Make sure your headlights are road legal
With all the aftermarket lamps, conversion kits and adaptations on the market today, it can sometimes be unclear as to what is and isn’t allowed on our roads.
If your bulbs run above 4200k, and/or exceed 60 watts, then in the majority of cases they are not classed as road legal, and you can be prosecuted for using them out on the open road. The colour of your bulbs is a dead giveaway to tell if they are road legal or not. If your lights are quite a strong blue colour then they are most likely not road legal, whereas generally white or halogen coloured lights are absolutely fine.
Finding out if your bulbs are road legal is pretty straightforward. If they were installed by the manufacturer, then you really don’t have any worries. If you or the previous owner has installed other lamps, it is worth checking them.
If you know which bulbs your car currently uses you can search the product name on the web, or right here at PowerBulbs. Any reliable website selling the product should have information regarding their legality listed in the product description. If you cannot find this information online, then just tell us or the vehicle manufacturer the specifications of the lamps, and we (or they) can tell you if they are legal or not.
Sometimes you may buy a second hand car with non-manufacturer fitted bulbs installed. To best identify what they are you should remove the bulbs. Once you have removed them, search for them online and you will most likely find your answer. If you're unsure, a quick message to us will solve that.
Sometimes it’s not just the bulbs that can be the problem. It can also be the headlights.
It is very important to make sure that your headlights are aligned properly. Incorrectly aligned headlights are the main reason for glare and dazzle, which can prove very dangerous on the road.
To make sure your headlights are aligned correctly you can follow these seven simple steps:
- Level your car
- Position the vehicle
- Turn the headlights on
- Ensure that the lights are level
- Back your car 25 feet away from the surface it is aiming
- Use a screwdriver or socket to adjust the screws or bolts
- Test your alignment.
This is just a quick overview. For further details you can read this previous blog on aligning your headlights correctly.
I hope this post was useful, but If you have any further questions about headlight legality please send me an email at [email protected].
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