Can a Vehicle with Original Halogen Lamps Modified to Xenon Lamps Pass the Annual Inspection?

[SanMartin]

Currently, Chinese laws do not explicitly state that modifying xenon headlights is illegal. However, if the modified xenon headlights have a luminous intensity exceeding the stipulated value, it constitutes an illegal modification. Moreover, vehicles with halogen lamps modified to xenon lamps cannot pass the annual inspection. Below are detailed introductions to xenon lamps: 1. Xenon lamps, also known as High-Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps, offer advantages such as safety, energy efficiency, high brightness, long lifespan, and easy installation. Many high-end vehicles come equipped with xenon lamps from the factory, making them a popular choice for headlight modifications. 2. There is no issue as long as the color temperature of the xenon lamp does not exceed 6000K during installation. The normal color temperature of factory-installed xenon lamps is 4300K, which provides the best light penetration and does not cause glare to oncoming traffic.

[CarlosLee]

When it comes to whether replacing factory halogen lights with xenon lights can pass annual inspections, I’ve tried it myself and got rejected during the test. My old car needed better nighttime visibility, so I bought a cheap xenon light kit online and installed it without projectors. During the inspection, the staff used a device to check the light pattern and immediately failed it—excessive brightness and scattered light spots made it non-compliant. Later, I did my homework and learned that in China, any lighting modifications must meet national standards. Xenon lights without projectors scatter too much, glaring at oncoming traffic and posing safety risks, which inspections will catch. Even with projectors, they must be certified compliant, or you’ll still fail. If you’ve already made the switch, I’d suggest getting professional installation with proper projectors and checking local regulations with the DMV—don’t waste money and time like I did. Honestly, switching to LED lights is a safer bet: stable brightness and easier to pass inspections.

[DiKennedy]

From my over ten years of driving experience, passing the annual inspection after converting halogen to xenon lights is purely a matter of luck and preparation. Some smaller cities might be lenient and let it slide, but in major cities, inspectors are strict—they check light height, brightness, and labels. If the modification isn’t done properly, they’ll reject it outright. Don’t assume brighter xenon lights are better; without proper projectors, the scattered glare can blind other drivers, creating major safety hazards—which is exactly what inspections aim to prevent. I’ve seen friends get pulled over and fined at night for overly bright lights, and inspections are even stricter. The best approach is to weigh the risks first: Chinese regulations prohibit illegal light modifications, and failing inspection means paying to revert the changes. If you’re set on upgrading, invest in compliant projectors and get them professionally adjusted at a certified testing center. One more tip: factory lights are the most hassle-free—modifications often complicate maintenance, too.

[VanRebecca]

After I bought my car, I replaced the halogen lights with xenon ones, but I was worried about passing the annual inspection. After checking online, I found that the law requires any lighting modifications to comply with regulations. Without a lens, xenon lights simply won't pass. To put it simply, the annual inspection tests whether the light's projection angle and brightness meet the standards—if they don't, you'll fail. In reality, many owners who made such modifications have been stuck and had to revert to the original factory lights. From a cost-saving perspective, it's better not to modify them or try switching to LED lights instead.