Better Headlights For ATS for American Truck Simulator
Headlights rebuilt from scratch: wider low beam, cleaner color, no checkerboard pattern on the pavement and better traffic lights. Free on Steam Workshop, tested on ATS 1.61.
Download Better Headlights For ATS
More screenshots on Steam Workshop ↗
What this mod does
Better Headlights For ATS is Marc‘s second headlight mod, built from scratch to improve night driving. If you drive a lot at night on unlit roads, it’s one of the changes you’ll notice most.
What changes
- Low beam with a wider, fuller arc in front of the bumper.
- Recalibrated color and refraction for a brighter, cleaner light.
- Removes the checkerboard pattern and notches that showed up on the pavement.
- Repositions the light so it isn’t shadowed by long hoods, like the one on the Volvo VNL 2025.
- Improved headlights for traffic, with a reach of up to 120 meters.
Version and compatibility
It’s tested on 1.61 and uses .sui files, which the author says are more efficient. It works with graphics and weather mods: place it above them in the Mod Manager. One user confirms it also works on modded trucks.
What players say
The headlights get great reviews. The most common complaint is that the taillights look dim, both on your truck and on traffic. The author announced reverse lights, and the most recent comments are already praising them.
Marc has another, older headlight mod, MinLedMod; since both change the headlights, use only one.
Holyfix Check
Will it work with your mods?
Load your game.log.txt and check whether this mod is for your ATS version, whether you're missing a mod or DLC it needs and where to place it.
It's in Documents › American Truck Simulator › game.log.txt. It's read in your browser: the file is never uploaded.
Something else failing? Holyfix for ATS checks all your mods at once.
User rating
Highlights and things to keep in mind
- Much more useful low beam at night
- Goodbye to the checkerboard pattern on the pavement
- Tested on 1.61
- Dim taillights according to several users
- May conflict with other headlight mods
- The author doesn't list credits or a changelog
Requirements
- American Truck Simulator 1.61
- Steam account
- No DLC or additional mods
How to install it
- Open the "Better Headlights For ATS" page on Steam Workshop and click "Subscribe".
- Launch American Truck Simulator and wait for Steam to finish downloading the mod.
- Go to your profile's Mod Manager and enable "Better Headlights For ATS".
- Place it above your graphics and weather mods.
- Disable other headlight mods to avoid conflicts.
Version history
-
26 Sep 2026Current
Latest update (3 change notes)
Common problems
Does it work with graphics mods?
Yes; the author asks you to place it above them.
Does it affect traffic?
Yes, traffic vehicles get improved headlights with a reach of up to 120 meters.
Does it work on modded trucks?
One user confirms it works on a modded truck, although the author doesn't guarantee it.
More mods for ATS
✓ ATS 1.61 
✓ ATS 1.61 
ATS 1.59 
ATS 1.57 
✓ ATS 1.61 
ATS 1.59