LED headlights are the most modern version of headlights you can buy for your car and your best option. While expensive, they last longer and provide brighter illumination than previous headlight technology. However, you must be careful when purchasing them as certain aspects aren’t legal, whether federally or by state and local laws.
The best LED headlights are the Auxito LED Headlight Bulbs. They are easy to install and provide a powerful brightness. They are also rated to last for up to or more than 30,000 hours.
It’s essential to understand the differences between headlight types to make an informed decision about what’s best for you.
Some cars use single- or dual-beam headlight setups. You cannot use a single-beam LED headlight in a car with a dual-beam setup and vice versa.
Modern cars use CAN bus systems that allow the various digital pieces of your car to communicate with each other. If your car uses this system, your LED headlights need to be CAN bus compatible. If they aren’t, you can find special modules that add the functionality, but this increases the price and installation complexity.
The light of the headlights is described with brightness and color.
LED lights generate high levels of heat, which decreases efficiency. So, LED headlights include heat sinks and fans to combat this. Better headlights use smaller heat sinks and fans, making them easier to install.
LED headlights usually cost $25-$100 for a pair with better options typically costing around $40-$60. Similar headlights may have a considerable gulf in cost if one is meant for common cars and the other is for something rare.
A. There are three main reasons LEDs are better than HID and halogen headlights.
A. Most LED headlights are perfectly legal, but a few factors may render a few illegal.
A. Yes and no. The first step is making sure your prospective headlights are compatible with your car's make, model and year. You don’t need to have a mechanic’s experience for the actual installation, but you still need to have the proper tools. The entire process can take anywhere between 30 and 90 minutes.
What you need to know: These are extra-bright and extra-long-lasting.
What you’ll love: Most purchasers found these bulbs exceptionally easy to install, plus they are CAN bus ready and error-free. They are compatible with H8, H9 and H11 sockets. They provide a combined 12,000 lumens of brightness and are a 6,500K cool white color.
What you should consider: Purchasers with projector headlights had some issues with the brightness being lower than it should be. Others had issues with the bulbs fading after a few months.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
What you need to know: These work with a large range of vehicles.
What you’ll love: These fit most common cars and especially older models of common cars. They are rated to last for up to seven years and 30,000 hours of use. They have a brightness of 8,000 lumens and a cool white 6,000K color.
What you should consider: The 8,000-lumen brightness isn’t as powerful as most headlights. A few shoppers struggled a little to install them in their cars.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
What you need to know: These are excellent for short-range illumination.
What you’ll love: These bulbs provide a staggering 14,000 lumens worth of brightness with a crisp white 6,000K color. They are rated to last for 50,000 hours of use and up to 5 years longer than the average LED headlight.
What you should consider: As these are designed to focus on short-range illumination, their long-distance illumination can be poor. Installation can be difficult, thanks to their long bulb housing.
Where to buy: Sold by Amazon
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Jordan C. Woika writes for BestReviews. BestReviews has helped millions of consumers simplify their purchasing decisions, saving them time and money.
