Vehicle manufacturers are constantly innovating by adding more features to vehicles. One of the newer features they’ve added is puddle lights. Learn more about them in this helpful guide.
Puddle lights are small lights fitted into the bottom of a vehicle’s mirrors. These lights illuminate the ground underneath the front door and typically activate when the vehicle’s remote key fob gets within range of the vehicle or if the doors are unlocked. The light typically projects the logo of the carmaker onto the pavement. They are often fitted on luxury vehicles.
Puddle lights are intended to illuminate the area where a person would step before entering or exiting the vehicle. This helps both passengers and drivers see whether there is a puddle, ice, or mud on the surface, which can cause them to slip or just simply mess up their shoes. However, puddle lights are also used to add flair and style to a vehicle.
Most vehicles that have puddle lights have them integrated either at the bottom of their side mirrors or at the bottom of their doors. There are aftermarket puddle lights available that you can install on your vehicle. However, you may need to modify your vehicle’s side mirror or door to be able to accommodate it. This process might involve removing door panels, drilling holes, and routing wiring.
The idea of puddle lights might seem gimmicky at first. It sounds like another feature designed by luxury manufacturers to give them more incentive to charge higher prices on their vehicles. However, puddle lights can be useful especially if you live in areas where there could be ice or mud. The illumination can prevent you from slipping on frozen roads during the winter or tripping on uneven pavement.
Puddle lights also make your vehicle look more high-tech and modern. Even though their presence isn’t apparent when you’re driving down the highway, it can make you feel much more important when you get in and get out of your vehicle. Luxury vehicles feel more premium because of little details like puddle lights.
Puddle lights can cost between $30 to $50 for the lights alone. If you’re looking to install aftermarket puddle lights, it can cost even more, especially if you need to hire a specialist to alter your vehicle’s side mirrors or doors to make room for the addition. If your vehicle’s puddle lights need to be replaced, the price will depend on the type of light you need to buy. Some branded lights might cost more to buy straight from the manufacturer.
Not all puddle lights are made equal. Ever since puddle lights were introduced, some manufacturers have made their own cheap versions that owners can mount to their vehicles. However, we encourage you to read reviews and do research before buying a puddle light. Some models might not have gone through quality control standards and might be susceptible to premature failure.
Automakers originally integrated puddle lights into their vehicle designs as a functional feature. With puddle lights installed, drivers could easily see whether they were going to step into puddles or other unpleasant things when stepping out of their vehicle cabin. Over the years though, puddle lights have become much more of a luxury feature associated with high-end vehicles. Brands like Lincoln, Buick, and BMW began integrating their logos into the lights, and from there, the feature turned from purely functional to eye-catching and premium.
These days, there are a variety of puddle light types on the market. Halogen, LED, and custom puddle lights share the space with luxurious logo puddle lights. If you want to add this sort of convenient lighting to your vehicle, it’s very possible to have third-party puddle lights installed. Now that you know what puddle lights do and what they’re good for, you can decide if they’re worth the price tag and the extra trouble.
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