Is It Legal To Put Christmas Lights On Your Car In Wisconsin?

If you really want to glow, 'tis the season.

It's really fun to go all out on decorations at the holidays. I even turned my work cubicle into Whoville one year, it was adorable. It's the time of the year you want to be surrounded by all things merry and bright and just not check your electric bill.

Around this time of the year, you've also probably seen folks drive around in cars that have been decked out in Christmas lights bumper to bumper and look as bright as a $40,000 Christmas tree rolling down the road. Sure it looks cool, but could you get in trouble for driving a car like that in Wisconsin?

It's Lit, But Carefully

It's one thing to put Christmas lights on your car temporarily, for things like parades. You can also get your car in the Christmas spirit with decor other than lights. One of my favorite things I've seen was a Grinch doll smashed against the front grill. A lot of folks use plush reindeer antlers and a red nose or put a wreath on your spare tire.

All of those are probably better ideas than putting Christmas lights on your car in Wisconsin.

Wisconsin state law allows only white or amber colored lights on the front of a car and red lights on the rear. If there's anything besides that, it could be a $200 fine.

In 2020, a Wisconsin man who decked his car out in Christmas lights did get pulled over for it. The state trooper told him that she really liked the lights, but she was pulling him over for the lights.

The law isn't there to ruin your holiday magic. It's so other drivers don't confuse your Christmas light-covered car with an emergency vehicle flashing lights.

It's totally legal (not to mention easier) to choose a plush costume or non-lit Christmas accessories for your car this year. That will be way less work to take off of your car at the end of the holiday season.