Drew Hickman
You should check all nine of your car’s lights regularly to ensure you can see and be seen clearly when the darker morning and evenings arrive. For best results, we recommend checking them once a month, especially during Autumn and Winter, and make sure you know what to do if something isn’t working.
If it’s a symbol on your dashboard you’re trying to make sense of, that’s a different job, and you’ll find every common dashboard warning light explained separately.
Page Contents
Why Checking Your Lights Matters, Especially in Winter
Your lights help you see the road ahead and ensure other drivers, cyclists and pedestrians can see you. It matters most in autumn and winter: when the clocks go back on the last Sunday in October, far more of the daily commute and school run happens in the dark, so it’s a good moment to check.
While a blown rear bulb is easy to miss because you rarely see it yourself, a light that’s out can also get you stopped by the police, so it’s worth fixing as soon as you spot it.
Before You Start
Park on level ground away from traffic with the handbrake on and turn the ignition to the first position so the electrics work (some cars need the engine running for every light to come on).
A helper makes the job quicker, but if you’re on your own, there’s an easy workaround for the rear lights further down.
Car Lights Checklist
Work through the lights in this order so you don’t miss any:
Light | How to check | What “working” looks like |
Side lights | Switch on and walk around the car | Front and rear lit, evenly bright |
Dipped headlights | Switch on and stand in front of the car | Both on, equally bright and at the same height |
Main beam | Check in a dark garage or after dusk | Both on and shining evenly |
Fog lights | Switch on front and rear fog lights | Each fitted fog light comes on |
Front indicators | Indicate left, then right | Each side flashes steadily |
Brake lights | Helper presses the brake pedal | Every brake light, including the high-level one, lights up |
Reversing lights | Select reverse with the engine off and handbrake on | Bright white light at the rear |
Rear indicators | Indicate left, then right | Each side flashes steadily |
Hazard lights | Press the hazard button | All four indicators flash together at the same rate |
Side Lights
Side lights, sometimes called parking lights, sit next to the headlights and alongside the tail lights. Walk around the car and check none looks dimmer than the others.
Dipped Headlights
Both dipped beams should be equally bright. If one looks higher or lower than the other, your headlights may be mis-aligned (see below).
Main Beam
Check full beam in a dark garage or after dusk, rather than staring straight into it, and make sure both sides shine evenly.
Fog Lights
Switch on your car’s fog lights, then check each is lit. Check your handbook if you’re unsure how to do so.
Front and Rear Indicators
Indicate left and then right, and check each indicator at the front and back flashes clearly at a steady pace.
Brake Lights
Ask your helper to watch while you press the pedal. Every brake light should come on, including the high-level one. One out is usually a blown bulb, while all of them out can point to a faulty brake light switch.
Reversing Lights
With the engine off and the handbrake on, select reverse. The reversing lights should glow bright white.
Hazard Lights
Press the hazard button and check all four indicators flash together. Hazards work without the ignition, so they’ll still warn other drivers if you break down.
How to Check Your Lights on Your Own
Most lights are easy to check alone by switching them on and walking around the car.
For the brake and reversing lights, reverse close to a wall or garage door after dark, then press the brake pedal and select reverse. You’ll see the lights reflected behind you in your mirrors, and a missing or much dimmer reflection on one side means that bulb needs replacing.
What to Do If a Light Isn’t Working
A dim or flickering light usually means the bulb is near the end of its life, while a light that’s completely dead is most often a blown bulb. If several lights stop at once, or a new bulb doesn’t fix it, the problem is more likely to be a fuse or the wiring.
When one headlight bulb fails, the other is often not far behind, so we’d recommend replacing headlight bulbs in pairs to keep the light even on both sides. Some cars have sealed LED or xenon headlights, where a fault can’t be fixed with a new bulb and replacing the whole headlight unit is the only option.
Check Your Headlight Aim
Headlights can shift position over time, after a knock or when a bulb has been changed. Aimed too high, they dazzle oncoming drivers, which the Highway Code says you mustn’t do. Aimed too low, they light up less of the road ahead.
If your headlights aren’t properly aligned, your car will fail its next MOT, so if your beams look uneven, ask a garage for a second opinion and get them adjusted if needed.
Keep Your Screen, Wipers and Lenses Clean
Dirty headlight lenses cut how far you can see, and grime on the inside of the windscreen adds glare from oncoming headlights, so give both a wipe before longer journeys. In snow or ice the Highway Code says you must clear your windows and make sure your lights are clean before you set off.
Top up with a winter screen wash that won’t freeze and replace streaking wipers, as smears catch the light at night.
Get Your Car Ready for Darker Evenings
If you notice anything during your checks that you’d like a second opinion about, book a Winter Health Check at a local garage. Plus, you’ll get a full 17-point check that also inspects your wipers and washers, battery, tyres and more to get your car ready for winter and spot small problems before the cold makes them worse.
Frequently asked questions
If the police stop you for a broken light, they may give you a vehicle defect rectification notice. You’ll then have 14 days to get the fault fixed and show them proof, such as a receipt from the garage.
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