fog lamp front replacement

What does a front fog lamp do?

A front fog light is responsible for illuminating the road in front of your vehicle when driving in poor visibility. According to UK and European law a car must have at least one (working) rear fog light, to warn traffic of your presence when they are closing in on you from behind in poor conditions.

Some more modern cars are also equipped with front fog lights, either as standard or as an optional extra, which help you to see the road ahead more clearly in thick fog.

Both these fog lights are important safety features so should be regularly checked and properly maintained.

How often should you replace a fog lamp bulb?

Unfortunately no light bulb will last the lifetime of your vehicle, which means at some point you’ll need to replace your fog light bulbs. There is no set mileage at which this should be done, as it depends on how often you use them and on the type of bulb. Just be sure to check them regularly.

The law, vehicle regulations and your MOT

Legally a car must have at least one (working) rear fog light and more modern cars should also be equipped with front fog lights. Because these lights are important safety features they will be checked during an MOT. If they are found to be broken or faulty your car will most likely fail its MOT.

What causes a fog lamp bulb to break?

Fog lamp bulbs can break for a variety of reasons. For example, because of a blown fuse, if water has seeped into the light or over time they can simply wear out. The most important thing is that you replace the bulbs as soon as possible as it can be dangerous to drive without them.

What are the signs of a bad fog lamp bulb?

Usually, there a few signs you can look for:

• If one or both of your fog lights has stopped working

• If your fog lights are dimmer than usual

• If you have noticed your fog lights flickering or dipping in and out

What happens during a fog lamp bulb replacement?

During the repair our certified mechanics will:

• Inspect the fog lights and test to see which ones need replacing

• They will then disconnect any power wires attached to the fog lights

• Unscrew or unclip the old fog light bulb that needs replacing

• Fit the new fog light bulbs, ensuring they’re the correct size and type for your car make and model

• They’ll reconnect the power wires and test that the new bulb is working

What is the average life of a fog lamp bulb?

There is no set lifespan of fog lamp bulbs, as it depends on how often you use them and on the type of bulb. Just be sure to check them regularly to ensure they're fully functional for when you need to use them.

Can you drive with a broken fog lamp bulb?

You shouldn't drive without functioning front fog lamps. Legally a car must have at least one (working) rear fog light, to warn traffic of your presence when they are closing in on you from behind in poor conditions.

Some more modern cars are also equipped with front fog lights, either as standard or as an optional extra, which help you to see the road ahead more clearly in thick fog.