Many buyers will ask a question before they purchase car door puddle lights. Do I need to ask a professional for the installation? If so, how much does it cost? To be honest, it is usually not necessary to ask a professional to install puddle lights. In this guide, we explain the reason. We also provide real data on the cost of car door light installation for people who still prefer to ask a professional for help.
Do You Actually Need Professional Installation?
Plug-and-play puddle lights have been suitable for most vehicles since 2003. Therefore, you don’t need professional installation for them. The specific steps are as follows. First, you need to pop out the factory door light with a flathead screwdriver. Second, you can unplug one electrical connector and plug in the new light. Finally, you just need to click it back in place. It takes you about 5 minutes to install for each door, and you need no automotive training or special tools.
It is useful to choose professional installation in two special conditions. First, when you want to install drill-in lights on vehicles without factory sockets, you may need help to drill a 22mm hole in the door panel. Second, if you are not willing to work around electrical parts in your vehicle, even simple plug-and-play connectors, you can ask for professional help.
Cost of Car Door Light Installation: Cost Breakdown
Independent Garages and Auto Electricians
For plug-and-play puddle light installation, independent garages usually charge as follows:
- Labour rate: $50–$120 per hour (US), £40–£90 per hour (UK), €45–€100 per hour (EU)
- Time required: 30–60 minutes for a four-door installation
- Total cost: $25–$120 according to local labor rates and number of doors
Many independent garages can install plug-and-play puddle lights quickly. The price is at the lower end of this range, especially when you drive the vehicle in without an appointment during a quiet period. However, you had better call in advance to confirm they are willing to do accessory installations.
Main Dealership Installation
Dealerships usually charge much more than independent garages:
- Labour rate: $120–$200+ per hour (US), £90–£160 per hour (UK)
- Minimum billing: most dealerships bill at least 1 hour regardless of actual time
- Total cost: $120–$250 for a job that takes 30 minutes in practice
In fact, we recommend Dealerships the least for aftermarket accessory installation. They are trained for OEM service and warranty work. Therefore, they may refuse to install non-OEM accessories. Even worse, they may supply the lights themselves and mark up the price a lot.
Mobile Auto Electricians
Mobile auto electricians usually come to your place and offer service. Therefore, it is the best professional option for puddle light installation:
•Call-out charge: $30–$60
•Labour rate: $60–$100 per hour
•Total cost: $50–$100 for plug-and-play; $80–$150 for drill-in with wiring
It is really convenient to call mobile electricians to finish the work at your home or office. Therefore, they are quite popular for accessory installations.
Drill-In Installation Costs
If you want to install drill-in lights for vehicles without factory sockets, professional installation is more reasonable:
- Time required: 60–90 minutes for a full installation with wiring
- Independent garage: $60–$150
- Mobile auto electrician: $80–$180
- Main dealership: often refuse, or $200+ if they accept
During drill-in installation, you should drill a precise 22mm hole in each door panel and connect a power wire to the door-open circuit. Although experienced home mechanics can finish the work by themselves, you had better choose professional installation. It is more reliable, and you will get a cleaner result.
The DIY Saving
Plug-and-play puddle lights usually cost $35–$55 per set. If you ask for professional installation, you need to add $25–$120. In total, the professional-install cost is $60–$175. But if you finish the installation by yourself, you just need to spend $35–$55 (product only) and 20 minutes. You can save $25–$120, which is often more than the product cost itself.
If you plan to change the puddle lights from time to time for different logos and images, you had better learn to install them on your own. In this way, you need not pay installation fees for future replacements.
Tips for Reducing Professional Installation Cost
- Bring the lights you already bought — do not let the garage supply them at high prices
- Make an appointment during off-peak times (like midweek morning) when garages are less busy and more flexible on short jobs
- Ask for a fixed price quote before work — not an hourly rate
- Consider mobile auto electricians for convenience, and they usually charge less
- For multiple vehicles, negotiate a per-vehicle rate for a fleet installation
When Professional Installation Pays for Itself
It is really worthwhile to select professional installation for the following situations. First, when you install drill-in lights on painted metal panels. If you drill incorrectly, it is expensive to repair. Second, if you have vehicles with complex door panel construction. For example, some BMW and Audi vehicles have multi-layer door trim, so the installation is more complex. Third, for some CANbus-sensitive vehicles, if you connect any wires incorrectly, warning messages may appear on the dashboard. At that time, you need to diagnose it first and then reset.
Summary
In all, if you choose professional installation of plug-and-play car door puddle lights at an independent garage, you need to spend $25–$120. But it is not necessary because you can finish the installation all by yourself. You just need to spend 5 minutes on each door with a flathead screwdriver. For drill-in lights, professional installation at $60–$180 is more reasonable. Between the two choices, you can save $25–$120, which is higher than the product cost itself. If you need professional installation, you had better choose an independent garage or mobile auto electrician rather than a main dealership for the best value.