Time for an Upgrade? LED-to-LED Conversions for Car Dealership Area Lighting

LiteSource  |  May 14, 2025  |  Agency News

Ten years ago, many car dealerships made the smart move to LED lighting for their lots. It was a game-changer—delivering better visibility, lower energy bills, and reduced maintenance compared to traditional lighting. But as those early-generation LEDs start to age out, it's time to consider whether your sales lot lighting is still delivering the performance you need.

How Do You Know It’s Time to Replace Your LEDs?

Unlike HID lamps that visibly burn out, LEDs degrade gradually over time. That means you might not even notice how much performance you’ve lost—until you do a side-by-side comparison.

Here are a few signs it's time to assess your current system:

  • Reduced brightness: Early LEDs may have dropped below 70% of their original light output (L70), leading to dimmer, uneven lighting.
  • Color shift: Aging LEDs can drift in color temperature, leading to inconsistent appearance and poor color rendering of your vehicles.
  • Increased maintenance: Are you replacing drivers, dealing with flickering fixtures, or finding it hard to match replacements?

Why Upgrade? The Benefits of Today’s LED Technology

LED technology has made major strides over the past decade. Modern LED area lights offer:

  • Better optics: More precise beam control reduces light spill for compliance with local ordinances and DarkSky initiatives.
  • Higher LPW: Energy savings of 20–40% are possible when replacing early LEDs with today's models.¹
  • Improved CRI: Enhanced color rendering makes your vehicles look their best—even at night.
  • Integrated controls: Many new fixtures support dimming, daylight harvesting, and smart scheduling, boosting savings and flexibility.

And if you originally upgraded to LED using retrofit kits or drop-in bulbs, today’s dedicated LED luminaires can dramatically outperform them in terms of longevity, durability, and lighting quality.

What’s Involved in a Light Audit—and Why It Matters

Before replacing your fixtures, it’s worth conducting a lighting audit. This simple but powerful step evaluates:

  • Existing fixture performance and layout
  • Illuminance levels across the lot
  • Fixture spacing and mounting heights
  • Opportunities to improve light quality and cut energy use
  • Compatibility with controls and building systems

An audit gives you a clear roadmap: whether it's a one-to-one fixture replacement, a reconfiguration to reduce pole count, or a chance to add smart controls, you'll make data-driven decisions with confidence.

Maximize the Impact of Your Upgrade

LED-to-LED conversions are more than a swap—they’re a chance to optimize. By working with a lighting professional, dealerships can:

  • Reduce fixture count while maintaining or improving light levels
  • Improve customer experience with better-lit inventory
  • Ensure compliance with local lighting ordinances
  • Future-proof the lot with scalable control systems

Still shining—but not like they used to?
If your dealership’s LED lighting is more than 7–10 years old, it’s time for a closer look. Let LiteSource help you plan your upgrade with a lighting audit that leads to smarter, brighter results.

Footnotes and Sources:

  1. S. Department of Energy, LED Lighting Basics & Performance Comparisons
    https://www.energy.gov/eere/ssl/led-basics
  2. Illuminating Engineering Society (IES), TM-21 and L70 Lifetime Guidelines
    https://www.ies.org/standards/committee-reports/
  3. DesignLights Consortium (DLC), Outdoor Lighting Technical Requirements
    https://www.designlights.org/solid-state-lighting/qualified-products-list/technical-requirements/
  4. IES Recommended Practice, RP-8-22: Roadway and Parking Facility Lighting
    https://www.ies.org/standards/

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