What are the replacement criteria for scratches on insured headlights?

[SanPatrick]

Replacement is warranted if the scratch exceeds one-third of the headlight housing thickness, while scratches below one-third are deemed repairable and do not qualify for direct replacement. Below are the treatment methods for headlight scratches: Polishing Repair: Fine-grit sandpaper can be used for sanding, followed by polishing with polishing wax. This method is quick, convenient, and cost-effective, providing good repair results. However, since the headlight surface is typically made of plastic rather than paint, the light transmittance will decrease once the wax components wear off. Steam Repair: This involves using a heater with alcohol as a volatilizer to attach specially processed and formulated materials onto the headlight surface via steam, filling in the scratches. The surface is then sanded to achieve a refurbished effect, with the repair lasting approximately two years.

[VanCourtney]

Just dealt with this recently, and insurance companies are quite particular about scratches. Those fine surface scratches on the headlight cover usually don’t count, but if there’s internal cracking or the housing is split—even just a centimeter—they’ll replace it. Some insurers even cover minor chips at the edges, especially for high-end cars with laser headlights where repairs can cost more than replacements. The worst-case scenario? Aftermarket mods—custom LED strips or patterns won’t be covered; only factory-installed lighting qualifies. Pro tip: Before filing a claim, snap clear photos of cracks and light leaks, and keep your dealership maintenance records handy—it helps.

[MacPaige]

Our repair shop finds it most troublesome to deal with scratches that aren't deep. Nowadays, car lights are made of polycarbonate plastic, and prolonged exposure to UV rays causes the surface to turn yellow and become blurry. Simple polishing won't last more than six months. Only shallow scratches like those from fingernails can be buffed out. If the internal prism stripes—those grid-like patterns inside the lens—are damaged, the light will immediately scatter. Last week, an Audi had a light corner chipped the size of a grain of rice, and the customer insisted on repairing it. As a result, the light pattern was misaligned, and it failed the annual inspection. Actually, side scratches are the hardest to assess. You have to disassemble it to check if the mounting clips are deformed; otherwise, if reassembled improperly, the seal won't be tight enough, and water will definitely seep in, causing fogging.

[OAdrian]

You don't need to replace headlights just because of minor scratches! Headlight covers are most vulnerable to two types of damage: penetrating cracks that directly cause water leakage, and dense spiderweb cracks that scatter light like a flashlight without a reflector. Last month, my car got hit by a flying stone leaving a sesame-sized dent right at the center of the lens, causing dark spots in the light beam at night. Actually, insurance companies have an unwritten rule - they generally won't cover minor scratches that can be concealed with headlight restoration fluid. But if the headlight housing seam cracks or the reflective silver coating peels off, these are definitely claimable. Remember to keep photos of accident scene debris, otherwise the claims adjuster might argue it's pre-existing damage.

[DelKarter]

Personal experience tells you: Don't rush to claim insurance for minor scratches! Last time my headlight cover was scratched by tree branches, the 4S store said the whole unit needed replacement, quoting over 6,000 yuan. Later, an experienced technician at a roadside shop used three types of sandpaper and polishing compound to fix it for 300 yuan, and the result looked as good as new. But there are two types of scratches that require replacement - for headlights with lenses, if there are linear scratches on the refractive surface, oncoming traffic will keep flashing their high beams at you at night; and for aged, yellowed headlight covers, aggressive polishing can make the plastic brittle, potentially causing it to crack over speed bumps in winter. The trick for insurance claims is to have the assessor clearly check if the mounting clips are deformed - any issues with this part will guarantee 100% claim approval.