How much does it cost to replace a headlight bulb?
According to our research, the headlight bulb replacement cost (UK) usually ranges between £35 and £125.
The average headlight bulb replacement cost works out at approximately £85, including parts and labour.
What are the headlight bulb replacement costs at dealerships compared to Fixter garages?
On average, when replacing a headlight bulb with Fixter, we save our customers around 30% against dealership prices. Not only do you save money, but you also benefit from our superb collection and delivery service if we can’t pop a new one in on your driveway or wherever it’s parked.
It’s the most convenient way to carry out car repairs, upgrades, services, and MOTs you’ll find. Who else collects your car and delivers it back to you when the work is complete?
What additional factors could affect a headlight bulb replacement?
The main factor in headlight bulb replacement is the type of bulb you choose. There are three types of headlight bulbs:
1. Halogen bulbs
Halogen bulbs are the traditional lights motorists have been using for years. Each halogen bulb contains a tungsten filament that emits bright light when it gets hot and halogen gas, which prevents them from discolouring.
2. Xenon bulbs
Xenon bulbs are far brighter than traditional halogen bulbs. These bulbs create an electric arc between two electrons inside a bulb filled with xenon gas. However, Xenon bulbs are more expensive than halogen or LED bulbs, as they’re 300–450% brighter and are available in more colour temperatures.
Sadly, there is a but. Xenon bulbs are only legal if the vehicle was fitted with them during the manufacturing process. So you can’t legally run xenon bulbs you’ve had installed in a car that wasn’t designed for them, and they won’t pass an MOT.
3. LED bulbs
Just like xenon bulbs, LED bulbs will often require additional fittings to work in a car that they weren’t designed for—they’re also illegal and fail an MOT.
Cars designed and built to run LED bulbs provide brighter and far longer-lasting options than traditional halogen bulbs. They’re packed full of light-emitting diodes, and as electrons pass through their semi-conductors, they transform that power into light. LED light provides a warm temperature beam and is typically 150–300% brighter than their halogen counterparts.
LED bulbs are a little more expensive than traditional halogen options but often last up to 10 years, offering excellent value over their lifespan.
What are the costs of replacement headlight bulbs?
The cost of new bulbs varies for each make and model. We explored the typical prices of Eurocarparts headlight bulbs for a selection of popular vehicles.
In our search, we took the average for standard 2020 models.
| Car Make | Car Model | Headlight Bulb Prices |
| Ford | Fiesta | £6 |
| Fiat | 500 | £4 |
| Volkswagen | Golf | £5 |
| Mercedes | C Class | £5 |
| BMW | 5 Series | £6 |
| Land Rover | Range Rover | £6 |
| Volkswagen | Tiguan | £6 |
What are the labour times and rates for headlight bulb replacement?
Depending on the layout and set-up of your car’s headlight fitting, it could take as little as 15 minutes, or as much as an hour—or two!
Headlight bulb replacement costs vary across the country, according to each garage and dealership. We examined our records to calculate the average hourly rate.
We found for garages within the London area, the rate averaged out at £78 per hour. For the garages throughout the rest of the country, the average price was a little lower, as you’d expect, at £72 per hour.
Can I replace a headlight bulb myself?
Plenty of cars provide easy access to the headlamp and each bulb placement, making swapping bulbs a simple task for any driver. However, there are probably just as many (especially in older models) where accessing the fitting to replace a bulb appears to require 18” long fingers that bend in every possible direction.