Before winter, you must check all your car’s lighting: headlights, taillights, turn signals, brake lights, fog lights, and license plate lighting. Due to shorter days and worse weather conditions, good lighting is extra important for your safety. A defective lamp can cause dangerous situations and result in MOT failure. Therefore, regularly check that all lamps are still working properly.
Which lights are most important to check before winter?
The headlights, taillights, turn signals, brake lights, fog lights, and license plate lighting are the most important lights to check before winter. This lighting ensures that you see well and are seen by other road users during the dark winter months.
In winter, these lights are extra important because you drive much more in the dark. The sun sets early and rises late, so your headlights and taillights are on much longer. In fog, rain, or snow, you need your fog lights for extra visibility.
Your turn signals and brake lights are also important for safety. Other drivers must be able to clearly see when you brake or change direction. A defective turn signal or brake light can lead to dangerous situations, especially on slippery roads where other drivers need more time to react.
The license plate lighting seems less important but is legally required. Defective license plate lighting results in MOT failure and can earn you a fine during an inspection.
How do you check yourself if your car lights are still working properly?
You check your car lighting by systematically testing all light functions while looking to see if each lamp is working. For most lamps, you can only do this by using reflections in windows or walls, but for brake lights you need help from a second person.
Start with your headlights. Turn on the lights and walk around your car. Check that both the low beam and high beam work. Also look at the color of the light: if it becomes yellow or orange, the lamp will break soon.
For your turn signals, turn on the indicators and walk around the car. Pay attention to the frequency of the flashing: if the turn signal flashes faster than normal, there’s probably a broken lamp. Also test your hazard warning lights.
You check your taillights by turning on the lighting and standing behind your car. For the brake lights, you need someone else to press the brake pedal while you look. You can also park backwards against a wall and look in your mirrors at the reflection of the brake light.
You test the fog lights by turning them on and checking if they’re working. Not all cars have rear fog lights, but they do have front ones. You check the license plate lighting by looking in the evening to see if your license plate is well lit.
What do you do if you discover a broken lamp?
With a broken lamp, you must take action as quickly as possible for your safety and that of other road users. You can replace some lamps yourself, but for others you need a garage. With a defective headlight or taillight, you shouldn’t really drive in the dark anymore.
For your safety, it’s important to know which defective lamps are immediately dangerous. A broken headlight means you see poorly and other road users cannot assess you properly. A defective brake light is also dangerous because cars behind you don’t see that you’re braking.
Simple lamps, such as license plate lighting, you can often replace yourself. You can buy these bulbs at most gas stations, car dealers, or online. Check your manual for how to access the lamp. Often you only need to remove a plastic cover.
For headlights and taillights, replacement is often more complicated. With modern cars, you sometimes have to remove the entire bumper or the lamps are difficult to reach. Repairs and maintenance of complex lighting is better left to a garage that has the right tools and knowledge.
With Renault, Citroën, Peugeot, and Dacia, certain lamps are only available through official channels. For these brands, it’s wise to go to a specialized garage that has access to original parts.
Why do car lamps fail more often in winter?
Car lamps break more often in winter due to temperature fluctuations, moisture, longer usage duration, and vibrations from poor road surfaces. The filament in the lamp becomes weaker due to these conditions and eventually breaks. Older lamps are extra sensitive to winter conditions.
Temperature fluctuations are an important cause of lamp defects. When you start your car, the lamps heat up quickly. When switching off, they cool down again. This expansion and contraction weakens the filament. In winter, these temperature differences are greater, causing lamps to break faster.
Moisture also plays a role in lamp defects. Due to condensation, moisture can get into the lamp housing. This moisture can cause short circuits or damage the filament. This especially occurs with older cars where the seals are no longer perfect.
In winter, you use your lighting much longer. Where in summer you might only have your lights on in the evening, in winter they often burn the entire trip. This longer usage duration significantly shortens the lifespan of your lamps.
Poor road surfaces in winter cause more vibrations. Potholes, bumps, and unevenness due to frost make your car shake more. These vibrations can cause the filament in your lamps to break, especially if they’re already somewhat older.
You can partially prevent lamp defects by driving carefully over bumps and having your car checked regularly. Preferably replace lamps in sets: if one lamp breaks, the other is often also due for replacement.
How Autobedrijven Verdonk helps with lighting maintenance
We help you with a complete lighting inspection and repair of all car brands. Our experienced mechanics systematically check all lamps and replace defective lighting with quality parts. For Renault, Citroën, Peugeot, and Dacia, we have access to original parts and know all specific procedures.
During a lighting check, we inspect:
- All front and rear lights, including high beam and low beam
- Turn signals and hazard warning lights
- Brake and tail lights
- Front and rear fog lights
- License plate lighting
- Headlight adjustment
- Condition of lamp glasses and reflectors
Our lighting service is part of regular maintenance but can also be performed separately. We work with transparent prices and always explain what’s needed before we start work. For Renault, we use the official flat-rate codes, so you know what to expect.
Would you like to have your car prepared for winter or do you have questions about maintenance? Feel free to contact us or visit us in Veldhoven. Read more about our history and discover why motorists have trusted us for more than 95 years for reliable service and fair prices.
Autobedrijven Verdonk also performs maintenance and repairs for all other car brands.