How to Get Amber DRLs on a 2018–2022 Honda Accord: 10th Gen Accord Amber DRL Guide
If you have been searching for how to get amber DRLs on a 10th Gen Honda Accord, there is a way to get the amber daytime running light look without replacing your headlights or permanently modifying the factory wiring.
The 2018–2022 Honda Accord Amber DRL Override Kit is designed specifically for the 10th Gen Accord. It uses the factory amber turn signal section as the daytime running light, while keeping the turn signals fully functional when commanded.
The kit works across the 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 Honda Accord range and is designed to work with the factory headlight configurations across the applicable trims.
Most importantly, this is not a switchback bulb conversion and it does not turn the factory white DRL strip amber. Instead, it changes which factory lighting section is used as the daytime running light.
What Does an Amber DRL Look Like on a 10th Gen Honda Accord?
From the factory, the 10th Gen Honda Accord uses a white daytime running light.
With the amber override kit installed, the factory white DRL is turned off during normal daytime operation and the factory amber turn signal section remains illuminated instead.
The result is a much different front-end appearance:
Factory: White DRL during the day
With Amber Override Kit: Amber turn signal section stays illuminated as the DRL
The modification gives the 10th Gen Accord the amber daytime lighting appearance that has become popular on newer vehicles while still using the existing factory lighting.
Does the White DRL Actually Turn Amber?
No. This is an important distinction when searching for an amber DRL kit for a Honda Accord.
The factory white DRL itself does not change color.
The white DRL bar remains white. The kit instead turns the white DRL off during daytime operation and keeps the amber turn signal section illuminated.
So if you are searching for:
2018 Honda Accord amber DRL
2019 Honda Accord amber DRL
2020 Honda Accord amber DRL
2021 Honda Accord amber DRL
2022 Honda Accord amber DRL
or simply 10th Gen Accord amber DRL, this modification uses the factory amber lighting already built into the headlight rather than trying to change the color of the white LED DRL.
Does the Amber DRL Kit Work on All 10th Gen Honda Accord Trims?
The kit is designed to work with the factory headlight configurations across the 2018–2022 10th Gen Honda Accord lineup.
That includes applicable models and trims such as:
- Honda Accord LX
- Honda Accord Sport
- Honda Accord Sport 1.5T
- Honda Accord Sport 2.0T
- Honda Accord Sport Special Edition
- Honda Accord EX
- Honda Accord EX-L
- Honda Accord EX-L 1.5T
- Honda Accord EX-L 2.0T
- Honda Accord Touring
- Honda Accord Touring 2.0T
- Honda Accord Hybrid
- Honda Accord Hybrid EX
- Honda Accord Hybrid EX-L
- Honda Accord Hybrid Touring
Trim availability changed depending on model year, so not every trim listed above was sold every year.
The important part for the amber DRL conversion is that the kit is designed around the factory 10th Gen Accord headlight system.
2018 Honda Accord Amber DRL
The 2018 Honda Accord was the first model year of the 10th generation.
If you have a 2018 Accord and want amber daytime running lights, the override kit allows the factory amber turn signal section to stay illuminated during daytime driving while disabling the normal white DRL.
The turn signal remains functional.
When you activate a turn signal, the module allows the amber section to continue operating as the vehicle's turn signal rather than allowing the constant amber DRL operation to interfere with signaling.
2019 Honda Accord Amber DRL
The same amber DRL conversion is available for the 2019 Honda Accord.
Instead of replacing the headlight assembly or installing universal lighting components, the kit works with the factory lighting to create the amber DRL appearance.
This makes it an option for someone searching for a 2019 Accord amber DRL kit while wanting to keep the original headlights.
2020 Honda Accord Amber DRL
The 2020 Honda Accord can also use the amber override setup.
During normal daytime operation, the amber section remains illuminated while the factory white DRL is disabled.
Turn signal functionality remains available when commanded.
2021 Honda Accord Amber DRL
The kit also supports the refreshed 2021 Honda Accord.
Although there were changes to the Accord lineup during the generation, the amber override kit is designed to provide the same basic operation: amber during normal daytime driving and factory white DRL operation when the lighting conditions or headlight mode call for it.
2022 Honda Accord Amber DRL
The 2022 Honda Accord was the final model year of the 10th generation, and it is also supported.
That means owners searching for a 2022 Honda Accord amber DRL kit can achieve the amber daytime appearance without replacing the factory headlights.
How the 10th Gen Accord Amber DRL Kit Works
One of the advantages of this setup is that the amber DRL does not simply stay illuminated under every condition.
The module changes operation based on the vehicle's factory headlight controls.
AUTO Mode During the Day
This is the main mode for showcasing the amber DRLs.
During normal daytime driving with the headlight control in AUTO, the factory white DRL is turned off and the amber turn signal section becomes the daytime running light.
This is the mode we recommend using for normal operation.
AUTO Mode at Night
At nighttime or when the vehicle detects low-light conditions, the lighting automatically returns to the factory white DRL configuration to match the headlights.
