Is it time to replace your vehicle’s headlights? Perhaps they have worn out after giving many years of reliable service. Alternatively, they might have gotten damaged during a car accident or developed issues that affected their performance. Or you might have decided to upgrade your vehicle with brighter lights.
Whatever the reason for replacing your car’s headlights, you must choose a product that fits your vehicle, requirements, and budget. Since the law requires vehicles to have working headlights, the new ones must meet regulations and work reliably.
Recommended Headlights By Light Source
Most buyers classify headlights according to their source of illumination. There are four main types: Halogen, LED, HID/xenon, and incandescent. Some products also feature different light sources that complement each other.
Halogen Headlights
Halogen headlights are an older type that remains common to this day. Retaining the tungsten filament used by incandescent headlights, their bulbs use quartz glass and contain halogen gas. They draw less power and generate more light than their predecessors. Many older vehicle models rolled out of the factory with halogen devices as stock headlights.
The greatest advantage of halogen headlights is their low cost. They’re more affordable than newer types and generate enough illumination for most conditions. However, they generate heat and are not energy-efficient.
Our Top Picks
- Replacement SET-REPD100155 Driver and Passenger Side Headlights
- ReplaceXL 20-1585-00 Driver Side Headlight
- Dorman 1592033 Driver Side Halogen Headlight
- Spyder 5038944 Driver and Passenger Side Halogen Signature Series Headlight
- Anzo 111506 Driver and Passenger Side Halogen Crystal Series Headlight
LED Headlights
Light-emitting diode (LED) headlights produce light by exciting a semiconductor material with an electric current. They generate a bright yet cool light. LED headlights shine brighter, produce less heat, and use less electricity than halogen headlights.
Unfortunately, LED headlights also cost more than halogen headlights. Furthermore, you must replace the entire headlight if its lightbulb fails. Many LED headlight products don’t meet state and federal regulations, so check your local laws and the fine print on the product packaging to find out if the headlights are road-legal.
Our Top Picks
- Replacement SET-RF10010023Q Driver and Passenger Side Headlights
- ReplaceXL RA10010003 Passenger Side Headlight
- Anzo 111503 Driver and Passenger Side LED Projector Series Headlight
- Spyder 5084002 Driver and Passenger Side LED Signature Series Headlight
- JW Speaker 0551771 Driver and Passenger Side LED Model 8800 Evolution 2 Series Headlight
Xenon Headlights/HID headlights
Also called high-intensity discharge (HID) headlights, xenon headlights are often seen on high-end models from luxury brands like BMW. They activate by generating a powerful spark between two electrodes, ionizing the xenon gas in the quartz housing.
The heated xenon provides most of the light until the rest of the gases get hot enough. A capacitor called a ballast regulates the high-voltage current arcing between the electrodes.
Xenon headlights are several times brighter than their halogen counterparts. They use more power during activation, although their ballast manages energy consumption once they reach optimal operating temperature. HID headlights also have higher price tags, befitting their high-end origin.
Our Top Picks
- Replacement SET-REPCD100101 Driver and Passenger Side Headlights
- ReplaceXL A100105 Passenger Side Headlight
- Automotive Lighting LUS5492 Driver Side Headlight Assembly (Bi-Xenon Adaptive), HID/Xenon
- Anzo 121511 Driver and Passenger Side HID/Xenon U-Bar Projector Series Headlight
- ZKW 655.81.100.02 Headlight Assembly (HID/Xenon Adaptive)
Incandescent Headlights
Incandescent headlights generate light by running an electric current through the metal filament. They use argon gas instead of halogen, and their bulbs are made from ordinary glass.
Incandescent headlights cost less than even halogen lights. However, they have many drawbacks, such as less illumination, higher operating temperatures, and shorter service lives. If you own older models, you might have to stick with incandescent headlights unless you upgrade other systems to support newer headlight types.
Our Top Picks
- Replacement KIT-012724-61 4-Piece Kit Driver and Passenger Side Headlights (1999-2000 Honda Civic)
- Replacement KIT-012724-02 Driver and Passenger Side Incandescent Headlight (1999-2001 Ford Mustang)
- Replacement KIT-012724-30 3-Piece Kit Driver and Passenger Side Headlights (2001-2003 Honda Civic)
- Replacement KIT-012524-91 4-Piece Kit Driver and Passenger Side Headlights (2001-2003 Honda Civic)
- Replacement KIT-012524-107 3-Piece Kit Driver and Passenger Side Headlights (2001-2003 Honda Civic)
Bi-Xenon Headlights
Bi-xenon headlights use the same HID light source for high and low beams. A projection module switches between the light distribution modes by mechanically moving a cover.
Earlier xenon headlights with two beam modes needed a ballast for each mode. The second ballast took up more space and made manufacturing more expensive.
In contrast, bi-xenon headlights eliminate the need for a separate headlamp and its prerequisite electronics. The additional parts that actuate the cover take up less space and cost less than a second ballast.
Furthermore, bi-xenon headlights in high beam mode have more range and project more light to the side of the vehicle and the road, making it easier to spot objects on the roadside.
Our Top Picks
Halogen/LED Headlights
As their name indicates, these headlights have halogen and LED light bulbs. Their high beam mode uses halogen bulbs to avoid blinding other drivers. Meanwhile, their low beam mode uses brighter LED bulbs, but the lower position of these lights minimizes the chances of glare.
Our Top Picks
- Replacement SET-RF10010053 Driver and Passenger Side Headlights
- Spyder 5088079 Driver and Passenger Side Halogen/LED Platinum Series Headlight
- Morimoto LF475 Driver or Passenger Side Halogen/LED XB LED Series Headlight
- Anzo 111419 Driver and Passenger Side Halogen/LED Projector Series Headlight
- ReplaceXL RF10010054Q Driver Side Headlight
Xenon/LED Headlights
These headlights have xenon and LED light bulbs. They can switch between their sources of illumination.
Our Top Picks
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Any information provided on this Website is for informational purposes only and is not intended to replace consultation with a professional mechanic. The accuracy and timeliness of the information may change from the time of publication.
