Few things are more vital to safe driving, especially in winter, than headlights. Even before dark, they improve your car's visibility massively, reducing accidents with other vehicles and pedestrians. Seeing clearly is critical while at the wheel! 

When one of your headlights is out, getting it fixed as soon as possible is crucial. So, don't put your repair off. Telling yourself it doesn't matter isn't a quick fix in this case. 

To help you find clear answers, we're detailing everything you need to know about headline bulb replacement costs. From when you need to change your headlights to the average cost of replacing headlight bulbs, all of the main FAQs are covered here. 

How much does a replacement headlight cost? 

You can buy replacement headlight bulbs for £3 each in a local independent car parts shop. These stores are often also more likely to give advice and tips than the big names.  

If you’d like to save money and learn more about your car, you can buy the bulbs and fit them yourself. It’s great to do this at least once, as it may be required in an emergency.  

Halfords and Wilco sell headlights without fittings. Perfect if you’re ready for some DIY. 

However, you can get an expert to fit them for you. And we’ll explain where you can do this below. 

How much does it cost to buy and fit a replacement headlight bulb? 

Chain stores charge around £8-15 for fitting replacement headlight bulbs.  

Headlight bulbs are generally fairly cheap to replace, many retailers (e.g., Halfords) offer free fitting when you buy their bulbs. Fitting costs are rarely more than the cost of the bulbs themselves.  

Another option is to use a garage from one of the main nationwide companies, such as ATS, Kwik Fit, or Wilco. These places often charge more for bulbs but offer free fitting while you wait. 

How long do headlights last? 

Headlights usually last over 500 hours.  

Naturally, they fail after time and use. When one fails it’s important to change it as soon as possible.   

Depending on the setup of your car's lights, it could seriously affect your car's visibility to other road users and your own. Read on for more on the types of headlight systems.  

How long do LED headlights last? 

LED headlights last up to 30,000 hours. 

The newest lighting technology, LEDs use much less power than HID or Halogen systems but emit a brighter, more controllable light pattern.  They don’t emit as much heat as traditional bulbs and last longer. Nice. 

Is it worth upgrading your headlight bulbs?  

There are many aftermarket bulbs you can buy at varying prices.  

Manufacturers of these products often make claims such as a 150% increase in brightness and 2x further distance. While the images look convincing, it’s difficult to know how much the bulbs are improving visibility.   

Group tests by organisations such as Autocar review all the options available and present their findings, here's a list of their best car headlight bulbs for 2022. 

As reported by users, these bulbs can often fail sooner than standard ones, so they may not always be worth the extra cost. But more on how much it is to change a headlight bulb below.

Can I change my headlight bulbs myself?  

Yes and no. In short, it depends on what vehicle you have, the older the car the more likely you are to be able to do this. 

Newer cars require removing bumpers, which can take considerable time, space, and tools. So, you might need to head to a garage if you have a modern vehicle.  

In years gone by this would be an easy question to answer, with cars being designed for ease of servicing and maintenance and working on cars being common knowledge.  

Nowadays, with everyone having less free time, and cars being more and more complicated, it can sometimes be tough to do the simplest tasks yourself, such as changing a bulb. 

Which headlight bulbs do I need?   

There are multiple different sizes and models of car headlight bulbs. This is because modern cars are all very different. Some headlights have a single filament, and others have two.   

Single filament bulbs are used in cars with two pairs of headlight fittings and reflectors; one for the main beam, and one for the dipped beam.  

Headlight bulbs are labeled using the H notation. The following bulb types are most commonly used: H1, H3, H4, H7, H11, HB3, and HB4. None of the bulbs are interchangeable, so it's important to find out what one your car uses before buying. 

How to find which headlight bulb I need  

As with most things replaceable or refillable on your car, the user manual is the best place to check. It will list all the bulbs required including brake lights, indicators, and headlights.   

For an easier way to check, many different sites can tell you which bulb you need. Google your car manufacturer’s website or check forums to see what other drivers say. 

You can also contact a local garage for in-person advice. This way, you’re not guessing based on internet answers.  

How to change a headlight bulb  

Changing a headlight varies from car to car, it's always best to check your owner's manual for a guide on how to do this before attempting.  

Here is a brief guide on how to change a car headlight bulb: 

1. Locate which bulb has broken  
2. Locate the plastic cover on the back of the headlight unit and pop it off  
3. Remove the metal clip to free the connector and bulb. Carefully remove the bulb from the connector (the edges of the bulb and headlight can be sharp)  
4. Remove the bulb from the packaging and re-insert it into the connector  
5. Replace the connector, ensuring the tabs are aligned correctly  
6. Replace the spring clip and plastic cap  

More information about accessing the bulb 

The above procedure sounds simple, but some cars obscure the back of the headlight with other components in the engine bay.  

