Is it illegal to drive with one headlight?

MILLIONS of Brits could face substantial fines for driving with broken headlights.

Here is everything you should know about maintaining your lights and how much you could get fined.

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Although driving with only one headlight might seem safe enough, it is illegal.

Failing to keep your headlights in a decent condition can seriously affect your visibility, and puts you in danger of causing an accident.

It is especially important to make sure both of your lights are in order at night and in winter conditions.

Under the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989, "No person shall use … a vehicle unless every lamp, reflector, rear marking and device … is in good working order and, in the case of a lamp, clean."

The Highway Code also states that "lights, indicators, reflectors, and number plates MUST be kept clean and clear".

If police notice you're driving with one headlight and stop you, you will be handed a fixed penalty notice fine of £100 and three points on your licence.

But if challenged in court, the fine could increase as much as £1,000.

You also risk a £1,000 fine if your break any of the new regulations coming into force from January 29, 2022 - read all about the changes to the Highway Code.

In January 2024 there has been issued a warning over blinding headlights.

RAC spokesman Rod Dennis said: "Drivers are more concerned than ever about headlight glare, with a huge proportion wanting to see something done about it. 

"We urgently need the Government to take a closer look at the issue, ideally by commissioning an independent study to understand what's causing an increase in reports of dazzling and, most importantly, what can do be done to keep drivers safe."

It's been said that the new LED headlights are causing more blindness on the road.

Dr John Lincoln of LightAware said about the new lights: "They are too bright, too blue and are blinding over too long a distance.

"Regulation is required to cut the risk of accidents and reduce driver fatigue."

Will my car fail an MOT with one headlight?

An annual MOT needs to be passed by all cars in the UK before they hit the road, unless they are less than three years old.

The test aims to ensure cars are in a good working condition to avoid putting drivers in potential danger.

Making sure your car is in a good enough condition to pass the test is essential, as it is illegal to drive without an MOT certificate and you could risk a huge fine.

For the car to pass an MOT, all components must be in working order - including headlights.

If for any reason, the headlights fail to work, or even show a wrong colour or point in a wrong direction, the car will immediately fail the MOT.

A blown bulb may be the main reason this happens, so you should get it replaced as soon as possible.

Mechanics Scotty Kilmer shared on his YouTube channel how to fix a broken headlight yourself.

He said: "Go to your fuse box, take the top off and check the one that says headlight.

"I check them electronically as a mechanic but you can just pull them out."

Fixing your car headlight yourself could save you up to

Fixing your car headlight yourself could save you up to £100s.

How long do car headlights last?

Being mindful of the lifespan of your headlights can prevent you from getting fined or causing an accident.

As both headlights are usually replaced together, losing one bulb is an indicator that both are on the way out.

So if you notice one headlight isn't working, it's most likely time to get both of them fixed.

The typical car headlight can last 500 to 1,000 hours, although this is not always the case, according to Sanel NAPA.

Some newer bulbs offer a higher efficiency and up to 30,000 hours of life.

The easiest way to check what the lifespan of your headlight is, is to find out what type they are.

• Halogen bulbs last between 500-1,000 hours
• HID ones go out after about 2,000 hours
• Xenon bulbs last around 10,000 hours
• LED lights are the most efficient, lasting up to 30,000 hours

Factors such as prolonged use or a factory defect can have an impact on the lifespan, no matter what type your bulbs are.

So be mindful and make sure to check your headlights are working before you set out on a drive.