HID Xenon Kits: Legal or Not Legal for the UK

By Ethan Melandri

HID Xenon headlights were first created in the 1990's. They were considered a sophisticated option which could change the appearance of a vehicle at night as well as the experience. Xenon is credited with 300 percent more light than the original halogen lights, and lasting 10 times longer. They are also cooler looking with the blue white tint. Thus the HID xenon lights became fashionable.

Cars fitted with standard halogen headlight bulbs seemed quite dull in comparison and so a market for retro fit HID xenon conversion kits quickly developed. However a constant question that keeps arising about these HID kits is are they legal to use on public roads?

The easiest answer would be to say that the HID kits are not legal, but there is always a degree of legal. So the answer is not as simple as all that. To really understand the answer to whether they are legal requires you to look at the legal requirements of the kits.

To provide this answer a look at the Department of Transport's statement regarding conversion HID kits is needed. The department stated that the headlights must have a self levelling suspension as well as a self cleaning option within the unit. These xenon HID lights must have the European standards E mark as well. A headlight is categorised as the bulb, reflector, and outer lens.

Furthermore, any retailer who supposedly sells "legal" HID kits with an E mark, self cleaning headlight, and self levelling option is not being truthful. Their claims are unfounded since the Department of Transport states any HID kits are not permitted when you are converting from halogen to HID bulbs. Therefore, it is an offence to sell, fit, or use vehicle parts which are not legal.

If you want HID xenon headlights in a car that has halogen headlight bulbs and you want to remain within the laws there is only one option. You must go to the manufacturer of your car to see if they have factory fitted xenon lights for your model car. You can then purchase the factory option and have them installed at a licensed factory. The Department of Transport does recognise these factory units as legal replacements and thus you can have HID bulbs on your vehicle.

The downside to this option is the cost. Factory option HID xenon upgrades are not inexpensive. In fact they generally range in cost around 3000. There is another option when it comes to having the xenon lights over halogen though. While you cannot have HID xenon you can have upgrade xenon bulbs. These bulbs are better than the standard halogen your vehicle comes with. The difference in the xenon bulb and the HID xenon bulb is that you do not need a kit for the upgrade. The xenon headlights are identical to the halogen bulbs you already have. The only difference is one has halogen gas and the other has xenon gas.

There are two top upgrades you can purchase called the Osram Night Braker and the Philips Extreme Power bulbs. These two options emit up to 90 percent more light and up to 35 metres more distance than halogen. They are also 10 percent whiter than halogen. The best part to this option is that they are street legal because no modification is necessary. You can install them without invalidating your insurance or getting stopped by the constabulary.

The upgrade to xenon bulbs is not going to be as bright as the HID kits. However the upgrade is legal, much better than halogen, and they cost about 20. If you want the HID look, but within the street laws, you can purchase xenon bulbs and save money. This money could go to the retro fit factory option or a new car with HID xenon lights as the standard lights. - 21393

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If you don't want the hassle of installation and legality issues of fitting an HID kit, you should consider fitting xenon Headlight Bulbs instead. The very latest high performance Xenon Bulbs emit up to 90% more light than standard halogen, are completely road legal and simple to fit.