In some cases, the entire headlight has to be removed in order to get to the bulb. If this is true for your car, you might want to work with a professional or contact a garage for assistance. 

Why you shouldn’t touch the headlight glass 

Do not touch the glass of the headlight bulb. This is because grease and oils from our skin can cause the bulb to fail prematurely. Even if you wash your hands thoroughly, there are still natural oils on your skin.  

About Halogen Vs HID headlights 

There are many types of headlights, from traditionnal filament-style bulbs to LED, and each one needs special consideration when repairing or replacing.   

Whilst it’s not usually possible to select between these when upgrading - it’s built into the design of the headlight, it is useful to know when it comes to replacing your own car's bulbs 

Traditional halogen bulbs  

Halogen is the most common type of bulb. They use a tungsten filament similar to old-fashioned home light bulbs but are much smaller in size.   

Often producing light with yellow tones, it’s easy to spot which cars on the road use these types of lights. The name halogen comes from the gas used to fill the glass chambers, to prevent the filament from reacting with oxygen in the air.   

These bulbs have a typical life expectancy of 2,000 - 3,000 hours. The lowest of all types of bulbs available. They also offer the lowest light output but are considerably cheaper than the competition to produce and maintain.  

High-intensity discharge or HID  

While the technology has been around since the 1990s, it was only really beginning to become a common sight by the mid-2000s. Often offered as an optional extra from the factory, HID headlights provide a much brighter experience than halogen.   

HID bulbs work using an electrical arc sustained by metal salts inside the bulb and initiated with the help of xenon gas.   

Emitting a bright white light, they give a more modern look from both inside and outside of the car. The life expectancy of HID systems is 10,000 hours or more.  

What's the difference between HID and halogen bulbs?  

HID lights require a ‘projector’ inside the light fixture. The term projector headlights is often used interchangeably with HID, although nowadays, projector lights can also be used with LED.   

Projectors do exactly as one would expect. They have an optical lens at the front of the light that directs the beam forward. Older style lights would be considered reflector lights in contrast.  

Projectors provide much more directional light, with less wasted light straying up into the sky or off at extremely wide angles.   

When driving at night, it’s easy to tell if a car has projector lights, HID, or LED because the edges of the beam will be crisp and sharp, compared to a softer beam pattern with halogen lights.  

Overview of HID vs Halogen bulbs 

Want the differences at a glance? Here’s what you need to know before selecting a car bulb replacement cost.  

• HID is brighter 
• HID is more energy-efficient  
• HID has a longer lifespan 
• Halogen has a warmer, yellowish light 
• Halogen are generally cheaper and cost-effective  

Do HIDs blind oncoming drivers?  

In practical terms, the one key difference between HID and Halogen is that HIDs need to be used with projector lights. Those that do, can and usually are properly adjusted to never blind oncoming traffic.  

In recent years, though, kits have become available allowing owners to retrofit HID lights into standard reflector units. In this case, the light can emit dangerous levels of stray light, which is difficult to direct as it would be with the correct bulb.  

Thankfully, fitting HIDs without the other required components is illegal and will result in an MOT failure.  

Cars fitted with HIDs from the factory must have an automatic headlight leveling and washing system. The former is to ensure the beam does not stray into oncoming traffic’s eye line, even if the car is heavily loaded and not sitting level.  

Do damaged headlights devalue a car? 

Broken headlights can decrease a car's value by 2 to 5%, depending on the extent of the damage.  

Cracked lenses or superficial scratches will lessen the value. Severe damage that requires lots of work may result in a 10% price reduction. Newer cars usually have higher depreciations, as headlight repairs require more labour. 

Headlight bulb replacement cost - Final thoughts 

Whether you’re curious about how much a garage charges to change a bulb or want to know the Halfords bulb fitting price, we hope this article has given you extra insight into your car’s lights.  

If unsure, don’t try to change them yourself. Always work with a professional or garage to keep yourself safe and your car in good condition.  

With Bumper, you could benefit from 0% interest car repair financing and pay for car repairs in easy-to-manage monthly payments. 

Author - Joseph Law

Joseph has been writing about cars for over seven years and writing for Bumper for over two, blending his passion for automobiles with a talent for storytelling.

Joseph has written about engineering and cars for Autozilla, Komaspec, and several engineering manufacturers. When he's not writing or tinkering with one of his five cars, Joseph dreams of owning an Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale.