and made with additional features.
LED Strips
LED strips are the most common types of LED lights for a car’s interior. These products come equipped with numerous tiny LEDs throughout the strip’s entire length and you’ll also have a wide selection of lengths and widths to choose from.
LED strips have a single-color or multi-color mode, and you can switch between the two quite easily, or adjust the brightness, via either a wired, remote, or app-based controller. Some strips allow you to synchronize the tempo to suit your music.
LED Tubes
LED tubes appear similar to LED strips, though they are a rounder shape and the light expands around the entire tube for a brighter effect. For this reason, they stick out farther than strips, which can make them an inconvenience to some passengers. They’re also more difficult to stick down to a surface due to their protruding shape. Tubes also come with features such as synchronizing the speed to your music’s tempo, and typically come with a remote control so you can customize your color choice.
Key Features
LED lights are mainly purchased for a fun factor, so it’s essential they have the displays and colors you’re hoping for. But there’s also some boring stuff they must cover, including installation and power supply so they work accordingly in your car. Once you’ve matched up these features to your chosen product, you can feel more confident in making a purchase.
Power Supply
If you’re adding lights to your car’s interior, the product will require a power supply, which can affect your car battery’s life and performance. From our selections above, you’ll discover that the most common supply is through the 12V adapter/cigarette lighter, so ensure this is in full working order before making a purchase.
You should also consider the LED light’s voltage and check that they’re not too powerful for your car’s battery. On average, the smarter car LED strip lights will operate at 12 volts. Though there are some smaller measures, they’re rare. You should also look for lengthy wires (or wireless options) that can cover the entire space you need inside of your car.
Installation
Car LED strip lights should take less than half an hour to install and will come with double-sided tape or velcro on the back of the lights. This way, you can quickly secure them to different materials in your car. Consider if the strips are flexible so you can move them around corners and adjust them to the spaces you wish.
A weak adhesive can make the installation process lengthy, frustrating, or just unsuccessful, so look at customer reviews before making a purchase. If your product comes with a remote control, this should be self-explanatory and have the different modes, settings, and lights clearly labeled so you won’t spend too much time setting up your lighting system.
Colors and Modes
These are the most important features of the LED lights since you’re purchasing them to add color to your car. Most will have a minimum of four colors — the primary ones — but some products have additional colors to choose from. You may also have various settings to choose from, so you can create a multicolor effect to create a customized shade.
To make your car’s interior more exciting, LED lights often have various modes, including solid, flashing, and more. It’s also common that the lights adjust to your music’s tempo, bass, and volume. This way, the lighting matches your music’s mood and the ambiance within the car.
Tips for Buying and Using LED Lights for Your Car Interior
Before purchasing LED lights for your car’s interior, consider the number of strips you need according to your vehicle’s size. Most light kits include four pieces, although more expensive options provide more.
Look for advanced features such as sensors so the lights automatically switch on when the sun goes down and your music plays, or when you open your car door. Some LED strips come with a sound-activated function, whereas others are simpler with a remote control or Bluetooth app to control the settings.
You may also wish to consider the number of LED lights in each strip. Opt for a minimum of 30, otherwise, they won’t shine super bright. If you have more than 50 LED lights per strip, they’ll be ultra-bright and glow in the dark.
Tips
- Consider the light strips’ thickness. Thin strips are great for sneaking into thin cracks, whereas thicker strips cover a larger surface area.
- Consider different timing settings, so you can have quicker or slower tempos, depending on your mood.
- Strongly consider certain safety features, such as automatic shut-off to prevent draining your battery, and waterproof and shockproof strips to remain durable.
Best LED Lights for Your Car Interior FAQs
After following the steps above to determine the best LED lights for you, there are still some factors to consider regarding maintenance, installation, and size. Here are several questions that you may want to ask yourself while perusing the products we’ve highlighted.
We recommend wires at three feet long, though this depends on how much coverage you’re looking for. Shorter wires can limit your coverage, whereas longer wires can be difficult to hide. Consider your vehicle’s size and choose accordingly.
Yes. Heavy, bulky strips are more prone to falling off surfaces while you turn around. However, strips with more LED lights will be brighter but heavier. As such, they should be equipped with strong adhesive tape to prevent it from falling off.
If you only intend to apply the lights inside of your car, not necessarily. However, some users prefer this additional safety feature in case of spilled drinks, rain seeping in from an open window, etc.
Final Thoughts
All things considered, LED lighting kits are a simple, inexpensive, and effective way to change up the look of your car’s interior. They’re an excellent way to personalize your driving experience and are worth trying out. The OPT7 Bluetooth LED Lights Kit is a great option if you’re looking for multiple lighting modes and a custom fit.
