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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/aftermarket-hid-headlamps/aftermarket-hid-headlamps

In the Department for Transport’s view it is not legal to sell or use after-market HID lighting kits, for converting conventional Halogen headlamps to HID Xenon. If you want to convert your vehicle to Xenon HID you must purchase completely new Xenon HID headlamps.

The reason for this is that the existing lens and reflector are designed around a Halogen filament bulb, working to very precise tolerances. If a HID “burner” (bulb) is placed in the headlamp, the beam pattern will not be correct, there will be glare in some places and not enough light in other places within the beam pattern.

The Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations 1989 regulate the situation in the UK. Under these regulations, HID/Gas Discharge/Xenon headlamps are not mentioned and therefore they are not permitted according to the strict letter of the law.

However new vehicles have HID headlamps. This is because they comply with European type approval regulations. The UK cannot refuse to register a vehicle with a European type approval. These approvals relate to ECE Regulation 98 (for the HID headlamps which are tested on a rig in a laboratory) and ECE Regulation 48 (lighting installation on the vehicle).

For the after-market, a used vehicle cannot obtain type approval because this only applies to new vehicles. However DfT does not think it reasonable simply to ban HID in the aftermarket. Instead the department makes analogies with new vehicles. It seems reasonable to require HID in the after-market to meet the same safety standards as those for new vehicles. The same level of safety should apply.

Therefore a HID headlamp unit sold in the aftermarket should:

Under the Road Traffic Act 1988 it is an offence to supply, fit or use vehicle parts which are not legal.

In summary: it is not permitted to convert an existing halogen headlamp unit for use with HID bulbs. The entire headlamp unit must be replaced with one designed and approved for use with HID bulbs and it must be installed in accordance with the rules stated above.

The Statutory Instruments which make up the GB Road Vehicle Lighting Regulations are available on the Legislation website of The Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) as follows:

The road vehicles lighting and goods vehicles (plating and testing)(amendment) regulations 2009:

Other minor and consequential amendments:

The consumer protection from unfair trading regulations 2008, schedule 2 paragraph 82

The fire and rescue services act 2004 (consequential amendments) (England) Order 2004

The serious organised crime and police act 2005 (consequential and supplementary amendments to secondary legislation order 2006), PDF, 90.8 KB, paragraph 9

Tramcars and trolley vehicles (modification of enactments) regulations 1992, part V paragraph 14

The medical act 1983 (amendment) and miscellaneous amendments order 2006, PDF, 191 KB, paragraph 76

Paper copies of statutory instruments are available for purchase from The Stationery Office at:

TSO Orders/Post Cash Department PO Box 29 Norwich NR3 1GN

Email: customer.services@tso.co.uk

EU directives (The above lists all Directives pertaining to road and agricultural vehicles)

Paper copies of directives can be ordered from TSO (see contact details above) or from the Vehicle Certification Agency (VCA) at:

Email: vista@vca.gov.uk

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