Most lighting kits fail at the install, not the light. Wires tapped into the wrong circuit, connectors left open to road salt, a switch zip-tied under the dash. At MarxModified AutoStyling in Wilmington we install 12-volt lighting the way the factory would have, so your car looks right and nothing stops working in February.
We install on cars, trucks, Jeeps and SUVs. Bring us a kit you already bought, or tell us the look you want and we’ll source the lights.
Here’s what you’ll find below:
- What we install: show lighting, functional lighting and work truck warning lights.
- How we wire it: fuses, relays, sealed connections and clean routing.
- What it costs: how we quote lighting jobs.
- Staying legal: Delaware’s rules in plain English.
Lighting we install in Wilmington
Show and accent lighting
- Rock lights: waterproof LED pods in the wheel wells and along the frame. From 4 pod kits to 16 pods and up, single color or app-controlled color changing.
- Underglow: LED strips under the body for a glow around the whole car.
- Grille and badge lighting: light-up emblems, grille lights, and color-changing “demon eye” or “snake eye” headlight accents.
- Interior ambient lighting: door, dash, footwell and cup holder lighting that matches or changes color.
Functional lighting
- LED headlight and fog light upgrades: brighter, whiter light for back roads at night.
- Light bars and spot lights: bumper, grille, roof and A-pillar mounts for trail and job site use.
- Cab lights, running lights and brake light add-ons: roof markers, fender flare lights and spare tire brake rings.
- Switch panels: a labeled panel in the cab so every light has its own switch.
Work truck and emergency warning lights
Amber and white strobes, light bars and hideaway strobes for plow, tow, construction and service trucks, and surface mount lights for volunteer firefighters. We install Feniex and other brands. See the lighting guide for the full list.
How we wire it
- Every circuit gets its own fuse, sized to the lights on it, so a short blows a fuse instead of melting a harness.
- High-draw lights run through a relay, so your switch and factory wiring never carry the load of a light bar.
- Outside connections are sealed against water, slush and the road salt Delaware puts down all winter.
- Wires are routed out of sight, wrapped in loom and secured away from heat, suspension and moving parts.
- Bad installs get redone. If someone else left you with a tangle under the dash or lights that flicker, we’ll pull it out and do it right.
Every lighting install comes with our 1-year craftsmanship warranty plus the manufacturer’s warranty on the lights.
What lighting costs
Lighting is quoted per job, because a 4 pod rock light kit on a Wrangler and a full strobe package on a Super Duty are very different days. The quote depends on the number of lights, whether you’re supplying them, how the controls work (a simple switch, a switch panel or an app) and how much of the vehicle has to come apart to hide the wiring. Tell us your vehicle and the look you want and we’ll send a clear quote, usually the same day.
Staying legal on Delaware roads
- No red facing forward. Red light can’t be visible from the front of your vehicle.
- Red, blue and green flashing lights are for emergency and authorized vehicles only.
- No flashing lights while driving other than turn signals and hazards. Work truck strobes are for warning others at a hazard, not for the drive home.
- Extra front lights are capped: up to 2 spot lights and 2 fog lights, and no more than 4 extra high-intensity lights lit at once.
- Light bars, rock lights and underglow are for off-road, parked or at the show. We wire them to their own switches so they stay off on the road.
This is a general guide, not legal advice. Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey each have their own rules. Source: Delaware Code, Title 21, Chapter 43.
Finding the shop
We’re at 4706 Old Capitol Trail, Wilmington, DE 19808, off Kirkwood Highway near Prices Corner. Hours are Wednesday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM, with Monday and Tuesday by appointment. Get directions. We do lighting for drivers from Newark, Bear, Middletown, Hockessin, New Castle and across the area.
Wilmington car lighting FAQ
How much does it cost to install rock lights or underglow?
It depends on the number of pods or strips, whether they’re single color or app-controlled, and the vehicle. Send us your vehicle and the kit you’re looking at and we’ll quote it, usually the same day.
Can I bring my own lights?
Yes. We install kits you’ve already bought, and we’ll tell you up front if a kit is poor quality or won’t fit well.
Are LED headlights legal in Delaware?
Properly aimed replacement headlights that put out white light are fine. Colored or flashing headlights are not. We aim every headlight we install.
Is underglow legal in Delaware?
Underglow and rock lights are for off-road, parked or at a show. Red facing forward and any flashing red, blue or green lights are not allowed on the road. We wire show lighting to its own switch so it stays off while you drive.
Will the lights drain my battery?
Not when they’re wired correctly. We wire lighting through switched or ignition-controlled circuits and relays so nothing stays on after the car is off.
Do you install strobes on plow and work trucks?
Yes. Amber and white strobes, light bars, hideaways and switch panels for plow, tow, construction and service trucks, sealed against road salt. We install Feniex and other brands.
Can you fix a lighting install another shop did?
Yes. We’ll trace the problem, whether it’s a bad ground, a corroded plug or an unfused tap, and redo it the right way.