MOT rule change January 2021 - HID and LED headlight bulbs in halogen light units

[FROSTYBALLS]

See revised MOT rule effective from 11th January 2021.

4. Lamps, reflectors and electrical equipment

4.1.4 Headlamps - Compliance with requirements - Changed sentence from 'Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with HID bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.' to 'Existing halogen headlamp units should not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp.'

[Rosgoe]

I thought that had been the mot rules for the last 5 years or so

[FROSTYBALLS]

5 minutes ago, Rosgoe said:

I thought that had been the mot rules for the last 5 years or so

Was for HIDs not for LEDs

[FROSTYBALLS]

DVSA have made a slight amendment to the above effectiveness ve from 22nd March 2021 - which now applies to all vehicles built and used on and after 1st April 1986

[Lyal Sutton]

LED's have much lower power draw and run colder, so are not likely to overheat the headlamp.

Do you know the reason why LED's added?  

[FROSTYBALLS]

Presumably if a headlight unit is designed for a particular type of bulb, in this case halogen, using another type of bulb may produce a less well controlled light pattern and cause issues for other motorists as regards glare, etc.

Nothing to do with the amount of power drawn or the possibility of overheating.

[Guest]

Anyone know if this includes fog lights (Auris) that normally take Halogen bulbs (H16 I believe)?

[FROSTYBALLS]

34 minutes ago, Geoff P said:

Anyone know if this includes fog lights (Auris) that normally take Halogen bulbs (H16 I believe)?

The requirement specifically states 'headlamps'.

[Heidfirst]

On 5/19/2021 at 3:08 PM, Geoff P said:

Anyone know if this includes fog lights (Auris) that normally take Halogen bulbs (H16 I believe)?

afaik strictly speaking they are not road legal either - only if tested/approved in a compatible, marked light unit.

There is also the fact that technically that would be classed as a modification & so should be reported to your insurer who may/may not have their own opinion - apparently there was a claim where an insurer would not pay out because the policyholder had changed no. plate bulbs to LED & didn't inform them ... see in https://blog.motoringassist.com/news/gems-latest-research-on-illegal-car-bulbs/

[AisinW]

I think the LED headlight aftermarket bulb is supposed to be illegal unless it is certified for particular cars like OSRAM on some H7 reflector bulb.  

However, for some application like  reverse light is supposed to be fine. The reverse light in Auris is very dim, only one too. We cannot see anything in dark parking lot with OEM bulb, useless, only for warning others we are reversing. 

 

[Konrad C]

On 9/8/2021 at 10:27 PM, Heidfirst said:

afaik strictly speaking they are not road legal either - only if tested/approved in a compatible, marked light unit.

There is also the fact that technically that would be classed as a modification & so should be reported to your insurer who may/may not have their own opinion - apparently there was a claim where an insurer would not pay out because the policyholder had changed no. plate bulbs to LED & didn't inform them ... see in https://blog.motoringassist.com/news/gems-latest-research-on-illegal-car-bulbs/

Scott, thanks for that. 

Last year, I installed sidelight LEDs I used from previous Avensis (Mk1), after the standard bulbs failed. Then earlier this year, one of the LEDs started flickering so I bought some long life capless bulbs and replaced both front sidelights back to original. My car is fully standard in the lighting department.

[Guest]

Not before time either in my opinion. Although, depending on access, I'm sure the illegal lamps will be removed and halogens refitted for the test! Similarly with non road legal number plates.

[FROSTYBALLS]

See extract from Bper's post on the following topic:

"Subject: 

RE: Headlights

Date: 

Tue, 9 Jan 2024 10:48:31 +0000

From: 

MOT <MOT@dvsa.gov.uk>

To: 

Good morning

Thank you for your enquiry regarding changing bulbs o headlamps n a vehicle in relation to the MOT. The information you require is in the MOT Inspection Manual here https://www.gov.uk/guidance/mot-inspection-manual-for-private-passenger-and-light-commercial-vehicles

Section 4 covers lamps with subsection 4.1 on headlamps Specifically 4.1.4 Compliance with requirements :

Existing halogen headlamp units on vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1986 must not be converted to be used with high intensity discharge (HID) or light emitting diode (LED) bulbs. If such a conversion has been done, you must fail the headlamp for light source and lamp not compatible.

This does not refer to complete replacement headlamp units which may be constructed with HID or LED light sources.

If a complete headlamp unit has been replaced with a unit that was manufactured with HID or LED light sources, it must not be failed for ‘Light source and lamp not compatible’ but it must meet all other requirements detailed in section 4 of this manual specific to the type fitted at the time of test.

So whilst you cannot fit LED or HID bulbs into a halogen lamp unit you can replace the whole headlamp unit.

I hope this information explains the MOT requirements
Regards
Ian
MOT Product Specialist Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) | Chadderton GVTS | 9 Broadgate | Chadderton | OL9 9XA"

 

[Haliotis]

On 11/21/2021 at 10:18 AM, Guest said:

Not before time either in my opinion. Although, depending on access, I'm sure the illegal lamps will be removed and halogens refitted for the test! Similarly with non road legal number plates.

That behaviour is made possible by lack of foresight by manufacturers - bulbs that are not compatible with each other should have different caps which cannot be swapped over.  As for number plates, these should be secured by “one shot” fixing screws where the screw has a double head, and the one with the drive slot breaks off. The car and screw should be left-hand thread (with the female thread captive on the car body) and new bolts only available for fitting by franchised garages.  Such a procedure would go a long way to stop owners fitting their own “doctored” plates.  Improper character/letter positioning is a punishable offence already, but the police don’t have the time/interest to pursue errant owners.