We study excited light mesons by quenched lattice quantum chromodynamics (QCD) simulations with a truncated overlap fermion formalism based on domain wall fermions. Truncated overlap fermions satisfy lattice chiral symmetry instead of chiral symmetry in continuum field theory, as for domain wall fermions, but offer lower simulation costs. Our results show good agreement with the experimental values for the excited state of a 1, ρ, and π mesons, and demonstrate that a 1(1260) and a 1(1640) are simple two-quark states, whereas a 1(1420) may have a more complicated structure. The results are similar to those of previous dynamical studies using clover-Wilson fermions or chirally improved fermions, even though our lattice QCD calculations are performed with the quenched approximation. The study shows that lattice QCD simulations using truncated overlap fermions are essential in lattice studies of excited states.