How to Check all your exterior lights

All exterior lights help you see the road and be seen by other road users at night or in poor conditions. Broken lights can also lead to a vehicle defect notice from police or an MOT failure. Regular checks help keep you safe and road-legal.

When checking your exterior lighting, you should inspect:

• Headlights (dipped and main beam)
• Side/position lights
• Indicators (left and right)
• Brake lights
• Fog lights
• Reverse lights
• Hazard warning lights A simple visual check with a helper is often all that’s needed.

With a friend:

1. Sit in the driver’s seat and turn on each light one at a time.
2. Have your helper stand outside to confirm it’s working. If a bulb looks dull, flickers, or doesn’t light at all, it may need replacing.

No — driving with faulty or non-working lights, especially headlights or brake lights, can be unsafe and may be illegal, leading to fines or MOT failure.

It’s a good idea to check your lights:

• Before night driving or long journeys
• At least once a month
• Ahead of your MOT test Regular inspection helps catch issues before they become problems.

Bulbs wear out over time from normal use. Moisture inside light housings, corrosion, or poor connections can also cause failure. If you notice one bulb is out, it’s often best to replace both front bulbs together for even brightness.

Typically, light bulbs aren’t covered by vehicle warranties because they are wear items designed to be replaced during the life of the car.

Yes — if you find a bulb that’s blown, dim, or otherwise not working, you can book your vehicle in with our expert team to have lights checked and replaced safely and correctly.

Clouding or yellowing of headlight lenses reduces visibility. Our technicians can assess whether restoration or replacement offers the best improvement to your lighting performance.