Repair costs

Headlight bulb replacement cost and how often MOTs call for it

What UK shops charge, from ONS price quotes, and how often MOT tests fail on the items this repair fixes, from 130,233,413 DVSA MOT tests (2022 to 2025).

Prices updated 22 September 2026. MOT data updated 28 September 2026.

Price, per bulb

Median price (78 shops)£3.99

Middle half of prices£2.50 to £7.99

ONS price quotes for “CAR BULB 12 VOLT SPECIFY WATTS”, September 2025 to August 2026, UK, 1,677 quotes from 78 shops, priced per bulb. This is the price of the bulb. Some cars need a bumper or wheel-arch liner removed to reach it, which adds labour, and many newer cars have sealed LED lamps with no separate bulb. Consumer prices as quoted.

If a garage also charges labour

Local garage labour, per hour (65 shops)£78

Local garage, middle half£70 to £96

Main dealer labour, per hour (62 shops)£156

Main dealer, middle half£144 to £174

Median hourly rate charged for car repairs, from 1,058 local garage and 953 main dealer price quotes collected by the ONS, September 2025 to August 2026. The same shops are priced each month, so the number of shops is the real sample.

MOT defects this repair fixes

Headlamp not working on dipped beam1.43 per 100
Headlamp not working on main beam0.23 per 100

Records per 100 MOT tests at all ages (n=130,233,413 tests).

How often by age

All cars: 1.66 fail items per 100 MOTs that this repair fixes (n=130,233,413 tests), highest at 15 years with 2.77 per 100 (n=5,591,675). A test with two such items counts twice.

Fail items fixed by headlight bulb replacement, per 100 MOT tests of cars at each age.
Age	Per 100 MOTs	Tests (n)
3 years	0.32	8,016,463
4 years	0.47	8,699,937
5 years	0.65	9,425,360
6 years	0.84	10,382,720
7 years	1.05	10,537,318
8 years	1.34	10,440,457
9 years	1.68	9,949,012
10 years	1.98	9,049,507
11 years	2.25	8,087,514
12 years	2.45	7,303,151
13 years	2.59	6,612,160
14 years	2.71	6,054,526
15 years	2.77	5,591,675
16 years	2.75	4,858,625
17 years	2.60	4,040,458
18 years	2.48	3,261,622
19 years	2.37	2,479,858
20 years	2.26	1,845,952
21 years	2.20	1,321,417
22 years	2.12	913,980
23 years	2.01	619,531
24 years	1.93	428,815
25 years	1.96	313,355

Models that fail on these items more often

At least 1.3 times the rate of cars of the same ages and fuel, over ages with at least 1,000 tests each and 20,000 in total. Each generation of a model is compared on its own. 45 of these have their own page.

Model	Times as often	Tests (n)
MG ZSfirst used 2017 or later	at least 9.2	143,170
Jeep Cherokeefirst used 2014 or later	at least 4.5	21,172
Hyundai i800	at least 4.3	32,058
Toyota C-HR	at least 4.1	307,013
Renault Kadjar	at least 4.1	267,506
Citroen C4 Cactus	at least 3.4	82,843
Dacia Duster	at least 3.2	274,804
Renault Zoe	at least 3.0	74,266
Peugeot 2008	at least 2.9	496,383
Ford Transit Courier	at least 2.9	103,155
Ford EcoSport	at least 2.8	402,494
Toyota Proace	at least 2.7	41,151
Citroen C3 Picasso	at least 2.6	22,583
Ford Transit Custom	at least 2.6	499,881
DS DS3	at least 2.5	425,461
Chevrolet Captiva	at least 2.4	25,550
Peugeot 208	at least 2.3	809,087
Citroen Dispatch	at least 2.2	189,276
Peugeot Rifter	at least 2.1	27,746
MG 3	at least 2.1	81,125
Peugeot Partner	at least 2.1	605,323
Nissan NV200	at least 2.1	122,396
Citroen C4 Grand Picasso	at least 2.0	88,311
Mercedes-Benz Citan	at least 2.0	80,122
SsangYong Tivoli	at least 2.0	27,007

