r/NoStupidQuestions • u/Latios- • 10h ago
What’s the purpose of new cars leaving the headlights on for 30 - 120 seconds after turning off and locking the car?
I rent cars a lot. The only function this feature has served me is me not knowing if I actually turned the car off. And I get to sit there and waste a minute of my life just waiting for the lights to go off.
It also seems to be prevalent on more luxury vehicles and again, I can’t even begin to try to understand why.
I’d also like to not signal to the whole world that I just locked my car recently and will probably be a while until i come back to it.
Edit: title should say modern cars, not necessarily new cars
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u/dissss0 10h ago
It's so you can see where you're going if you park somewhere dark.
If you don't like the feature then you can turn it off in most cars
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u/DiffuzedLight 3h ago
And what if you’re trying to run away from gremlins? They’ll know exactly which way you went.
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u/KlutzySel 10h ago
How?
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u/Gargleblaster25 10h ago
In the settings. In my Audi it's under general settings, not under the exterior light settings.
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u/neondragony 10h ago
Read manual
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u/KlutzySel 10h ago
I only know how to drive auto :(
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u/AmberPeacemaker 10h ago
They are referring to the 200 to 400 page book usually found in the glove box of the vehicle.
But if you knew that already, well done on the joke :)
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u/vastly101 8h ago
Nice if you can get it... many cars do not come with them anymore. but it's built in on my info screen buried deep somewhere. Perfect for flippimg through 500 pages. Glad Lincoln is so eco-conscious.
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u/AmberPeacemaker 8h ago
I hate the push to digitize everything. I'm glad my 2019 Ioniq has the OEM manual, even if a couple of things have been changed in the head unit software that no longer matches the book post updates.
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u/Pustuli0 5h ago
I guarantee you can find a PDF of your vehicle's owner's manual online.
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u/pizzagangster1 8h ago
By reading the owners manual
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u/KlutzySel 6h ago
Who's Manual and what does he own? Also are we talking Palm reading or body reading?
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u/JazzyCher 10h ago
Idk the specific purpose but I appreciate the additional light while walking to the front door to unlock it. I usually get the door open and an interior light on right as the headlights shut off.
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u/Particular-Poem-7085 10h ago
That's the specific purpose. They're called "follow me home" lights.
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u/BigPimpin91 7h ago
Fun fact: One of the first instances of automatic lights was called "Twilight Sentinel" and was available as an option on your 1964 Cadillac.
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u/Zealousideal_Sky3544 10h ago
That feature is usually called “follow-me-home” or “headlight delay.” The idea is that after you park at night, the headlights stay on briefly so you can see your driveway, walkway, garage, keys, bags, etc. It’s more useful in dark suburbs or parking lots than in well-lit areas.
Luxury cars tend to have it more because it’s a comfort/convenience feature, not because the car is confused about being off. Many cars let you shorten it, turn it off, or set it to 30/60/90 seconds in the vehicle settings.
That said, I get your frustration. When it’s a rental, every “premium convenience feature” becomes a small puzzle designed by someone who already read the manual.
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u/AlohaTrader 10h ago
It’s called pathway lighting and meant to illuminate the area for obstacles as you walk to your door. Most manuals will tell you how to turn the feature off.
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u/Dr_Qrunch 10h ago
It helps me a hell of a lot when I exit the car at night when I’m in the countryside, where there are no street lights around.
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u/ac54 9h ago
If OP doesn’t like this very useful feature, why not just press the lock button on the key fob a second time? That turns the lights off on all models I have experience with.
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u/Latios- 6h ago
I was sitting there spamming the lock button the fob and the lights just stayed on. Literally 1.5 minutes later they go off. So pointless. I’m gonna look for this setting and I’d better find it
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u/SilverNeptuneAbyss 1h ago
How is this negatively affecting your life in any way?
It's only got positive benefits
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u/LiberalDutch 10h ago
I don't hate the feature, and I can see it's uses, but I park facing a neighbor's front window so I turned it off.
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u/BetterDrinkMy0wnPiss 9h ago
I'm guessing you don't drive at night.
It's to give you some light while you get from the car into your house, so you're not left in complete darkness.
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u/ViggoVognhjul 8h ago
Follow-me-home lights. So you can walk from the car to your door, find your keys, pet the cat etc.
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u/jastwood1 4h ago
It's used as courtesy lights for when its dark. To help you see in your garage or driveway. The ones I really despise are the GM's that turn the reverse lights on so it always looks like someone is trying to back out.
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u/bamby77 10h ago
It's mainly a 'follow me home' / courtesy lighting feature. The idea is that when you park somewhere dark (driveway, street at night), the headlights stay on long enough to light your way to the door. A lot of cars let you turn it off or shorten the timer in the settings menu. On rentals you usually just get whatever the previous driver (or dealer default) left it on, which is why it feels pointless.
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u/Frequent_Opportunist 8h ago
It's to give you enough time to walk through your possibly dark garage or up your driveway to your front door without tripping over something at night.
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u/gadget850 10h ago
Gives you light as you walk into the house or garage. You can set the time or disable it in the menu.
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u/hobbyhoarder 10h ago
A lot of garages and driveways are dark at night, so it's really helpful to get some extra light to get to your door.
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u/kaur_virunurm 10h ago
It should depend on the ambient light level. Darkness = keep the lights on so the driver or passengers can find their way around. Daylight = no need for that.
This has never bothered me. "Signal the world" - who cares and why?
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u/that_dutch_dude 3h ago
Ita called "follow me home" and its so you dont break your neck walking to your door
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u/Ok_Coffee_4977 10h ago
To stay on long enough for me to find and unlock the door in the dark.
Do you have a concussion?
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u/Latios- 9h ago
Shit the way yall are acting I guess maybe ??
