3rd Brake Lights

Independent studies conducted many years ago proved that the addition of a Center High Mount Stop Lamp (CHMSL) helped reduce rear end collisions by 50%, so the NHTSA mandated that all new cars be so equipped effective with the 1986 model year. While you should keep all your lights in good working order for safety, with such percentages it’s particularly important to make sure your CHMSL, more commonly known as the 3rd brake light, is in good repair. We offer bolt-on custom and replacement 3rd brake lights for cars, trucks and SUVs as well as universal fit lights so you can stay safe on the road.

One of our factory replacement 3rd brake lights is identical to the original equipment light you can purchase from the car dealer in every respect except for the price. It will fit, function and appear just like the one that was installed by the automaker on the assembly line, it just won’t lighten your wallet as much. Our third brake lights mount the same way and the electrical connectors mate seamlessly with factory wiring harnesses. They’re 100% legal for highway use and meet all DOT (Department of Transportation) regulations and all U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.

While 3rd brake lights have significantly reduced accidents, they can be improved upon to further increase safety. Our custom 3rd brake lights have LED bulbs, which in addition to being brighter than incandescent bulbs for increased visibility, also have a 0.2 second faster rise time, which is especially beneficial for a brake light. 0.2 seconds may not sound like much time, but when you consider that at 60 mph a car travels 88 ft. in one second, that 0.2 seconds can give a driver behind you almost 20 ft. of additional stopping space. That could be the difference between a collision and stopping in time. And LED bulbs last 50,000 hours or more, so once you install one of our custom 3rd brake lights you’ll probably never have to touch it again because the bulbs will last the life of your car.

LEDs are unaffected by vibration, unlike the fragile filaments in incandescent bulbs, so they’re perfect for cars that have to traverse pothole strewn, decaying roads and trucks and SUVs that venture off-road over rough terrain. But beyond the functional benefits, you’ll want one of our custom 3rd brake lights just for the way it looks. Our selection includes a wide variety of styles and finishes, including chrome, black, and with smoke lenses. We even have units with the latest in lighting technology, fiber optics. The optic fibers in these lights form unique, eye-catching bands that illuminate in a neon-like glow along their entire length. These 3rd brake lights are the perfect complement to a set of LED tail lights or fiber optic tail lights.

But don’t think that because you have an older, pre-1986 vehicle that you can’t have the benefits of a 3rd brake light. We offer universal 3rd brake lights in many styles and with bright LEDs that can be installed on any vehicle, including flush mount and pedestal mounts in brushed and polished chrome with your choice of oval, bowtie, and flame bezels. We also have LED 3rd brake lights encased in original-style chrome bezels for select classic cars. If you have a Jeep or SUV originally equipped with a rear-mounted spare we have brackets, mounts and third brake light kits to accommodate larger diameter spares or if a spare is not used. On our digital shelves you’ll also find replacement lenses for your OE 3rd brake light as well as a large selection of custom 3rd brake light covers to dress it up.