Door projectors, puddle lights, welcome lights, courtesy projectors. Same thing under four names: a small unit in the bottom of the door that throws a lit image onto the ground when you open it.
They used to be a proper job. Now they are a five-minute one, provided you buy the right type.
Wireless or wired?
Wireless (battery + door sensor)
A sealed unit with a magnetic or gravity sensor that detects the door opening and fires automatically. It sticks on with adhesive. No drilling, no wiring, nothing removed. Battery life is typically several months of normal use because they only run for a few seconds at a time.
Downside: you will eventually have to charge or replace the battery, and the sensor can occasionally misfire on a steep driveway.
Wired (into the courtesy light circuit)
Replaces or taps the existing door light. Never needs charging, fires exactly with the door every time. Requires removing the door card, finding the right wire, and splicing. On some cars that is twenty minutes. On others the door card has hidden clips that break if you look at them wrong.
Recommendation: start wireless. If you love them and want them permanent, go wired later.
Getting the position right
This is the whole job. Most people stick them on and wonder why the image looks like a smear.
- Open the door fully and look at the bottom edge. You want a flat section on the underside of the door, near the outer edge, pointing straight down.
- Check the throw distance. Most units are focused for roughly 40 to 70 cm. Too close and the image is small and washed out; too far and it goes soft. Hold the unit in position and test before you commit.
- Aim slightly outward, not straight down. The image should land where a person stepping out would put their foot, not under the door itself.
- Avoid the seal. If the unit fouls the rubber door seal you will get wind noise and a leak.
Making the adhesive last
Nine out of ten failed installs are adhesive failures, and all of them are preventable.
- Clean with isopropyl alcohol, not a wet wipe. Wax and polish residue is what kills 3M tape.
- Fit above 10°C. Adhesive tape does not bond in the cold. If it is winter, warm the panel with a hairdryer first.
- Press for 30 seconds and leave it 24 hours. The bond reaches full strength overnight. Do not slam the door repeatedly the same evening.
Is it legal?
Generally yes for white light projected onto the ground beside a stationary vehicle with the door open. It becomes a problem if the light is red or blue, if it operates while driving, or if it could be mistaken for an emergency vehicle. Rules vary, so check locally.
Our picks
- Easiest: HaloStep Wireless Door Welcome Projectors, 2 pack — stick on, sensor-triggered, no wiring.
- Sharpest image: GhostBeam Door Puddle Laser Light — IP65 rated, crisp edges.
- Cleanest optics: BeamDrop Door Projection Lamp — constant-current control keeps the edges from softening.
More in Doors & Entry.
The legal question comes up a lot once people start adding lights inside the cabin too, so we sat down with the statutes for what interior lighting you can actually drive with.
Frequently asked questions
Wireless or wired?
Start wireless. A sealed unit with a magnetic or gravity sensor sticks on with adhesive — no drilling, no wiring, nothing removed — and the battery lasts months because it only runs for a few seconds at a time. Wired versions tap the courtesy light circuit and never need charging, but they mean removing the door card. Go wired later if you decide you want them permanent.
Where exactly should it go?
Open the door fully and find a flat section on the underside, near the outer edge, pointing straight down. Most units are focused for roughly 40 to 70cm. Aim slightly outward so the image lands where a person stepping out would put their foot, not under the door itself — and keep clear of the rubber seal or you'll get wind noise and a leak.
Why does the adhesive keep failing?
Nine out of ten failed installs are adhesive failures and all of them are preventable. Clean with isopropyl alcohol rather than a wet wipe, because wax and polish residue is what kills 3M tape. Fit above 10°C — tape doesn't bond in the cold. Press for 30 seconds and leave it 24 hours to reach full strength.
Are they legal?
Generally yes for white light projected onto the ground beside a stationary car with the door open. It becomes a problem if the light is red or blue, if it operates while driving, or if it could be mistaken for an emergency vehicle. Rules vary, so check locally.