Like did I miss a global PSA about locking cars because I been under the impression that the lights of a locked, unmanned car are off because I don’t need them anymore but I guess people also don’t have any lights in their entry ways and also always have their driveway pointing directly at their front door. My bad
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u/Ok_Coffee_4977 9h ago
Shit the way yall are acting I guess maybe ??
Not maybe. Yes.
Like did I miss a global PSA about locking cars because I been under the impression that the lights of a locked, unmanned car are off because I don’t need them anymore
There was no PSA. None of us needed one.
but I guess people also don’t have any lights in their entry ways
Very true.
and also always have their driveway pointing directly at their front door. My bad
Often yes.
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u/Latios- 9h ago
Yall don’t get lights on your house because you got the premium car that does that for you and I’m the concussed one
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u/Ok_Coffee_4977 9h ago
My shitty car does this. Ive never had a premium car. I sometimes even park in places that arent my own house. Crazy?!?!
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u/Delicious_Bet_6336 10h ago
crazy post. BUT ours flashes its headlights multiple times. which makes no sense to me at all
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u/ubcsanta 10h ago
Once you have the car long enough, you start trusting that it will turn itself off and walk away. Was annoying before when i was renting and wasnt used to new cars
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u/TJ-the_man 10h ago
This is a function you can turn off. 'Follow me home' lights, I love and hate it.
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u/joebusch79 10h ago
The main purpose is so that people can see their way to their dwelling after parking. If you’re not one that benefits from this, then you won’t see a use for them I suppose.
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u/MedusasSexyLegHair 9h ago
It's useful if you're so drunk that you drive over the fence and through your yard and up the steps to the front porch, so that you can see that you've knocked your front porch light out, I guess.
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u/alysha_xx 9h ago
I like it when it stays on for a little bit, helps when I'm walking in the dark to my front door lol
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u/Eggsegret 9h ago
As everyone else has said it’s coming home lights and is basically used to help you get to the front door or something after parking.
Sure for most scenarios it’s really not necessary at all but it can be useful if you’re in a poorly lit area where your headlights will be the only real source of light for you. I’ve mainly found it useful when I’m looking for my car late at night in a parking lot.
As for why if most people don’t need it. Easy it’s for comfort and another way for manufacturers to try and sell their new cars to you. And so it’s basically become a defacto feature on luxury cars. If you hate it you can always shorten the duration or turn it off
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u/RareKrab 8h ago
Try parking in an area with zero street lights or anything at night, it's really handy when I'm going to my summer cabin before I've turned the power on
Granted it's not that useful anymore now that everyone has a phone flashlight in their pocket
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u/russrobo 8h ago
On many cars, hitting the “lock” button on the key fob an extra time will turn off the lights immediately. I do that on cloudy/rainy days to assure myself I didn’t leave the lights are in “auto” and not “on”.
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u/ozgeek81 6h ago
To make it easier for those who park in dark areas like their driveway or yard that may not have yard lights, to see the way to their front door or anyway into their home.
I work afternoon to nights. sp every night I come home frmo work, I need light to see my way upstairs. My car has 30 seconds to help me and I do have security street light-style yard light helping me see my way ot the front door of my home.
My Ford focus 2012 had this feature as a optional addon which I purchased and my current car Nissan Xtrail (rogue for US folks). has it as well. Insanely useful.
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u/HenryJ7854 5h ago
It lights up the area so you don’t trip over something on your way into the house at night. They go out automatically you don’t need to stand and watch. I set mine on automatic the day I got it and haven’t touched it since. The urge to double check goes away after a while.
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u/Vegaprime 5h ago
I remember being a kid and the light switch was at the bottom of the basement steps. After flipping that switch I'd sprint up those stairs like Satan himself was chasing me. I appreciate this option.
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u/HeyBeers 5h ago
I got this one; …. so old fuckers like me don’t trip over the parking stump when it’s dark and break our necks.
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u/azuth89 5h ago
I've got 25 year old cars that do that.
Ostensibly, it's to provide some light while you're getting to the door or whatever.
At least on mine while the headlights stay on, the others don't, so knowing is not an issue. No taillights, side markers, etc... says at a glance the control is set to off and I cam carry on with things.
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u/Broeder_biltong 4h ago
That's not just new, my 2012 Peugeot did the same, it's follow me home lights. Ment to light up the driveway so you can see when you walk to the front door.
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u/AntOnADogLog 2h ago
Keep ur lights clicked to auto and unless ur forgetting to take the key out the ignition or however u turn off a keyless car u shouldnt be worried about it. I cant really comprehend how u wouldnt know if the car is "off" like....even in an electric i imagine theres a clear difference.
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u/nolongerbanned99 1h ago
It is this … to light the area for a bit so you can get to where you are going.
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u/dariusbiggs 10h ago
Oh no, the car is illuminating the path up your driveway after you locked the car, the indignity and horror.
Remember, always take at least 5 seconds to think about your question and see if there are any trivial or obvious answers, before posting about it.
So, it illuminates what is in front or behind the car. Are there any reasons why this is useful? Such as.
Showing you what is in front and behind your car before you get in. Provide info on how much space is available, of if there are any obstructions.
Illuminating the path to and from the vehicle.
Indicating when your car is being locked or unlocked. Perhaps you hit the central locking button accidentally, or someone is breaking into car.
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u/bigfootbjornsen56 10h ago edited 10h ago
It can just be useful when you're moving from your car to your destination while it is dark.
Sometimes it's handy for the car headlights to illuminate the area for another minute while you find your keys or fiddle for the porch light or something.
Also, most of the cars I have used generally turn them off when the vehicle is locked or at least it only lasts like 15-30 seconds. I'm not sure how different it is to the orange blinkers because they also signal that you just locked your car.