How much does it cost to replace a headlight bulb?
According to our research, the headlight bulb replacement cost (UK) usually ranges between £35 and £125.
The average headlight bulb replacement cost works out at approximately £85, including parts and labour.
What are the headlight bulb replacement costs at dealerships compared to Fixter garages?
On average, when replacing a headlight bulb with Fixter, we save our customers around 30% against dealership prices. Not only do you save money, but you also benefit from our superb collection and delivery service if we can’t pop a new one in on your driveway or wherever it’s parked.
It’s the most convenient way to carry out car repairs, upgrades, services, and MOTs you’ll find. Who else collects your car and delivers it back to you when the work is complete?
What additional factors could affect a headlight bulb replacement?
The main factor in headlight bulb replacement is the type of bulb you choose. There are three types of headlight bulbs:
1. Halogen bulbs
Halogen bulbs are the traditional lights motorists have been using for years. Each halogen bulb contains a tungsten filament that emits bright light when it gets hot and halogen gas, which prevents them from discolouring.
2. Xenon bulbs
Xenon bulbs are far brighter than traditional halogen bulbs. These bulbs create an electric arc between two electrons inside a bulb filled with xenon gas. However, Xenon bulbs are more expensive than halogen or LED bulbs, as they’re 300–450% brighter and are available in more colour temperatures.
Sadly, there is a but. Xenon bulbs are only legal if the vehicle was fitted with them during the manufacturing process. So you can’t legally run xenon bulbs you’ve had installed in a car that wasn’t designed for them, and they won’t pass an MOT.
3. LED bulbs
Just like xenon bulbs, LED bulbs will often require additional fittings to work in a car that they weren’t designed for—they’re also illegal and fail an MOT.
Cars designed and built to run LED bulbs provide brighter and far longer-lasting options than traditional halogen bulbs. They’re packed full of light-emitting diodes, and as electrons pass through their semi-conductors, they transform that power into light. LED light provides a warm temperature beam and is typically 150–300% brighter than their halogen counterparts.
LED bulbs are a little more expensive than traditional halogen options but often last up to 10 years, offering excellent value over their lifespan.
What are the costs of replacement headlight bulbs?
The cost of new bulbs varies for each make and model. We explored the typical prices of Eurocarparts headlight bulbs for a selection of popular vehicles.
In our search, we took the average for standard 2020 models.
| Car Make | Car Model | Headlight Bulb Prices |
| Ford | Fiesta | £6 |
| Fiat | 500 | £4 |
| Volkswagen | Golf | £5 |
| Mercedes | C Class | £5 |
| BMW | 5 Series | £6 |
| Land Rover | Range Rover | £6 |
| Volkswagen | Tiguan | £6 |
What are the labour times and rates for headlight bulb replacement?
Depending on the layout and set-up of your car’s headlight fitting, it could take as little as 15 minutes, or as much as an hour—or two!
Headlight bulb replacement costs vary across the country, according to each garage and dealership. We examined our records to calculate the average hourly rate.
We found for garages within the London area, the rate averaged out at £78 per hour. For the garages throughout the rest of the country, the average price was a little lower, as you’d expect, at £72 per hour.
Can I replace a headlight bulb myself?
Plenty of cars provide easy access to the headlamp and each bulb placement, making swapping bulbs a simple task for any driver. However, there are probably just as many (especially in older models) where accessing the fitting to replace a bulb appears to require 18” long fingers that bend in every possible direction.
How do I find out what headlight bulb I need?
The first place to check is your vehicle manual. All the different bulbs for your make and model will be included.
If you’ve lost your manual or never had one in the first place, the bulb type is printed on the base or body of the old bulb.
The easiest way is to access one of the many online databases provided by suppliers and motor centres throughout the UK. These natty online tools help you determine exactly the right bulb, and all you need for most of them is your car registration number. Pop that into the required field, and you’ll receive a range of options that will fit your car.
What’s the average life of a headlight bulb?
Halogen bulbs, as far as manufacturer recommendations go, last between 500 and 1,000 hours. Xenon bulbs should provide nearer 10,000 hours of operation and LED options up to as many as 30,000 hours.
Why do headlight bulbs break?
Bulbs can blow for all sorts of reasons: from a surge in power, a blown fuse, water ingress, or (more obviously) a stone or other item smashing through the headlamp fitting. If they’re lucky enough to survive all of those calamities, headlight bulbs will often wear out from extended use over time.
Can you drive with a broken headlight bulb?
Not at nighttime. With reduced visibility, it should be evident that driving without a full set of lights is incredibly dangerous. It’s illegal to drive in the dark without the correct level of visibility—that includes keeping all lights clean—so you must replace broken bulbs straight away, or you’ll be liable for a fine.
What are the symptoms of a faulty headlight bulb?
- You struggle to see while driving in the dark
- There’s only a single beam shining on the road instead of two
- Other drivers flash their headlamps at you
- A warning light illuminates on your dashboard
If you’ve got a headlight bulb that needs replacing, or if there’s anything else on your car that needs a quick upgrade, why not let one of our mechanics take a look and sort the problem for you? We’re always ready and waiting to help.
Choose Fixter – Get an instant quote for your headlight bulb replacement and save up to 30%
About Fixter
Fixter is revolutionising the car maintenance industry, one repair at a time. Fixter was founded to make car maintenance as easy as booking a taxi. Digital, transparent and stress-free, with world-class customer service. Since launching in Manchester in 2017, Fixter has expanded to more than 100 towns and cities across the UK and provided thousands of car owners with honest, convenient and affordable car repair services.