5 Things to Consider When Shopping for Truck Lights
Posted by Extreme Tactical Dynamics on Nov 11th 2025
Shopping for truck lights is no longer just about picking the biggest bar that fits your roof. Whether you’re a police officer responding to emergencies, a firefighter navigating traffic, a tow operator working roadside, or a contractor keeping crews safe, the right lighting is essential for safety, compliance, and performance.
Modern truck lighting includes everything from Light Bars and Visor Light Bars to compact grille strobes and discreet dash lights. Choosing correctly requires more than style preference. It means understanding your profession’s requirements, your state’s laws, and how often your equipment will be used.
This expanded guide breaks down the five most important factors to consider: types of lights, the situations they’ll be used in, color options, legal compliance, and frequency of use. By the end, you’ll know exactly what to buy, why, and how to make sure your investment lasts.
Different Types of Truck Lights
Today’s LED technology gives buyers more choice than ever. Here’s a closer look at the most common truck lighting types, including how and why they’re used.
Dash Lights
Dash lights mount on the inside of the windshield or dashboard using suction cups or brackets. They’re lightweight, affordable, and easy to install with cigarette lighter plugs.
- Best for: Volunteers, undercover law enforcement, and drivers needing temporary visibility.
- Pro tip: Look for models with multiple flash patterns to adapt to different scenarios.
Visor Light Bars
Visor Light Bars span the length of the front visor, providing strong forward facing warning light without drilling into the roof.
- Best for: Police SUVs, security vehicles, EMS units.
- Advantages: Stealthy when off, high visibility when on.
- CRO Tip: Pair with grille strobes for a professional look without committing to a full bar.
Traffic Advisors
Traffic advisors use directional light patterns to safely reroute drivers around an incident.
- Best for: Highway patrol, utility fleets, pilot cars.
- Advantages: Reduces accidents in high-speed traffic zones.
- Note: Often mounted on rear light bars to provide maximum clarity.
Grille & Surface LEDs
Compact modules mounted on grilles, bumpers, or side panels. They’re rugged and versatile, adding coverage around the truck’s perimeter.
- Best for: Police Grille Lights, Construction fleets, tow trucks, fire engines.
- Advantages: Flexible mounting, waterproof housings, and compatibility with other systems.
Light Bars
Light Bars remain the most recognized truck lighting product. A roof-mounted bar delivers full 360° coverage.
- Best for: Police, fire, EMS, construction, and escort vehicles.
- Variants: Magnetic and permanent-mount bars.
- Alternative: Magnetic light bars, which are portable, affordable, and ideal for part-time or multi-vehicle use.
LED Strobe Lights
LED Strobe Lights are high-intensity flashers used in hideaway kits or as stand-alone modules.
- Best for: Fire trucks, law enforcement, tow vehicles.
- Advantages: Compact but extremely bright, customizable flash patterns.
- Compliance Tip: Ensure strobe color matches your state’s regulations.
Wig-Wags
Wig-wag flashers alternate a vehicle’s headlights or taillights.
- Best for: Law enforcement, EMS, funeral escorts.
- Advantages: Extremely eye-catching, quick installation.
Bumper-Mounted Lights
Adding lights to the rear bumper ensures visibility when loading, towing, or blocking traffic.
- Best for: Tow trucks, snow plows, construction fleets.
- Advantages: Rear coverage prevents accidents in blind spots.
The Situations Where Truck Lights Are Used
Truck lights are not limited to first responders. They play a vital role in dozens of industries. Let’s break it down by user group.
Law Enforcement
Police rely on the Best Police Lights,typically red and blue light bars — for maximum visibility. In undercover or unmarked vehicles, dash or visor bars provide discretion until activated.
Fire & EMS
Fire trucks use Fire Truck Emergency Lights with red/white strobes for visibility in dense traffic. EMS vehicles often add grille strobes for intersection safety.
Construction & Utility Fleets
Crews rely heavily on construction truck strobe lights kits for trucks to prevent accidents on job sites. Amber bars and traffic advisors warn motorists, while surface-mounted LEDs increase side coverage.
Tow & Recovery Operators
Tow trucks need amber light bars visible from long distances. Rear bumper LEDs add safety when loading vehicles roadside.
Volunteers & Storm Chasers
Volunteers often use portable gear like dash lights, visor bars, or Small LED Light Bars. Storm chasers favor plug-and-play options that can be quickly moved between vehicles.
Pro Tip: Before buying, match your lighting to your profession’s needs. Overbuying wastes money, underbuying risks safety.
If you’re unsure what is legal for your situation, Extreme Tactical Dynamics provides a full state emergency light law database so you can review regulations before purchasing.
Truck Light Color Choices
Choosing the right color isn’t just a matter of preference — it’s dictated by law and safety standards.
Primary Color Options
- Red: Fire, EMS, law enforcement.
- Blue: Police, select emergency vehicles (restricted in many states).
- Amber/Yellow: Tow trucks, construction fleets, utility vehicles.
- Green: Command vehicles, security.
- White: Used in combination for additional visibility.
LED Warning Lights for Professionals
- Best Police Lights: Red/blue with strobes or traffic advisors.
- Fire Truck Emergency Lights: Red/white bars with integrated strobes.
- Tow Fleets: Amber LED Emergency Warning Lights.
- Construction Trucks: Amber/white combinations for maximum compliance.
Dual-Color & Multi-Mode Options
Many modern LED Strobe Lights allow switching between two colors (e.g., red/blue or amber/white). Multi-mode systems improve flexibility, letting one vehicle meet multiple roles.
State Emergency Light Laws
Every state governs who can use what colors and when. Misuse can lead to fines, confiscation, or even criminal charges.
- Law Enforcement: Red/blue almost always restricted to sworn officers.
- Fire/EMS: Red/white combinations.
- Construction & Tow: Amber.
- Volunteers: Rules vary — some states allow red or blue with permits, others restrict to amber.
Compliance & Liability
Using unauthorized colors can void insurance claims if an accident occurs. It may also expose your company to liability in court. Always consult your state’s statutes.
Helpful Resources:
- U.S. Department of Transportation – Vehicle Lighting Regulations
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standards
Frequency of Use & Equipment Quality
How often your lights will run determines how much you should invest.
High-Frequency Users
Police, fire, and EMS should invest in heavy-duty Light Bars, wig-wags, and traffic advisors. Look for SAE Class 1 certified gear built for 24/7 use.
Moderate Users
Tow trucks, funeral escorts, and construction fleets benefit from permanent installs, but mid-range options balance cost and reliability.
Occasional Users
Volunteers and storm chasers should prioritize flexibility. Portable Small LED Light Bars or Visor Light Bars provide visibility when needed but stay discreet otherwise.
Durability & Warranty
Materials matter: aluminum housings, polycarbonate lenses, and IP67 waterproof ratings extend lifespan. Look for brands offering a multi-year warranty — ETD provides an Extreme Tactical Dynamics 5 Year Warranty on most products, a key trust factor for professionals.
Conclusion: Choosing the Right Truck Lights
By factoring in light type, situation, color, state law, and frequency, you’ll make a safe and compliant purchase. Whether it’s Fire Truck Emergency Lights, Visor Light Bars, or Small LED Light Bars, Extreme Tactical Dynamics has solutions tested by first responders, contractors, and tow operators nationwide.
Ready to upgrade your fleet? Explore our full range of Light Bars and emergency vehicle lighting at Extreme Tactical Dynamics.