Is it legal to modify car headlights by adding lenses?
2 Answers
Illegal modification of car headlights can cause typical light pollution, especially during nighttime driving. These modified headlights can dazzle oncoming drivers, even if only for a few seconds, creating numerous hazards and becoming a new road safety concern. To address this issue, traffic police have stipulated that any self-modified headlights must be approved and registered with the vehicle management office, and undergo relevant lighting inspections. Modifications that fail to meet the standards will not be approved. Modifying LED high beams: If LED high beams are installed without lenses, the vehicle will not pass the annual inspection. Conditions that fail the annual inspection: During the annual vehicle inspection, if xenon headlights without lenses cause glare with low beams, they must be rectified. Additionally, directly installing bare xenon or LED bulbs, or bulbs with a color temperature exceeding 6000K, will also result in failing the annual inspection.
Many friends ask me this during car consultations. In fact, adding lenses doesn't automatically make it legal. Whether headlight modifications are compliant depends on local traffic regulations and national standards. For example, in China, headlights must meet GB standards and cannot be altered arbitrarily. The purpose of lenses is to focus light better and reduce glare, but they're just one part of the system. If the bulb is too bright, the light pattern is scattered, or the angle isn't adjusted properly, the whole setup could still be deemed illegal. I recommend testing the lighting effects at a professional shop or consulting the vehicle management office for an inspection before modifying. Otherwise, you might fail the annual inspection and face fines. Remember, legality depends on the entire system being safe and stable—just adding lenses doesn't necessarily solve the problem.
