How to adjust low and high beam headlights?

Properly adjusting your vehicle's low and high beam headlights is an important maintenance task that ensures optimal visibility and safety on the road. This article will guide you through the steps to properly adjust your headlights.

Why Adjust Headlights?

Headlight adjustment is crucial for several reasons:

• Improved visibility: Properly adjusted headlights provide the right amount of illumination, allowing you to see the road ahead clearly and reducing the risk of accidents.


• Compliance with laws: Most jurisdictions have regulations regarding headlight aim and brightness, and improperly adjusted headlights may result in fines or other penalties.


• Reduced glare: Correctly adjusted headlights minimize the amount of glare experienced by oncoming drivers, improving road safety for everyone.

Regularly checking and adjusting your headlights is a simple maintenance task that can have a significant impact on your driving experience and safety.

Steps to Adjust Low and High Beam Headlights

Follow these steps to adjust your vehicle's low and high beam headlights:

1. Park your vehicle: Find a flat, level surface, such as a garage floor or driveway, and park your vehicle approximately 25 feet (7.6 meters) from a wall or other vertical surface.


2. Turn on the headlights: Turn on your vehicle's headlights, ensuring both the low and high beams are illuminated.


3. Locate the adjustment screws: Locate the adjustment screws or bolts on the back of each headlight assembly. These are typically accessible from the front of the vehicle, but you may need to remove the headlight housing or grille to access them.


4. Adjust the low beams: Using a screwdriver or wrench, adjust the low beam headlights so that the center of the low beam pattern is approximately 2 inches (5 cm) below the center of the headlight and 25 feet (7.6 meters) in front of the vehicle.


5. Adjust the high beams: Adjust the high beam headlights so that the center of the high beam pattern is approximately 4 inches (10 cm) below the center of the headlight and 25 feet (7.6 meters) in front of the vehicle.


6. Verify the adjustment: Turn off the headlights and visually inspect the beam patterns on the wall or vertical surface. Repeat the adjustment process if necessary to achieve the desired beam patterns.

Remember to consult your vehicle's owner's manual for any specific instructions or recommendations regarding headlight adjustment. Additionally, it's a good idea to have your headlights professionally inspected and adjusted periodically to ensure they are functioning correctly and in compliance with local regulations.

Do you adjust headlights on high or low beam?

You adjust headlights using the low beam setting because the high beams are not meant to be adjustable and are designed to be fixed in their housing. Adjusting low beams ensures they are properly aimed to provide visibility without blinding other drivers.
 
How to adjust headlights using the low beams

1. Park on a level surface: about 25 feet from a wall, such as a garage door. 
2. Turn on the low beam headlights . 
3. Mark the centers: of each headlight beam on the wall with tape. 
4. Draw a horizontal line: connecting the two center marks. 
5. Check the cutoff: The brightest part of the beam (the cutoff line) should be at or slightly below the horizontal line you just drew. If the light is too high, you'll blind other drivers; if it's too low, you won't be able to see far enough ahead. 
6. Adjust the lights: Use the adjustment screws on the back of the headlight assembly to raise or lower the beam. Clockwise typically raises the beam, and counterclockwise lowers it, but check your owner's manual for specific instructions. 
7. Adjust the right-left: orientation if necessary, so the brightest part of the beam is higher on the right side to help see road signs. 
8. Repeat for the other headlight, making sure to cover one to get an accurate reading of the other, and test the alignment on the road afterward. 

How high should your headlights be at 25 ft?

At 25 feet, the top of the low beam should be at or just below the center of the headlight lens, or approximately 2-4 inches below the horizontal centerline of the headlight beam on the wall. The driver's side beam should be slightly lower than the passenger side to prevent blinding oncoming traffic.
 
Step-by-step guide
This video demonstrates how to adjust your car's headlights: 1mHeadlight RevolutionYouTube · Mar 21, 2020

1. Prepare the vehicle. Park on a flat, level surface with the car's tires properly inflated and the vehicle carrying its typical load. 
2. Position the vehicle. Place the car about 25 feet away from a flat, dark wall or garage door. 
3. Mark the wall. Turn on the low beams. Use tape to mark the vertical and horizontal center of each headlight beam on the wall. 
4. Measure the target height. Measure the height from the ground to the center of the headlight lens and mark this horizontal line on the wall. 
5. Create the aiming point. Measure down 2 inches from the horizontal line you just marked and create another horizontal line. This is your new aiming point. 
6. Adjust the headlights. The top of the low beam pattern on the wall should now be at or just below this second horizontal line. 
   • Driver's side: The beam should be slightly lower than the passenger's side to avoid blinding oncoming drivers. Some standards specify the driver's side beam should be 0.75 feet (9 inches) and the passenger's side 1.5 feet (18 inches) from the ground, but aiming it just below the headlight's center is a good general rule. 
   • Passenger's side: The beam can be a little higher to better illuminate signs and the road ahead. 
7. Verify the adjustment. Some headlights have a specific height-based adjustment rule, but the 2-inch drop is a common guideline for most cars. 

Can you align headlights yourself?

Turn the lights off and use a screwdriver to turn the screws until the headlight is at the level you require. Turn your headlights back on to see if further adjustment is required. There should be a screw to adjust the lamp vertically and another screw to align it horizontally. Do each adjustment one at a time.

How far should your headlights shine while on low beam?

Low beam headlights should illuminate the road for approximately 150 to 200 feet, depending on bulb type. For proper aim, the brightest part of the beam should have a slight downward tilt, so that at 25 feet away, the top of the light pattern is about 2 to 4 inches below the center of the headlight lens. This prevents blinding oncoming drivers while still lighting the road ahead. 
You can watch this video to learn how to aim and align your headlights correctly: 53sHeadlight RevolutionYouTube · Mar 21, 2020
Key visibility distances

• Standard Halogen: Roughly 150 to 200 feet. 
• Modern LEDs: Can extend this visibility up to 300 feet due to higher brightness. 
• General Rule: It is recommended to switch to high beams only when you cannot see farther than 200 feet with low beams, but only if no other vehicle is within 200 feet and approaching. 

How to tell if your low beams are aimed correctly

• Check against a wall: Park on a level surface 25 feet from a garage door or wall. 
• Mark the center: Use tape to mark the center of the low beam on the wall. 
• Adjust the height: The top of the low beam pattern should be at or slightly below the height of your headlight's center. 
• Notice the pattern: The beam will be slightly higher on the right (passenger) side to illuminate road signs and lower on the left (driver's) side to avoid dazzling other drivers. 

The "Don't outrun your headlights" rule 

• This old driving adage is crucial for safety, especially at night. 
• Your speed should always be slow enough to stop within the distance your headlights can clearly illuminate.