Visibility

When you’re on the road, you need to see and be seen. Wiper blades, headlights, daytime running lights, brake lights, fog lights, and indicators all need to be in good working order to give you the best visibility on the road in all conditions.

Book a vehicle test at Eurorepar and one of our experts will check everything from beam alignment to bulb functionality so that your car or van is road ready.

Use our simple online booking form to find wiper blade, car bulb & fog light replacements near you.

 

 

How often should I change my wiper blades?

 

Wiper blades should be changed once a year, but don’t forget your rear wiper blade too.

Make sure you have the right size wiper blades for your car. If you have the wrong size, they won’t work properly. Ask us if you’re not sure.

 

How will cold weather effect my car wiper blades?

 

In cold weather, when your windscreen freezes over, your wiper blades can freeze in place and stick. If you turn on the wipers before they’ve defrosted, you could damage them. Make sure to defrost your windscreen fully before setting off.

 

What are the different types of car lights?

 

There are various lights on our cars that are used for different things.

 

Dipped headlights

 

Dipped headlights are the most used headlights. They’re not as bright as full beam headlights but are brighter than sidelights. You turn them on when you can see less than 100m in front of you, usually at night-time or during bad weather.

 

Full beam headlights

 

Full beam headlights are the brightest headlights. Also known as high beams, they are angled higher than dipped headlights. They should only be used on unlit stretches of road at night-time. When you meet oncoming traffic or are following another vehicle, they must be turned off as they are so bright, they can cause accidents.

 

Fog lights

 

Fog lights, as you can tell by the name, are used to see through fog and mist. Your rear fog lights will be amber in colour and your front fog lights will be green. In most cars you must turn on your dipped headlights before you can turn on the fog light switch.

It’s crucial to only use your fog lights when your visibility is below 100 metres, as again you’ll risk dazzling other drivers.

 

Hazard warning lights

 

Your hazard lights should only be used when your vehicle is stationary, as a signal to others that you are temporarily stopping. This may be because you’ve had an accident, broken down or have been forced to stop by an obstruction.

You can also use your hazard lights to warn other road users that there is an obstruction up ahead if you’re on a motorway.

 

Indicators

 

Indicator lights are visible on all corners of your car and are used to signal to other road users and pedestrians that you are turning. Most cars will require you to use your indicator stalk to turn them on, and they’ll automatically turn off once you’ve straightened your wheels after making the turn.

 

Sidelights

 

Sidelights aren’t as bright as your headlights and are used to keep your vehicle visible when it’s not dark enough for main lights. They are designed to be on for long periods of time and shouldn’t drain your battery. They must be turned on if you’re leaving your car parked in a place where the speed limit is over 30mph or if there is fog.

 

Taillights

 

Positioned at the back of your car, taillights are red and are turned on/off at the same time as your headlights.

 

Brake lights

 

Also red and found near your taillights, your brake lights will illuminate to tell others on the road that you’ve put the brakes on and are slowing down.

 

How often should I check my car lights?

 

We recommend that you regularly check that all your lights are working correctly. Try each light one by one, and make sure you check that each is fully illuminated and remains on for a couple of minutes.

 

Car headlight bulb types

 

Thanks to advances in technology, there are now different types of car bulbs available:

 

Halogen headlights

 

Halogen lights are currently the most popular. They are cheap and easy to replace but produce a dimmer level of light than other options. Fairly inefficient, they produce a lot of unnecessary and unused heat.

 

LED headlights

 

The most energy efficient, LED lights work over 250 times faster than halogen – making them perfect for brake and indicator lights. They’re brighter than halogen bulbs of the same wattage and produce a smaller amount of heat. However, they are more expensive in comparison to halogen bulbs.

 

Xenon headlights

 

Xenon lights are a relatively new development in modern cars. They emit light that’s closer to daylight than halogen lights. This also means they are much more powerful and last much longer than traditional lights.

When they do need replacing, xenon lights use a particular type of bulb. These contain xenon gas, drawing 20,000 volts (compared to 12 volts for a traditional bulb).

One of our technicians will be able to help you replace your xenon bulbs.

 

Why is it important to replace my car bulbs?

 

Having working car bulbs is incredibly important for both your own safety, and others on the road. Working lights are what enable you to see as you drive, and they’re how others can see you.

Broken car lights will also result in an MOT failure – so make sure to check your lights before you go for an MOT test.

Fixing and replacing your own car bulbs can be tricky. Our experienced experts at Eurorepar will be able to supply you with the correct bulbs for your car and can fit them for you.