Just like your favourite sports team, your car lights can also let you down.

Check & Change

Don't let a burnt-out headlight bulb spoil your fun. Many drivers will only replace a bulb once it has failed completely. But this is a mistake. As the light from your headlights deteriorates over time, the quality of the light declines. As a result, the distance you can see at night decreases and the clarity of the world around you gets dimmer.

What happens as headlight bulbs age?

Losing your spark

The filament of any headlight bulb deteriorates with use, time and exposure to the elements. At the end of a typical service life, headlights produce less light reducing the driver's night vision.

Check and change

As a rule of thumb, you should change your headlight bulbs after 3 years. But OSRAM tests show that a standard halogen bulb loses 30% of brightness after 500 hours of use, so you should be proactive.

The law of lights

Driving with dim headlights is a potential safety risk. In addition, depending on your local legal requirements driving with a broken light or bulb out could also lead to a penalty if you are caught.

Always check your lights

Many countries offer motorists the opportunity to have their lights tested – such as Germany’s Lichttest-Wochen and the UK’s annual MOT test. These are obviously good opportunities to ensure your lights are performing perfectly.

But there are some simple tests and maintenance you can perform at home to make sure your vehicles lights are operating properly:

• Your headlights will grow dimmer over time. So, make sure you regularly clean and polish the lenses – especially before you take them in for testing.

• Regularly check each light on your car, including indicators, stop and tail and interior lights. Get another person to check your lights outside while they are lit – particularly your brake lights.

• Parking close to a wall and turning your lights on can give you a good idea whether they are working correctly and aligned.

Check out the OSRAM Automotive Lighting Portfolio

With OSRAM, a variety of performances, shapes and beam patterns let you bring intense light to the darkest corners of the world.

Product catalogue Bulb finder

Just like your favourite sports team, your car lights can also let you down.

Check & Change

What happens as headlight bulbs age?

Losing your spark

Check and change

The law of lights

Always check your lights

Check out the OSRAM Automotive Lighting Portfolio

Checked your bulbs?

Don't forget:

Change in pairs

Two is always better than one

Upgrade your vision

Bring your look up to date