Car Bulb Buyer’s Guide

With over 19% of cars failing their MOT for lighting or signalling issues, it's key that you stay on top of the condition of your bulbs and replace them when necessary.

Not only is driving in the dark with faulty bulbs dangerous, it’s also illegal. So, to help keep you safe and road-legal when driving in the dark, we’ve pulled together this buyer’s guide to help you choose the bulbs that are right for your car.

In this article, we’ll cover:

How do car bulbs work?

Car bulbs are much brighter and longer lasting than the light bulbs you use at home but still use the same technology.

Just like household bulbs, the filament inside car bulbs heats up when an electric current passes through it, producing light to illuminate the road. Halogen car bulbs operate on a similar principle, but other types of bulbs, like LED bulbs, function differently. LED bulbs, for example, emit light with almost no heat generation.

The primary function of any bulb is to beam light out onto the road ahead while the intensity of the light is amplified by super-reflective materials that surround the bulb within the headlight itself.

Take rear lights as an example: the red glow is usually produced by a red-coloured plastic cover placed over the bulb, unless the light comes from a specialised red-emitting LED. Similarly, orange plastic covers are used to make indication easily visible to other drivers.

What are full beam headlights?

Every car has two main headlight settings, commonly known as 'low beam/dipped beam' and 'full beam'.

Low beam

Low beam is the standard setting, and using this will see light projected forward and down onto the road, lighting it up without impacting the visibility of other road users. The low beam setting is used on busy and lit roads and is the 'standard' setting when you switch your headlights on.

Full beam

The full beam setting points light upward and outward, allowing drivers to see potential hazards both further down and at the sides of an unlit road. You don't need to worry about finding headlights that are compatible with both settings as all car headlight bulbs have two filaments.

Other types of car lights include

Which bulb do I need for my car?

Every car is different, and there are a variety of bulbs to fit each make and model. The easiest way to find the right bulbs for your car is to use our handy online tool, where you can input your registration number and find the exact bulbs you need. Of course, if you have an issue with your bulbs that leaves you in need of further support, pop into your local Halfords store where our car bulb experts can help you select the right bulb in-store.

Find the right bulb for your car

Which car bulb is best?

We’ve outlined different types of car bulb and how they work, but which is best for your car? At Halfords, we offer both our own Halfords Advanced brand and Lucas bulbs (exclusive to Halfords) with brighter, whiter and longer lasting options!

Here are the different kinds of lights available:

Filament car bulbs / Halogen car bulbs

These are the 'factory standard' bulbs you'll usually find on most cars. They offer good value for money, are relatively easy to replace and last a long time. Some of our bulb upgrades provide brighter and more intense light, useful for winter driving or drivers who do most of their travelling when it's dark.

Shop filament bulbs

Xenon HID car bulbs

If you've ever spotted a pair of blue-tinged headlights on the road, then they were likely High Intensity Discharge lights. Filled with Xenon gas, these bulbs can't just be slotted into your average car headlights and will need an additional box that is either fitted by the manufacturer or as part of an aftermarket kit.

If your car is fitted with HID lamps, you've got a choice of our standard HID bulbs or our Lucas HID bulbs, which are up to 200% brighter than a standard lamp.

Shop Xenon HID bulbs

LED car bulbs

LED bulbs are brighter, whiter and long lasting. LEDs offer the ultimate lighting performance but bear in mind that LEDs are not currently road legal in the UK so they can be used off-road only.

Shop LED bulbs

Choosing the 'best' car bulb really comes down to personal preference and what kind of bulbs your car uses. If you want brighter, whiter headlights, then opt for one of our upgrades - we offer bulbs that range from 100% to 200% brightness. Our Halfords Advanced whiter bulbs offer a high spec look, emitting a crisp, white light, while our exclusive Lucas range has been meticulously tested to ensure performance and reliability.

What car bulb legalities do I need to be aware of?

Essentially, you’ll need to ensure that your car bulb is of sufficient brightness, wattage (how much power it uses) and design in compliance with UN legislation. Make sure that you don’t drive at night if any of your bulbs aren’t working, to both comply with the law and to keep you and other road users safe.

Also, it’s important to be aware that LED bulbs are currently only suitable for off-road use, unless they’ve been fitted by the manufacturer. For a deeper dive into car bulb law, have a read of our article here.

How to change a car light bulb

Making changes to your car's vital components could cause damage if you don't know what you're doing, so we always recommend letting Halfords do the hard work for you! Select the ‘buy bulb with fitting’ option online, Just ask at the till or bring your car and new bulb to your local Halfords store and we'll happily fit it for a small charge.

Why we recommend changing your bulbs in pairs

We’d always recommend changing your bulbs in pairs to help make your journeys as safe as possible. As bulbs deteriorate over their life cycle, if you only replace one bulb, the new one will be visibly brighter than the old one, creating an inconsistent light cone.

Bulbs have similar life cycles, so if one bulb has failed, the second bulb won’t be far behind! As a result, it’s convenient and good practice to change both at the same time.

Shop all car bulbs

Halfords Motoring Club

Did you know that with the Halfords Motoring Club you can get discounts on a range of products including car bulbs? Join the Halfords Motoring Club today to access a range of amazing benefits and discounts that are designed to keep you moving, keep you safe and keep you saving.

It’s free to join and you’ll receive money off your MOT, a free car health check and a welcome voucher that can be spent on any Halfords product or service.

Or choose our Premium membership for a small monthly fee (or a one-off payment) to unlock exclusive member pricing on all motoring products and services online and across our stores, garages and Halfords Mobile Experts, You’ll also receive a variety of other benefits that will help you to keep moving for less, including a free store fitting on a pair of wiper blades, bulbs or batteries to make life easier.

With so much to enjoy, this is too good an opportunity to miss!

Join the Halfords Motoring Club today at www.halfords.com/motoring-club.

Join the Halfords Motoring Club
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