Standard license plate lights are halogen based and tend to give out dim light, this can also depend on the age and make of a particular vehicle.

Those who have paid quite a lot for custom license plates will definitely want them to be highly visible at night and during bad weather conditions. In order to make sure this is the case, it is necessary for them to learn how to install license plate lights on their own, to show off their number plate in the best way possible.

How to Install a License Plate Light:

Step 1: Buy New License Plate Lights

Buying new license plate lights is obviously the first step you need to take. It’s important to note that UK law prohibits you from using any other colour except for white for illuminating your license plate. This is because the authorities want to avoid any chances that the light distorts your license plate.

You should look for LED lights as they produce the strongest light and are perfect for illuminating car plates. These can be purchased either online or at specialised stores. If you don’t know where to buy these from, try asking your mechanic.

Step 2: Use a flat screwdriver to remove the license plate housing cover.

Be gentle and don’t apply too much force if it doesn’t work immediately; it might need a bit of loosening up.

Step 3: Remove the bulb housing gently and unscrew the stock bulb.

Step 4: Screw your new LED light securely where the old one used to be and place it back in the housing.

Step 5: Test the new light.

If the lights don’t work, try repeating the process again and screwing the bulb in tighter than you previously did. Also check that you haven’t damaged any of the wires while you replaced the stock light. If the problems persist, look to your mechanic for assistance.

That’s about all there is to learning how to install license plate lights. After you replace your stock light with a LED one your license plate will be illuminated much better. If you want to make it stand out even more, you could buy a license plate frame as well; check out our post on the 6 best license plate frames to buy in the UK to get an idea of what’s available.

Pimping out your number plate could even lead to your car increasing in value. If that’s something you’re interested in, take a look at our guide on how to increase the value of your car.

Feature image credit:  Jonny Troisi / Shutterstock