Headlight Repair FAQ
Headlight repair raises the same few questions before anyone sends a unit: what it costs, how it travels, what the MOT makes of it and whether yours can be done. The short answers are below, grouped by topic.
Quotes and prices
How much does it cost to fix a headlight?
There is no fixed figure: it depends on the unit and the fault, and a price comes back once the photos have been seen. It is set by the headlight itself rather than by how upmarket the badge is.
Why can't I get a price over the phone?
The same fault can be a quick swap on one headlight and an afternoon's work on another, depending on how the unit is built and sealed. The photos show which it is.
What if I don't know what is wrong with it?
Describe what you see on the form. If the unit has to be opened before it can be priced, how that inspection is charged is agreed with you first.
Sending the headlight
Is it collected, or do I send it?
How the headlight is collected and returned, and what that costs, is set out in your quote. It all happens within the UK.
How should a headlight be packed?
In a rigid box with enough padding that it cannot move, and one box per headlight if you are sending two.
Headlights and the MOT
Will condensation in a headlight fail the MOT?
The inspection manual does not name condensation. It grades the lens, the reflector and the light the lamp gives, so it comes down to how much the water has affected those on the day.
Is a broken mounting tab an MOT problem?
It can be. The manual treats a headlamp that is not securely attached as a major defect, which means the car fails.
What gets repaired
Which headlights are worth repairing?
Xenon and LED units, which are the costly ones to replace. Halogen headlights rarely justify it, because a new one is inexpensive.
Are rear lights or motorbike headlights repaired?
No. Rear lights are heat-sealed shut, and parts for motorbike headlights are too hard to source.
Will I get my own headlight back?
Yes. Your unit is opened and repaired, never swapped for a copy, and it comes back with the failed part renewed.
Question not covered here?
Add it to the quote form along with your photos, and the reply will answer it.
Send the details, get a price back
Say which car it is and what the headlight is doing, add a couple of photos, and your quote arrives by email. Nothing has to come off the car until you have agreed to it.