How Long Do Vehicle Headlights Last?

You might not consider the importance of your vehicle’s headlights very often. When driving around Toronto, usually the streets are well lit, even at night. However your headlights don’t only help you see when it’s dark, or in low-visibility conditions, they also help other drivers see you on the road. So, when should you look at getting them replaced? Just how long do headlights typically last? The service team here at Avenue Nissan takes a look at the lifespan of the average headlight bulb.

Average Lifespan

The two key things which affect the lifespan of a lightbulb are the material they’re made from, and their overall brightness. Brighter bulbs burn hotter, and wear out faster, especially in common halogen bulbs with tungsten filaments. Xenon and LED bulbs, by comparison, last much, much longer.

Xenon Bulbs

When you use a halogen bulb, the tungsten filament is what’s illuminated, and that’s hard on the materials. Tungsten-xenon bulbs work differently, where the filament is actually illuminating the gas inside the bulb. This means the filament doesn’t need to work as hard, and lasts significantly longer. High-intensity discharge (HID) bulbs also use xenon, but they use an electrode to illuminate the gas, rather than a tungsten filament. They also last longer than the halogen bulbs, but not as long as the tungsten-xenon ones.

LED Bulbs

Light emitting diode (LED) bulbs produce light in an entirely different way than an incandescent bulb. They use electrical currents passing through a microchip, which causes illumination, while also absorbing and redirecting heat. Rather than burning out, LEDs dim over time, and are considered “in need of replacement” at the point where they’ve lost around 30% of their light output. As they generate light much more efficiently than incandescent bulbs, they last significantly longer.

Replace Your Headlights & Bulbs in Toronto, ON

If your headlights or interior lights are dimming, flickering, or burnt out, you should book a service appointment as soon as possible to get them replaced. Our service team can get those bulbs replaced quickly, and get you safely back on the road. Be sure to visit Avenue Nissan in Toronto, ON, for any of your service and maintenance needs!