Is underglow on a car illegal in the UK?

THOSE who like the idea of modifying their cars may want to add neon kits to the bottom of them to stand out from the crowd. But are you allowed to do this and what could the consequences be? Here's all you need to know.

THOSE who like the idea of modifying their cars may want to add neon kits to the bottom of them to stand out from the crowd.

But are you allowed to do this and what could the consequences be? Here's all you need to know.

Is underglow on a car illegal?

There are no laws specifically prohibiting you from fitting neons or LEDs to the underside of your car.

You are able to fit neon lighting to the bottom of your car as long as it isn't too bright or distracting.

But beyond that, the legality of fitting coloured lighting to your car can be surprisingly grey. 

There are strict rules on the types of light you can display on your vehicle, and where, most covered by the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989. 

You can only display white or yellow headlights at the front of your car, and red tail lights at the rear - apart from indicators and reversing lights. 

And you shouldn’t display blue lights in any direction on your vehicle, in case you could be confused with an emergency vehicle. 

Displaying a red light at the front of your car or a white light at the rear could obviously be a bit confusing to drivers. 

And displaying blue lights of any sort could make your car resemble (loosely) an emergency vehicle, which is also against the rules. 

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Green lights are officially used by doctors on call.

Because of this, any lights coloured in red, green ,blue or white could see you receive a fine, if those lights are visible on the front or back of your car.

If this happens, you can either pay the small penalty or escalate the matter, leaving it for a court to decide whether you have broken the law.

How much does underglow cost?

Inexpensive underglow kits are available on Amazon and eBay for less than £100.

Other names for the equipment include “ground-effect lighting” and simply “neons”.

Amateur mechanics should be able to fit these kits with ease using household supplies and components from the kits. 

More professional installations cost hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

Can you go through a car wash with underglow?

Going through a car wash with these attachments fitted is not recommended, and it is best to speak with the manufacturer of the kit.

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Read the box that the kit came in, or speak to the professional company that fitted it.

An under-car wash is particularly ill-advised if you have affixed a cheap kit from Amazon to your bodywork using cable ties.

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