Tail Lights replacement
Tail lights usually consist of four lights within one main unit/case and include a standard tail light, a brake light, an indicator and a fog light. They allow the vehicle to be seen from behind in low-light conditions, and they brighten when you brake to alert other drivers that you’re slowing down, allowing cars behind to react in good time. This improves safety on the road, especially at night or in bad weather when visibility is reduced.
UK vehicles must have clearly visible, red tail lights that illuminate when headlights are on. Brake lights must brighten when brakes are applied to signal slowing. Correctly functioning, visible tail lights are essential under Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations; faulty or obscured lights can warrant fines. LED lights fitted by the manufacturer are legal, but not those fitted after purchase, as safety compliance is uncertain. Smoked/tinted tail lights are illegal if visibility is obscured.
Tail lights allow the vehicle to be seen in poor driving conditions and at night, and are required by law to ensure your vehicle is visible. Brake lights brighten only when you brake or have the handbrake on, and your motor is running. They are specifically brighter than the tail lights to signal to drivers behind that you are slowing down or stopping.
The 4 main lights found within the tail light housing are:
- Standard tail lights - These red lights come on whenever the vehicle's headlights are turned on. They make your car visible to following traffic in low-light conditions.
- Brake lights - These red lights shine brighter whenever the brake pedal is pressed and they warn other road users that your vehicle is slowing or stopping.
- Indicators - Amber or orange indicator lights inside the tail light units flash when you turn them on to signal when you turn left or right or change lanes.
- Fog lights - White or bright yellow lights that are usually operated by a separate switch from the main light controls, used for foggy conditions.
The cost of buying a replacement tail light can vary considerably, depending on your car’s make and model. They are generally pretty affordable, with many coming in at under £30, although some can cost a lot more than this. LED lights also tend to be more expensive to replace.
It takes around an hour for an experienced mechanic to replace a tail light, so you’re generally looking at around £100. However, this cost only covers labour - not the replacement part - so be sure to factor in the extra cost of a new tail light.
Replacing faulty tail light bulbs is usually a quick and straightforward job. Simply access the light housing unit, identify the defective bulb and replace it with a new bulb unit. Always check your vehicle’s manual for the correct bulb specifications.
Even durable LED tail lights can occasionally fail. You can repair them yourself by replacing the damaged LED circuit board strip. It's straightforward to replace bulbs on standard tail lights, too. If your tail light covers are dirty, scratched or oxidised, giving them a good clean can also help restore them and improve their visibility.