Can a car pass the annual inspection after replacing the headlight bulbs with LED ones?
2 Answers
Whether a car can pass the annual inspection after replacing the headlight bulbs with LED ones depends on the specifications and performance of the modified headlights. If the modified headlights meet the national requirements in terms of color temperature, brightness, and beam angle, which affect driving safety, they can pass the annual inspection. There are two main aspects to check: Whether the brightness meets the requirements, meaning the brightness should not be less than 1400 lumens. Whether the beam angle is up to standard, as long as the high and low beam angles are normal. Essentially, as long as the modified LED headlights do not affect driving safety, they can pass the annual inspection smoothly. Relevant regulations for car annual inspection: Vehicles that fail the annual inspection should be repaired within a specified time limit. If they still fail after the deadline, the vehicle management office will confiscate their license plates and prohibit them from continuing to drive. Vehicles that do not participate in the annual inspection without reason or fail the inspection are not allowed to drive on the road or transfer ownership. Vehicles that meet the scrapping conditions or have exceeded the prescribed service life will not be inspected, and their license plates will be revoked, their files canceled, and they will be scrapped.
Buddy, I replaced my headlight bulbs with LED ones before, but failed the annual inspection and had to make a wasted trip, which was really frustrating. During the inspection, the staff carefully checked the lights and said the brightness was too high, which could dazzle other drivers and cause accidents, not meeting the national standards. I asked a friend at a repair shop, and he reminded me that the vehicle configuration must match the photo on the registration certificate. If you change the bulbs privately without filing the modification with the DMV, it definitely won’t pass. It’s best to use the original halogen bulbs or go to a professional modification shop for proper certification, such as adding anti-glare lenses and showing the compliance certificate. Regularly check the brightness and angle of your headlights yourself, so you don’t have to rush during the inspection and waste time and money.
