Can a car pass the annual inspection after changing the headlights?

[StAlessandra]

Replacing the original car headlights with LED lights requires the addition of lenses to pass the annual inspection. It mainly depends on whether the modified product is qualified and the requirements of the testing site. The annual inspection has requirements for the brightness of the headlights, the angle of illumination, whether they are dazzling, and the color temperature of the lights. Here is additional information: LED car lights: Refers to the use of LED technology for both internal and external lighting sources in cars. External lighting equipment involves thermal limits and EMC issues, as well as many complex standards for unloading load testing. LED car lights can be widely used to create the interior environment of the car, with a lifespan of 50,000 hours. The structure of LED lights is sturdy, not easily affected by vibration, and the brightness output will not significantly decrease during use.

[ArthurAnn]

I previously replaced my car lights before the inspection, and whether modified lights can pass the annual inspection mainly depends on compliance with regulations. If you only replaced the original halogen bulbs or LED lights with the same type, and the brightness and color temperature are within the standard range (generally not exceeding 6000K), they will usually pass. However, those flashy rainbow-colored running lights are definitely not acceptable—I once saw someone with blue LED lights who was directly asked to remove them and re-inspect. After changing the lights, it's best to test the beam angle. Last time, after adjusting them myself, I specifically went to a repair shop where they used a level to calibrate the cutoff height for me, ensuring the lights wouldn't blind oncoming drivers. If you modify the projector lens, the focusing effect matters—scattered light will definitely fail. Also, remember to keep the bulb certification in case you need to provide product specifications. Before the annual inspection, it's best to test the lighting effects yourself to ensure the low beams can clearly illuminate 30 meters and the high beams 100 meters.

[DelJocelyn]

With over a decade of car repair experience, I've encountered many customers facing annual inspection issues after replacing their lights. Two key factors matter: the light source type and installation standards. Switching to original-spec halogen bulbs is completely fine, but if you arbitrarily upgrade to xenon lights without adding lenses, the light pattern will scatter and definitely fail inspection. Pay special attention to color temperature – warm yellow 3000K or natural white 5000K are safe, but anything over 6000K emitting blue light will trigger the detector immediately. Last week, a customer's modified LED lights weren't angled properly, with low beams illuminating treetops – we had to readjust the lamp base height to meet standards. After replacing lights, I recommend getting a work order from the dealership to prove standardized procedures during inspection. Finally, remember to check light switch responsiveness and flickering, as these are also part of the inspection criteria.

[NoraAnn]

Last year, I modified my car lights and had no issues passing the annual inspection. The key is that the replacement bulbs must comply with the GB7258 national standard. For example, I chose 4500K color temperature LED lights, which are brighter than the factory ones without being glaring. During installation, I had the mechanic focus on adjusting the cutoff line to ensure the low beam is lower on the left and higher on the right without light scattering. The inspection station mainly checks three points: whether the light color is white or light yellow; whether the brightness is sufficient (high beam must be at least 14,500 lumens); and whether the beam angle is accurate. If you’re retrofitting xenon lights, they must come with lenses—my friend got rejected for not having them. Also, avoid those flashy strobe modes, as the inspection will test light stability. If you’re unsure, you can spend 80 yuan for a pre-inspection at the testing station to identify and fix any issues beforehand.