Can a car with LED headlights pass the annual inspection?
2 Answers
Whether modified LED headlights can pass the annual inspection depends on the specifications and performance of the modified headlights. If the color temperature, brightness, and beam angle of the modified headlights, which affect driving safety, meet the national requirements, they can pass the inspection. There are two main aspects to check: Whether the brightness meets the requirements, meaning the brightness must 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 compromise driving safety, they can pass the annual inspection. Relevant regulations on car annual inspections: Vehicles that fail the inspection must be repaired within a specified period. If they still fail after the deadline, the vehicle management office will confiscate their license plates and prohibit further driving. Vehicles that do not undergo the inspection without reason or fail the inspection are not allowed to drive on the road or be transferred. Vehicles that meet the scrapping conditions or exceed the prescribed service life will not be inspected, and their license plates will be revoked, their records deleted, and they will be scrapped.
I've really thought about whether changing to LED lights would pass the annual inspection. My car actually had LED lights installed and passed the inspection, but later I heard it depends on the region—some places are lenient, as long as the lights aren't too glaring, they'll let it pass; others are very strict, insisting on original halogen lights. The key is how professionally you modify it. If you just buy cheap, no-name bulbs and install them, with excessive brightness and scattered light, it definitely won't pass. It's best to go to a reputable shop to add lenses and adjust the angle properly to avoid dazzling oncoming traffic. My neighbor's SUV had LED lights installed without lenses and got rejected during the inspection—it took several days of readjustment to barely pass. In the end, non-compliant modifications are too risky. If you really want to change, choose compliant products and don't skimp on quality.
