Headlights: Left, Right, Halogen or LED — Getting It Right First Time

One — which side, and whose left?

Left and right are always given from the driver’s point of view sitting in the car, not standing in front of it. On a right-hand-drive car in Jamaica, the driver’s side light is the right-hand light. Say "driver’s side" or "passenger side" if you want to be certain — we will know exactly what you mean.

Two — halogen or LED

The same model in the same year often came with two completely different headlight units depending on trim. They are not interchangeable: the mounting can differ, the wiring definitely does, and an LED unit on a car wired for halogen will not simply work. Look at your existing light before ordering.

• Halogen — a bulb behind a reflector or projector
• LED — a fixed strip or array, no replaceable bulb
• The wiring and connectors differ between them
• Trim level, not year, usually decides which you have

Three — the facelift

Most cars get a mid-life facelift, and headlights are almost always part of it. A 2003 and a 2005 of the same model can take different lights even though the doors and roof are identical. This is why we ask for the exact year, and why the chassis number settles it.

Four — condition, honestly

A used headlight can be perfect, hazed, chipped or cracked with a broken mounting tab. Ask, and ask for a photo. A broken tab is invisible in a listing and is the difference between a light that fits properly and one that never sits straight.

• Ask about the lens — hazing and chips
• Ask about mounting tabs specifically
• Check the connector matches yours
• Get a photo of the actual unit

Frequently asked