Growing up in the 1960s, I remember rides at night in the family car, listening to my mom opine about how she couldn’t really see the road at night. The sealed beam technology of headlights back then was primitive compared to today’s standard. Modern car headlights, thanks to advances in technology, project a brighter, wider and longer light throw.
Just a few moons ago, so-called High-Intensity Discharge (HID) headlight bulbs were all the rage. And while these units were an improvement in every measurable metric over sealed beam headlights, they consumed a lot of power and required professional and driveway technicians to follow strict bulb replacement protocols, given the high-voltage of the bulbs.
Today, many brand-new vehicles are equipped with Light Emitting Diode (LED) chipset bulbs expected to last the lifetime of the vehicle, and the aftermarket has responded with a wide variety of DIY LED bulbs to retrofit many older vehicles equipped with halogen bulbs.
The type of headlight bulb installed can make a critical difference in the amount and pattern of light distributed. At speed on a rural highway at night, that could meanspotting a hazard on the road in time to react.
Headlight bulb replacement is usually straightforward due to standardized bulb and socket sizes, but accessing the bulbs can sometimes be tricky because of cramped quarters under the hoods of modern cars. A large number of model-specific instructional videos online make installing headlamp bulbs at home an easy task within the abilities of an entry-level DIYer.
These top headlight bulb selections offer the right blend of value, illumination and longevity. Headlight bulbs are available in a variety of sizes and connectors to suit individual vehicles, be sure to check your owner’s manual for proper bulb size.
Please note that while LED bulbs offer great light output, they are illegal to use in many states, as well as under specific federal laws. Please check the laws in your state. Forbes Garage and the author do not endorse non-compliance with state and or federal laws.
It’s also important to note that you, the consumer, should make sure your headlights are properly aligned before you make any bulb replacements. Super-bright bulbs like HID and LED can be a nightmare for oncoming or leading traffic, and will likely draw the attention of law enforcement.