45 more models

Model	Times as often	Tests (n)
Citroen Berlingo	at least 2.0	750,010
Peugeot 207	at least 2.0	587,825
Vauxhall Antara	at least 2.0	83,963
Peugeot 307	at least 1.9	140,556
Vauxhall Combo	at least 1.9	423,103
Peugeot 5008	at least 1.8	130,903
Kia Carens	at least 1.8	59,911
Dacia Sandero	at least 1.8	415,804
Peugeot Expert	at least 1.8	218,991
Fiat Tipo	at least 1.7	49,704
Chevrolet Spark	at least 1.7	59,796
Hyundai i30	at least 1.7	422,957
Ford Tourneo Custom	at least 1.7	29,283
Renault Megane	at least 1.7	441,407
Dacia Logan	at least 1.7	61,822
Vauxhall Insignia	at least 1.7	834,880
Citroen C3	at least 1.7	784,141
Kia Sedona	at least 1.6	21,149
Peugeot 3008	at least 1.6	542,666
Alfa Romeo Mito	at least 1.6	78,902
Hyundai i40	at least 1.6	85,833
Vauxhall Grandland	at least 1.6	243,753
Renault Modus	at least 1.6	51,726
Volkswagen Beetle	at least 1.5	180,577
Nissan Almera	at least 1.5	64,930
Renault Grand Scenic	at least 1.5	98,535
Land Rover Range Rover Evoque	at least 1.5	704,715
Renault Clio	at least 1.5	1,326,120
Citroen Relay	at least 1.5	57,180
Citroen C4	at least 1.5	557,142
Citroen C4 Picasso	at least 1.5	25,245
Mazda 5	at least 1.4	44,929
Vauxhall Corsa	at least 1.4	3,740,055
Kia Stonic	at least 1.4	94,808
Mercedes-Benz Vito	at least 1.4	350,481
Kia Ceed	at least 1.4	487,429
Ford Ranger	at least 1.4	426,542
Chevrolet Aveo	at least 1.4	36,812
Ford Transit Connect	at least 1.4	676,611
Chevrolet Matiz	at least 1.4	44,172
Toyota Auris	at least 1.4	623,950
Citroen Xsara	at least 1.3	125,734
Honda Accord	at least 1.3	111,371
Peugeot 206	at least 1.3	211,511
Vauxhall Mokka	at least 1.3	930,592

Models that fail on these items less often

At most 0.7 times the rate of cars of the same ages and fuel, on the same rules.

Model	Times as often	Tests (n)
Mercedes-Benz GLC	at most 0.2	298,696
Jaguar E-Pace	at most 0.3	114,724
Mercedes-Benz GLE	at most 0.3	113,268
Lexus NX	at most 0.3	105,372
Suzuki Vitarafirst used 2015 or later	at most 0.4	248,462
Volvo XC40	at most 0.4	229,238
Volkswagen T-Roc	at most 0.4	260,443
Land Rover Range Rover Velar	at most 0.4	125,495
Jaguar F-Pace	at most 0.4	202,046
Suzuki Celerio	at most 0.4	110,627
Audi Q5	at most 0.4	422,669
Honda HR-Vfirst used 2015 or later	at most 0.4	124,839
Mazda CX-5	at most 0.4	257,821
Skoda Kodiaq	at most 0.4	134,246
Land Rover Defenderfirst used 2020 or later	at most 0.4	39,776
Toyota Corollafirst used 2019 or later	at most 0.5	181,405
Skoda Karoq	at most 0.5	184,189
Porsche 911	at most 0.5	174,386
SEAT Ateca	at most 0.5	171,168
Suzuki Ignisfirst used 2016 or later	at most 0.5	86,194
Ford Pumafirst used 2019 or later	at most 0.5	171,401
Tesla Model 3	at most 0.5	192,551
MINI Clubman	at most 0.5	109,425
BMW X4	at most 0.5	65,595
Volkswagen Tiguan	at most 0.5	901,561

