4 Signs You May Need Headlight Restoration Service

1. Hazy, Foggy, or Cloudy

Most cars use halogen reflector headlights, which are covered with a clear protective coating that prevents scratching and other damage. But salt, dirt, and UV raysare just a few things that can break down the lens coating and make your lights cloudy. 

These lens covers become hazy and require a good cleaning after a few years. Otherwise, they can impair your vision on the road — especially at night and in the rain.

If you’re having trouble seeing behind the wheel, check to see if a cloudy or foggy headlight lens is to blame. With a headlight restoration service, you can clean and sand the headlight lens to eliminate any film from the protective coating.

2. Dull, Dim, or Yellow

Sun and rain not only cloud your headlights; the elements can also make them dull and yellow. Depending on where and how often you drive your vehicle — and especially if you park your car outside — its headlights can start to deteriorate after just three to five years.

Once they become yellow, cloudy, or full of condensation, headlights produce only 22 percent of the lightthey emitted when their lens covers were brand new. 

But a headlight restoration service is a cost-effective way to brighten your lights and reverse the yellowing process. By treating your lights to some much-needed maintenance, you’ll see clearly and drive safely for years to come.

3. Scuffed, Scratched, or Cracked

Rocks, debris, and minor accidents can easily scratch the plastic lens on your car’s headlights. This happens even with your lights’ protective cover, thanks to sunlight, air pollution, and other elementseroding the plastic coating.

Scratches and other headlight imperfections are not only unsightly, but also dangerous as they reduce the amount of light emitted, impacting your visibility on the road.

But by restoring your headlights, you can sand and polish the lenses to smooth over any cracks in the protective coating. This will help you prevent moisture and debris from getting inside the light and cracking the lens, which could lead to a costly repair down the road.

4. Difficult or Dangerous to Drive With

If you’re struggling to see while driving in the dark or the rain, you could be at a greater risk of getting into an accident. And with 50 percent of car crashes happening at night, drivers like you can’t afford to let dull or hazy headlights reduce your visibility.

Get into the habit of checking your lights for signs of deterioration. If your lenses look cloudy, yellow, or scratched — or if you struggle to see the headlight bulb — it’s time to schedule a headlight restoration service.

Cleaning and sanding your headlights is an affordable way to maximize their performance and reduce glare (for you and other motorists). Then, you’ll be able to travel more safely no matter when or where you drive.