You do not have to manually disable the amber DRL every night.
Low Beam / Headlight Mode
If you manually switch the headlight control to the Low Beam/Headlight setting, the vehicle returns to the factory white DRL.
This also gives you a way to manually switch from amber back to white during the daytime.
Parking Light Mode
With the parking light setting selected, the amber lighting remains on during both daytime and nighttime operation.
OFF Mode
With the control in OFF mode, the kit also provides the amber lighting during daytime and nighttime operation.
Amber DRL Operation at a Glance
| Headlight Setting | Daytime | Nighttime |
|---|---|---|
| OFF | Amber | Amber |
| Parking Lights | Amber | Amber |
| AUTO | Amber | Factory White DRL |
| Low Beam / Headlights | Factory White DRL | Factory White DRL |
For most owners, AUTO mode is the setting to use. You get the amber DRL appearance during the day, while the vehicle automatically returns to the factory white lighting configuration at night.
Do the Turn Signals Still Work With the Amber DRLs On?
Yes.
This is one of the most important parts of the design.
The amber section normally functions as the front turn signal. The kit's control circuitry handles the lighting logic so that keeping the amber section illuminated as a DRL does not remove its turn signal function.
When a turn signal is commanded, that side can still perform its normal signaling function.
Once signaling is complete, the amber daytime running light operation resumes.
This allows you to get the 10th Gen Accord amber DRL look without giving up the factory front turn signals.
What Happens When the Parking Brake Is On?
There is one factory Honda behavior that is important to understand.
If you start the vehicle while the parking brake is engaged, the daytime running lights may initially remain off.
This comes from the factory Honda DRL logic, not a problem with the amber DRL kit.
Once the parking brake is disengaged, the DRLs can power on normally.
This is especially important to remember when testing the kit immediately after installation. If you start the Accord and do not see the amber DRLs, make sure the parking brake is released before assuming there is a problem.
Do You Need Different Headlights?
No.
The kit is designed to work with the factory headlights already installed on the vehicle.
You are not purchasing orange headlights, replacing the factory DRL strip, or installing an aftermarket switchback headlight assembly.
The system takes advantage of the factory amber turn signal section already present in the 10th Gen Accord headlights.
Headlights are not included with the kit and are not required as part of the conversion.
Why Use an Amber DRL Override Kit Instead of Custom Wiring?
It may be tempting to try to create an amber DRL by tapping wires, adding relays, or permanently modifying the factory headlight harness.
The problem is that the Accord's lighting functions interact with each other. Simply applying constant power to the amber turn signal circuit does not provide the same controlled operation.
A purpose-built Honda Accord amber DRL override kit manages the lighting logic so you can retain functions such as:
- Amber daytime running lights
- Normal turn signal operation
- Automatic nighttime lighting behavior
- Factory white DRL operation when required
- Factory headlight control operation
That is different from simply wiring the turn signal to stay powered continuously.
Is the Amber DRL Always On?
No, and that is intentional.
In the recommended AUTO setting, the amber DRL is primarily a daytime lighting feature.
During the day:
Amber DRL ON
At night or in low-light conditions:
Factory white DRL returns
This keeps the lighting behavior integrated with the Accord's automatic headlight system instead of forcing the amber light to remain active under every condition.
Can You Switch Back to White DRLs?
Yes.
You do not have to remove the kit if you want the factory white DRLs during the day.
Turning the factory headlight control to the Low Beam/Headlight position returns the vehicle to the white DRL configuration.
Switching back to the appropriate operating mode allows the amber daytime operation to return.
This gives the driver control over which appearance they want.
Is This an Amber DRL Conversion or an Amber DRL Override?
It can reasonably be described as both, but amber DRL override kit is the more accurate description.
The kit is not replacing the white LEDs with amber LEDs.
Instead, it overrides the normal daytime lighting operation so the factory amber turn signal section becomes the daytime running light.
This is why the modification can maintain the factory white DRL for other operating conditions.
How to Get Amber DRLs on a 10th Gen Honda Accord
If your goal is to get amber DRLs on a 2018–2022 Honda Accord, you do not need to replace the entire headlight assembly.
A vehicle-specific 10th Gen Honda Accord Amber DRL Override Kit allows you to use the factory amber turn signal section as the daytime running light while retaining turn signal operation and the factory white DRL for nighttime operation.
The system is designed for:
2018 Honda Accord amber DRL
2019 Honda Accord amber DRL
2020 Honda Accord amber DRL
2021 Honda Accord amber DRL
2022 Honda Accord amber DRL
and the broader 10th Gen Honda Accord amber DRL conversion.
For normal use, leave the factory headlight control in AUTO. During the daytime, the Accord displays the amber DRLs. When nighttime or low-light conditions are detected, the vehicle automatically returns to its factory white DRL operation.
The result is a clean amber DRL look for the 10th Gen Accord while retaining the factory headlights and normal turn signal functionality.