Is the third brake light really required?
- Thread starter WLDRIDE
- Start date
That depends on the state, some require 3rd brake lights if the factory installed them. Personally there are too many crazed/inattentive/cellphone viewing/drunk/high/etc. drivers out there for me to not want to give them every possible advance notice that I am stopping.
To me, that means a 3rd brake light is a good idea if you want to give those under the influence of something as much notice as possible you're stopping or slowing down. To me, removing it just for looks would be dumb.
To me, that means a 3rd brake light is a good idea if you want to give those under the influence of something as much notice as possible you're stopping or slowing down. To me, removing it just for looks would be dumb.
Last edited:
89grand
TJ Addict
I removed mine years ago. Never had an issue here in AZ. I also removed my rear tire, so it looked really dumb by itself.
MountaineerTom
LJ Enthusiast, Retired USAF Weapons Loader
Supporting Member
Ride of the Month Winner
You can remove the OEM one and add a round light in the area where the center cap goes, one of those light ring things behind the spare or add a couple smaller lights in the 2 unused lug holes on the spare.
I did the latter and it was relatively inexpensive, easy and you still have a 3rd brake light. doesn’t stand out as much either. I later added a flasher to them.
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/3rd-brake-lights-in-open-lug-holes-on-you-spare.15324/
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/adding-a-flasher-to-your-3rd-brake-light.16356/
I did the latter and it was relatively inexpensive, easy and you still have a 3rd brake light. doesn’t stand out as much either. I later added a flasher to them.
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/3rd-brake-lights-in-open-lug-holes-on-you-spare.15324/
https://wranglertjforum.com/threads/adding-a-flasher-to-your-3rd-brake-light.16356/
Technically according to federal requirements any safety equipment that was required at the time of initial delivery is supposed to be maintained. Beyond that your up against some officer who is having a bad day.
No. It is not federally mandated. However your state might have a provision in its safety inspection (my state doesn’t do that)
The feds only mandate that it's there when the vehicle is delivered new to the first retail customer via the new car dealer. After that it's up to the state whether it remains to be required or not.
Last edited:
064banger
TJ Enthusiast
I made a how to for a custom one if you have an 03 - 06 and you do the spare tire delete. I integrate it into the tailgate vent for a factory type look. I love it.
Where I live in Texas you'll fail an inspection without one
Where I live in Texas you'll fail an inspection without one
That being said, I took my spare tire off, but didn't want to be without a third brake light because if someone rear ended me and had a good attorney, I might be screwed. Therefore I made a light for mine. To be honest, it looks cleaner in person for some reason and it illuminates red. Simple and clean.
Took mine off 20 years ago. I do have a small led 3rd brake light / license plate light. But it only has 4 red led lights so it isn’t of much use.
Mine has been gone since I bought 33s. And given there is hardly a Chevy out there with 3 operational brake lights... even brand new ones... it is obviously not a priority for the police.
When first introduced the third brake light had a statistical reduction in rear end accidents, but 5 years later the stats were right back where they were before they were mandatory. They worked when they were unique... now the statistics indicate no advantage.
When first introduced the third brake light had a statistical reduction in rear end accidents, but 5 years later the stats were right back where they were before they were mandatory. They worked when they were unique... now the statistics indicate no advantage.
This ^^^^ but few cops could care less.
There are also headlight, driving lights, lightbars A-pillar lights which all break the law.
Plus tires past the fender, lack of mud flap below the wheel centerline.
Front bumpers which change the safety for pedestrians.
We break thousands of laws which the police don't bother to enforce.
Removing the doors is illegal in several states/provinces too.
We had installed the ring of fire behind the spare and passed the VA state safety inspection two years ago. This past year we failed the inspection because it was not DOT approved light. We added a small round DOT approved red light in the center of the spare and they failed us again because of the ring of fire. Covered the ring of fire up with same cardboard and we passed.
