Changing our your halogen headlights to bulbs with a high light output can prove to be a significant upgrade for a pretty low cost, even for high-quality bulbs. All drivers, no matter the level of experience, may feel anxious when driving in darker conditions.
It is important that the car or truck being driven is well equipped with several safety features, and a newer pair of headlights could do the trick. If the current headlights being used are halogen lights with low beams or even beams that are nowhere near as bright as they should be, then it is highly likely time for an upgrade.
Before Changing the Bulbs
Before you start browsing our list of headlight bulbs, it is best to clean the existing headlight case on a vehicle and inspect what is already there, even if the headlight warning light hasn’t come on. If the casing is damaged it could mean a headlight restoration is needed. To get the best out of a headlight, the lens in front needs to be clear and not distorted to obtain a maximum amount of light and vision.
Headlight Bulb Considerations
A lot of lights also appeal to drivers because of some design aspects, including blue tints or xenon light qualities. A lot of our reviewers in our list of the best headlights below praised the lights for their looks and safety features.
Headlight protectants
There are also additional products on the market called ‘headlight protectants.’ These offer a film of protection from UV damage and any scratches that may occur. Using a product like this alongside one of our suggested headlights could mean any future restorations needed will be prolonged.
Bulb options
Among all the headlight bulbs available, LED lights and HID lights are the most popular with customers. HID lights, also known as xenon headlights, work by combining electrical charge with xenon gas. They are commonly known to be long-lasting and produce a brighter light than other bulbs.
LED headlight bulbs function by heating a filament and streaming halogen gas over the heated charge. The light emitted looks clear, bright and glows. Both LED headlights and HID headlights may have a higher price tag than halogen headlight bulbs, but they do have a better reputation; they are known to last longer and generally be more efficient.
Conversion kits
A headlight conversion kit might be something to also look into in order to change out the car’s original halogens to brighter and better LEDs or HIDs (a conversion kit will save you having to replace the whole of the assembly of the headlights).
Benefits of a Good Headlight Bulb
There are a lot of benefits to choosing a new headlight bulb, and here are just a few to consider.
Greater distance
LED and HID bulbs give the best coverage in comparison to standard bulbs, and they also extend the distance of vision at night, especially in dimly lit areas or off-road where there is no lighting available.
Clearer vision in dark situations
Headlight bulbs, like LED headlights, HID headlights, or halogen bulbs, are among some of the best bulbs to emit a bright light.
Greater lifespan
Some lights like LED bulbs with LED chips have a long life, however, HID technology can be more energy efficient. An HID headlight can last up to 10,000 hours whereas an LED bulb’s lifespan can go up to about 30,000 hours.
Legal Disclaimer
The brightness of headlights and the types of bulbs that can be used for car headlights are a matter of federal law. You can have any type you want for off-road use, but in order to avoid costly fines and abide by the law, your headlight bulbs for on-road driving should be DOT (Department of Transportation) or SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) approved—otherwise, it’s likely that it won’t be legal for on-road use. In any event, always check with the relevant laws of your state before replacing original halogens for on-road driving.
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