44 more models

Model	Times as often	Tests (n)
BMW X2	at most 0.5	68,516
Mazda CX-3	at most 0.5	102,215
Audi Q3	at most 0.5	499,272
Volvo V90first used 2016 or later	at most 0.5	57,957
Vauxhall Viva	at most 0.5	154,054
MINI Countryman	at most 0.5	415,833
Audi Q7	at most 0.6	191,601
Mercedes-Benz E-Class	at most 0.6	964,062
Mercedes-Benz GLA	at most 0.6	329,115
BMW i3	at most 0.6	85,743
Volvo XC60	at most 0.6	433,710
Lexus RX	at most 0.6	146,324
MINI Paceman	at most 0.6	31,176
Jaguar XE	at most 0.6	174,594
BMW X6	at most 0.6	61,274
Audi A7	at most 0.6	67,548
Skoda Yeti	at most 0.6	303,988
BMW 4 Series	at most 0.6	417,430
Mercedes-Benz S-Class	at most 0.6	107,268
Audi Q2	at most 0.6	261,047
Land Rover Range Rover Sport	at most 0.7	498,033
Suzuki SX4	at most 0.7	167,151
BMW X5	at most 0.7	366,311
Jaguar XK	at most 0.7	86,405
Toyota Hiace	at most 0.7	55,241
Audi TT	at most 0.7	459,803
Mercedes-Benz V-Classfirst used 2014 or later	at most 0.7	46,317
Porsche Macan	at most 0.7	115,297
Mitsubishi ASX	at most 0.7	116,909
Audi A6	at most 0.7	510,103
Porsche Cayman	at most 0.7	59,394
Jaguar F-Type	at most 0.7	57,526
Renault Captur	at most 0.7	597,036
SEAT Arona	at most 0.7	173,475
Volkswagen T-Cross	at most 0.7	75,652
BMW Z4	at most 0.7	141,225
Land Rover Range Rover	at most 0.7	352,624
Volvo V40first used 2012 or later	at most 0.7	384,615
Bentley Continental	at most 0.7	56,740
Nissan Pulsar	at most 0.7	84,984
Audi A5	at most 0.7	501,056
BMW X1	at most 0.7	414,040
Mercedes-Benz SL	at most 0.7	70,445
Skoda Superb	at most 0.7	248,705

Read this with care. A fail rate is not a measure of build quality. How far cars are driven, how they are used and how well owners maintain them all change it, and wear items such as tyres and brake pads are common fails. Compare a model only with cars of the same age. Methodology and limits.

Other repairs

Exterior bulb replacement£3.99 median
Tyre replacement£87.05 median
Headlight alignmentlabour rate
Coil spring replacementlabour rate
Wiper blade replacement£9.99 median
Handbrake repairlabour rate
Brake pad replacementlabour rate
Suspension ball joint replacementlabour rate
Anti-roll bar link replacementlabour rate
Engine warning light diagnosislabour rate
Screenwash top-uplabour rate
Suspension arm bush replacementlabour rate
CV boot replacementlabour rate
Track rod end replacementlabour rate
Brake disc and pad replacementlabour rate
Shock absorber replacementlabour rate
Corrosion welding repairlabour rate
Binding brake repairlabour rate
Washer system repairlabour rate
Exhaust repair£212.09 median
Emissions fail repairlabour rate
Brake pipe replacementlabour rate
ABS warning light repairlabour rate
Airbag warning light repairlabour rate
Brake imbalance repairlabour rate
Wheel bearing replacementlabour rate
Tyre pressure sensor replacementlabour rate
Horn repairlabour rate
Number plate replacementlabour rate
Exhaust mounting repairlabour rate
Wheel nut or bolt replacementlabour rate
Steering rack gaiter replacementlabour rate
Brake efficiency repairlabour rate
Headlight mounting repairlabour rate
Headlight unit replacementlabour rate
Headlight lens restorationlabour rate
Swivel pin replacementlabour rate

All repair costs All MOT defects

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Source

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test data, class 4 normal MOT tests, 2022 to 2025, and the MOT inspection manual published on GOV.UK. Prices: ONS consumer price inflation price quotes, September 2025 to August 2026, UK.

MOT data updated 28 September 2026. Prices updated 22 September 2026.

Not affiliated with or endorsed by DVSA or the Office for National Statistics. How we calculate these figures · Data sources