LED strip lights have been quoted as the most widely applicable form of LED lighting. Since most LED strip lights operate at 12V, they are also suitable for various uses in cars or other vehicles with 12V systems. Since LED strips are generally available with various brightness and colour, you can use them functionally as well as decoratively. Therefore, you either need some extra light in your car or you want to create a unique atmosphere, LED strip lights will be just what you need.

The main reasons why it is worth using LED strip lights are the same as for any LED light: they are highly energy-saving, have a very long life-span and require no maintenance once installed. They are also resistant to shock and vibration, which is especially important in a car application. The colour range of the LEDs covers the full spectrum of colours, so if you are thinking about turning your car green in all senses, a green LED strip light would be the best solution for you.

Though as I mentioned earlier, LED strip lights come with different performances, they can also be cut into smaller pieces, some as short as 5 cm. So if you would like to use the same coloured strip at various parts of your car, you just buy a full roll of strip, and cut it into pieces you wish to use them. This way you can determine how bright each part of your car is illuminated; use shorter pieces of the strip where you need less light, and double the strip where you want a brighter source of light.

Installing these lights in your car is also very easy, requiring only some extra wires and tape, if your strip does not already contain it. First of all, cut the strip light into the desired lengths, uncover the pinpoints in the end you want to connect it, and connect the wires with blocks or soldering. You can include some extra switches or dimmers in the system, but you can also just connect it to the car’s wiring circuit. By connecting them to the wire controllers, you can also make them light up with the doors opening. This can turn the LED strip into a functional light, and give some extra light to the inside of the car when you are entering, or searching for something. Some diffused source of light can also be useful if you want to provide the kids at the back with some dim light to play during travelling. But obviously low voltage LED lights, and LED strip lights in particular, can be used not only in cars but all vehicles operating at low voltage. In a motor-home or van, or even in a boat, the use of strip lights is nearly endless.

As for light decoration in your car, the limit is really only your imagination. Since LED strips are available in indoor and outdoor versions too, you can light any part of it. Outdoor decorations on cars are common at and below the doors, or all along the side of the car; behind the splash shields or below bumpers. These strips are always fully waterproof, thought you need to make sure that in this case wires and connections are also insulated fully. Indoor décor, on the other hand, needs sealing to keep safe from human touch, and such strip lights often occur within or underneath the dashboard, along windows, or basically anywhere in a van within the habitation area. And if you can’t make up your mind about the colour of your car, use RGB colour changing strips, and control and change the displayed colour of your car as often as you wish.