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Headlight bulb replacement

Updated October 2026

A blown headlight is an MOT fail and can get you stopped by the police. On many cars you can change the bulb yourself in a few minutes.

Which bulb does my car take?

Common halogen headlight bulbs are H7 (single filament, very common on modern cars), H4 (one bulb for dipped and main beam) and H1. Check your handbook, the old bulb, or search by registration.

How to replace it

  1. Switch the lights off and let the bulb cool
  2. Open the bonnet and remove the cover behind the headlight
  3. Unclip the connector and the retaining clip
  4. Fit the new bulb without touching the glass (oil from your skin shortens its life)
  5. Refit, then check dipped and main beam

Some cars need the bumper or arch liner removing to reach the bulb, and xenon or LED units shouldn't be DIY jobs. If that's your car, ask a mechanic.

Parts you'll need

Order online for delivery, or click and collect from a local GSF branch, often within the hour.

Some links on this page are affiliate links to GSF Car Parts: if you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. It never changes our advice.

Replace in pairs

Bulbs age at similar rates, so if one has gone the other often isn't far behind. Changing both keeps the beam even.

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