Headlights, Tail Lights & More

The headlights and tail lights are some of the most important safety features on your vehicle. Headlights help illuminate your path to keep your vision clear when driving in low light conditions, as well as allowing other drivers to see your vehicle more easily. Tail lights and brake lights keep your vehicle visible and alert others that your vehicle is slowing down or stopping. Maintaining these lights is a necessary part of servicing your vehicle, and doing it yourself can save you time and money. Find traditional, halogen, HID, or LED light bulbs to fit your vehicle. Check out our step-by-step videos on how to replace your headlights, how to install tail lights, and how to change a headlight assembly if you’d like to tackle the job yourself.

How Do I Choose the Right Headlight?

There are many different options when it comes to choosing the right headlights for your vehicle, and O’Reilly carries all three of the headlight technologies that may have originally been equipped. Halogen bulbs are the most common type of headlight in the automotive industry. Chances are, if your headlights are dimming or you aren’t seeing as well at night, you have halogen bulbs that are nearing the end of their service life. Basic halogen headlights that were included as original equipment on most vehicles are fairly easy to replace and offer about 1000 hours of service before they begin to slowly dim and eventually burn out. Since matched pairs of headlights were designed to last the same amount of time, when one headlight burns out, the other should typically also be replaced to ensure similar service life, performance, and look from both headlights. There are also upgraded halogen headlights offered by O’Reilly that can provide more down-road visibility and a whiter light while driving at night, which can help keep you driving safer.

Some vehicles are equipped with HID (high-intensity discharge) headlight bulbs from the factory, which use xenon gas to create a whiter and brighter light and last a very long time, but are typically more expensive to replace. A vehicle that was originally equipped with HID headlight bulbs will require HID replacement bulbs, and those that were originally equipped with halogen bulbs cannot use an HID bulb. Newer vehicles also often leave the factory with LED headlights that use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) to provide light. LED’s are extremely energy-efficient, and they reduce the heat output from the headlights, in addition to being designed to often last the life of your vehicle without replacement. LED headlight bulbs are not legal as an aftermarket replacement for halogen bulbs for on-road vehicles, but may still be an upgrade option for off-road vehicles to provide long-lasting illumination and the best visibility. No matter what type of headlight technology your vehicle needs, check out the selection at O’Reilly Auto Parts to find the best headlight option for your particular vehicle.

Still need help deciding? Check out our How-To page about choosing the perfect headlight or tail light bulb.

How Much Does it Cost to Replace a Headlight?

Replacing a headlight with a halogen bulb costs anywhere from $15 to $30, while high-intensity discharge (HID) bulb replacements are usually over $100. Changing a headlight bulb yourself is easy, and doing it yourself can save you money. Change a burnt out headlight with help from our do-it-yourself headlight installation video.