Virginia Excessive Lights Ticket: Light Bars, Fog Lights, Fines & Points

LED light bars, extra fog lamps, pods on the bumper, aftermarket "halo" kits — lighting upgrades are among the most popular vehicle mods in Virginia. They look great at a car meet. But switch too many of them on while you are driving on a public road, and you could be handed a ticket for excessive lights.

That ticket is more serious than many drivers expect. The Virginia DMV assigns 3 demerit points for driving with excessive lights, which means a lighting mod can end up on your driving record and in front of your insurance company. Here is what Virginia law allows, what a conviction costs, and how to protect your record.

What Is an Excessive Lights Violation in Virginia?

Two sections of the Virginia Code control how many forward-facing lights you can use and what kinds of lights your vehicle can carry.

The four-light limit — Va. Code § 46.2-1030(B)

Under § 46.2-1030(B), not more than four lights used to provide general illumination ahead of the vehicle — including at least two headlights, plus any combination of fog lights or other auxiliary lights approved by the Superintendent of State Police — may be lighted at any time. Motorcycles may use up to five approved forward lights. Authorized warning lights under §§ 46.2-1020 through 46.2-1027 are not counted against this limit.

In practice, that means your two headlights plus two fog lamps is generally the maximum. Turn on a roof-mounted light bar or extra driving pods at the same time, and you are over the limit.

Approved lights only — Va. Code § 46.2-1020

§ 46.2-1020 lists the "other permissible lights" a vehicle may have, including:

• Fog lights, with no more than two illuminated at any time;

• One or two auxiliary driving lights, if equipped by the manufacturer;

• Two daytime running lights;

• Two side lights of not more than 6 candlepower (75.42 lumens), interior lights of not more than 15 candlepower (188.55 lumens) each, and signal lights.

The statute also says no vehicle equipped with a lighting device that is not required or permitted by the article, approved by the Superintendent, or required by federal DOT may be operated on a Virginia highway — unless that device is covered and unlit, or has a clear lens and clear reflector and is unlit. And nothing in the section allows an unauthorized vehicle to carry colored emergency lights, flashing or steady.

The takeaway: an off-road light bar is not automatically illegal to own, but it should be covered and off whenever you are on a public road. Colored underbody lighting raises its own issues — see our guide to Virginia underglow and neon light laws.

Fines and DMV Demerit Points for Excessive Lights

The actual prepayable amount varies by court, so check your summons. Paying the ticket is a guilty plea — the 3 points are added to your record.

Can you be pulled over just for excessive lights?

§ 46.2-1030(F) provides that no law-enforcement officer may stop a vehicle for a violation of § 46.2-1030 — with the exception of a vehicle displaying no lighted headlights during the required times. In other words, running too many lights under subsection B is generally not, by itself, a reason for a stop under that section. In real life, though, excessive-light charges are often added when a driver is stopped for something else, such as speeding or another equipment issue. Check the specific code section listed on your summons, since the rules can differ by statute.

Because 3-point tickets add up fast, it is worth knowing the DMV thresholds. For drivers 18 and older: an advisory letter at 8 points in 12 months or 12 in 24; a mandatory driver improvement clinic at 12 points in 12 months or 18 in 24; and a 90-day suspension at 18 points in 12 months or 24 in 24. See our Virginia demerit points guide for details.

How an Excessive Lights Ticket Affects Car Insurance

Because the DMV treats excessive lights as a point-carrying violation, it appears on your driving record. When your insurer pulls your MVR at renewal, a conviction can:

• Remove a safe-driver discount;

• Lead to a renewal surcharge, depending on your carrier's rules; and

• Combine with other tickets — like an equipment violation or a speeding ticket from the same stop — to raise your risk profile.

Each insurer rates violations differently. Our explanation of insurance points vs. DMV points shows why a DMV point ticket can still matter to your premium.

Mod-friendly rule of thumb: two headlights, up to two fog lights, and anything else covered and switched off on public roads.

What to Do After an Excessive Lights Ticket

1. Contest the ticket if it doesn't fit the law. Count the forward lights that were actually lit, confirm whether your auxiliary lights were factory-equipped or approved, and look at why you were stopped. Photos of your setup and any product approval documentation can support your case.

2. Pay the ticket if you accept the charge. If you choose to prepay, do it by the deadline on your summons to avoid failure-to-appear and suspension problems. Before you do, fix or cover the lighting so you don't get a second ticket.

3. Take the driver improvement course. A DMV-approved 8-hour course can offset the 3 points with +5 safe driving points, and some courts look favorably on drivers who complete it before their hearing.

4. Monitor your driving record. After your case is closed, check your DMV record to confirm how the ticket and your course completion were reported.

How a Virginia Driver Improvement Course Helps

If your lighting mod turned into a 3-point conviction, the fastest way to neutralize it is a DMV-approved driver improvement course.

Under Va. Code § 46.2-498, a driver who satisfactorily completes a DMV-certified driver improvement clinic has five demerit points subtracted from their point total — or, if they have fewer than five demerit points, receives a reduction and/or safe driving points. You can hold a maximum of +5 safe driving points, and points for course completion are awarded only once every two years. The course does not erase the conviction itself from your record, but it offsets the points that count toward DMV action.

When you enroll, you select the reason you are taking the course. Choosing the right code makes sure your completion is reported correctly:

The ABC Driving Improvement course is 8 hours, 100% online, and DMV-approved. You can log in and out, work at your own pace, and complete it from a phone, tablet, or computer.

Other lighting rules catch Virginia drivers too. Read up on tinted tail light tickets and when headlights are required.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are LED light bars illegal in Virginia?

Owning one isn't, but using one on a public highway can be. Under § 46.2-1020, a vehicle with a lighting device that isn't required, permitted, or approved may not be operated on a Virginia highway unless the device is covered and unlit (or has a clear lens and reflector and is unlit). Lighting it along with your headlights and fog lights can also exceed the four-light limit in § 46.2-1030(B).

How many points is an excessive lights ticket in Virginia?

The Virginia DMV assigns 3 demerit points, and the conviction remains on your DMV record for 3 years.

How many fog lights can I have on at once?

No more than two fog lights may be illuminated at any time under § 46.2-1020, and your total forward-facing illumination is limited to four lights (five on a motorcycle) under § 46.2-1030(B).

Enroll Today — $74.99, DMV-Approved, 30-Day Guarantee

A ticket does not have to define your driving record. ABC Driving Improvement's online 8-hour Virginia driver improvement course is DMV-approved, priced at $74.99, and backed by a 30-day guarantee. Finish on your schedule, earn up to 5 safe driving points, and get back on the road with a cleaner record and sharper skills.

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