Your Guide to Getting Headlights from CarParts.com

Headlight bulbs can last anywhere from 14 to 42 months before they burn out. Once they do, it’s extremely important to get a replacement right away for your safety. Driving without headlights is like driving with your eyes closed, especially at night or in bad weather.

Finding the right headlight replacement for your vehicle is pretty easy if you know where to look.

Let’s do it.

How to Choose the Right Headlight Bulbs

Your headlight assembly’s bulb type isn’t interchangeable with other types. This means that if you have halogen bulbs, you can’t swap them for LED bulbs, and vice versa.

To find out which type you need, check your vehicle’s specifications, identify the headlight beam pattern, or remove the existing bulb.

Know Your Vehicle’s Specifications

Consulting your owner’s manual is a fool-proof way to pick out the right type of headlight bulb for your ride. Every specification you can think of is in there, including all bulb types.

Identify Headlight Bulb Beam Patterns

An old Honda Accord, for example, typically comes with halogen headlight bulbs, while a newer model is more likely to have LED ones.

If you don’t have your owner’s manual, you can identify the beam patterns of your headlights to determine the right type of bulb for your vehicle.

There are generally three types of bulbs in the market: halogen, LED, and xenon or HID.

To identify your vehicle’s headlight bulb type, you’ll want to pull up to a wall in a dark space (like a garage). Then, turn on the headlights and review the beam pattern based on this guide:

• Halogen Headlights – These lights give off a yellow beam and are usually found in older vehicles. 
• HID or Xenon Headlights – These lights typically shine white and take a few moments to brighten up before reaching full power.
• LED Headlights – These lights shine white and turn on to full brightness instantly. Most new vehicles come with LED headlights.

How to Remove Your Headlight Bulb

If you’re still not sure what type of bulb you need, you can remove the bulb from the headlight assembly and take a look. Check your owner’s manual, if you have it, for steps on how to remove a headlight bulb. The process varies from vehicle to vehicle.

Once you’ve successfully removed the bulb, here are some things to look out for.

In most cases, headlight assemblies will have a pinchable tab at the back, which lets you twist the base of the bulb and pull it out.

• If you see a traditional filament inside the bulb, you have halogen lights.
• If the bulb has a return wire running from top to bottom, it means you have HID or xenon lights.

In the case of LED headlights, you’ll notice that there’s no opening at the back of the assembly to pull the bulbs out. This is because LED bulbs are irreplaceable, so replacing the entire assembly is the only way to replace the bulbs.

Where to Shop for Aftermarket Headlight Bulbs

When it comes to OE-grade replacement bulbs, CarParts.com has exactly what you need. We have a wide selection of quality headlight bulbs handpicked by our team of industry professionals.

Our halogen, HID, and LED bulbs are on hand and ready to ship, so you’ll be back on the road safely in no time. Simply use our vehicle selector to shop compatible bulbs.

With over a million quality parts priced right, CarParts.com is your ultimate destination for headlight bulbs and beyond.

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