Best Car Headlights for Night Driving Reviewed

Studies show that driving at night is more dangerous than driving during daylight hours. That’s why it’s vital that you have the best car headlights for night driving.

We review the best headlights for night driving so that you can see obstacles and curves in the dark.

What are the best headlights for night driving? The first step is finding a highly-rated option that fits your vehicle. After all, buying aftermarket headlights for a Jeep doesn’t make sense if you drive a Toyota car. Make sure the headlights you choose are compatible with your vehicle. You can find the information in your owner’s manual.

There are several types of headlights you can choose from. The halogen bulb is the standard equipment that comes with most cars. However, the LED and HID headlights are both brighter and offer more clarity than the typical halogen bulb. Because LEDs hold up the best to extremes, these are often noted as the ideal option for nighttime driving.

What’s the best headlight color for night driving? 4300K produces a yellow-white color, while 5000K offers a bright white. Both of these are suitable for nighttime driving, as well as 6000K, which is an alpine white.

If you are going to take the plunge and upgrade to LED headlights, you should go with the company using the latest technology. These highly rated LED bulbs provide a uniform beam pattern and bright, white clarity. At 12,000 lumens, this pair of headlights is rated at 270-percent brighter than most stock halogen bulbs. Plus, the H11 kit fits the low beam, high beam, or fog light with compatible models.

With most vehicles, you aren’t going to need to make any modifications. Instead, you should be able to easily swap out the bulbs with these new options with ease. Additionally, the company uses an ultra-thin heat sink that improves the focus of the lights. If oncoming drivers are struggling with astigmatism, this should help reduce the glare.

At first glance, you might be taken back by the price of these bulbs. The pair is much more expensive than a standard set of halogen bulbs. However, the 50,000-hour lifespan is far more than what you will get with stock headlights. When you figure out how much you are paying per hour, you see that the initial investment pays off. Plus, the company offers a two-year warranty to give you more peace of mind.

If you are stuck on halogen bulbs, you want to invest in the best. Sure, you won’t see the same performance as you would with HID or LED, but these will get the job done. The 9006 halogen bulbs create more visibility than the OEM bulbs currently installed. That’s because Sylvania created a bulb that features a white light for additional clarity.

These bulbs are also designed to be durable. Sylvania uses a specially-created filament, unique lamp coating, and a propriety halogen gas mixture that help the light look brighter. However, it doesn’t matter how bright a halogen bulb is made; it simply won’t compete with an HID or LED bulb. For example, this set only produces 1000 lumens, but they run at 55 watts. Yes, the color temperature is rated at 4300K, but the lifespan only averages about 200 hours.

For the amount of money being spent, it makes much more sense to upgrade to brighter light. Plus, this company doesn’t offer a warranty, even if it is a leader in the market. Still, we understand that some people aren’t comfortable upgrading the headlight bulbs and rather stick to what they know. That’s why we’ve included this halogen option in the mix.

If you need an H4 headlight replacement, it doesn’t take much work to upgrade to LED. This set is rated at three-hundred percent brighter than the standard halogen bulbs. That's due in part to 60-watt LED chips that provide 12,000 lumens of brightness. Plus, the color temperature is rated at 6500K to give a cool white hue. The company provides a focused beam pattern that shines wider and farther, so you don't have to worry about seeing obstacles on the road. 

Plus, the durable construction ensures that the bulbs last. With the aviation aluminum body, 12,000 RPM turbo cool fan and hollow-carved heat sink, you can count on these bulbs to last more than 50,000 hours. Considering the longevity, it’s surprising to see the price so low. The company also offers a three-year warranty, which makes it an even better value.

As far as the installation goes, most vehicles can have new bulbs in just ten minutes, without any modification. This set works as a plug and play option for about 98-percent of compatible vehicles. However, there are a few instances when modifications might be necessary to stop flickering. Many times, this is needed with a Lexus or Ford, which tend to be more sensitive.

Another low-cost LED headlight bulb option comes from Aukee. If you need H7 headlight bulbs, you won’t be disappointed in this set. With a 6000K color temperature, you get a bright, white light that produces a combined 10,000 lumens of clarity. Because they are LED bulbs, there is no glare to oncoming traffic, and you won’t struggle with dark spots.

Because the set includes a high-speed cooling fan, the heat is dissipated quickly to ensure a longer life. Additionally, this fan is completely quiet, ensuring that you aren’t disturbed by more noise. In total, this set is rated to last 50,000 hours. With these bulbs, you also get a unique construction. The bulbs come with a removable aluminum adapter. You can take this adapter off, mount it first, and then insert the bulb. Plus, it's simple to rotate the bulb to create a varying beam pattern.

The built-in EMC system reduces the chance of radio interference. There have been some complaints that these bulbs burn out prematurely. However, Aukee does offer a one-year warranty, so if this situation occurs with your bulbs, you will have the protection you need to get another set. We recommend these H7 bulbs if you want to get maximum brightness for a reasonable cost.

If you need a super cheap option to replace your H7 bulbs, you will probably choose to go with halogen. If this is your choice, at least choose a reputable company and top brand, such as Philips. This company understands automotive lighting, so you get the best protection. While this set is your typical halogen type, it offers slightly more brightness than the stock headlights.

The set is rated at 1,500 lumens with a 3400K color temperature. There is also a blue band around the lights to give the beam a unique look. This set of bulbs has won awards, so you know it’s going to perform better than simply replacing the bulbs with stock equipment. However, you can’t expect the lifespan or beam to perform anywhere near the HID or LED bulbs would. In fact, this set is only rated for about 200 hours of usage.

That’s why, if you can afford to pay a little more, you would do far better to upgrade to a different headlight type. For the amount spent per hour used, both HID and LED bulbs offer a much better value in the long run. Plus, Philips isn’t backing up this headlight with any type of warranty. You are pretty much on your own after the purchase.

For just a little more money, you can invest in high-quality LED bulbs that are going to last. This H11 replacement kit includes a pair of headlights running at 60 watts. This set comes with CREE LED chips that provide 10,000 lumens of 6000K cool white light. With the latest technology installed, you won’t have dark spots or foggy visibility while driving at night.

The headlights are air-cooled by a 7,000 RPM turbo cool fan to provide more than 50,000 hours of life. When you break down the amount of time you can use these lights versus the price, you see that you literally pay peanuts for this amount of visibility. Plus, the majority of owners find that the installation is a breeze. With the plug and play design, it shouldn’t take you more than twenty minutes to be ready to roll.

However, there are a few finicky car models that will require some extra equipment to avoid flickering. Make sure you look into what’s needed for your vehicle before purchasing. With that said, the company stands by all of the headlights that are made. With this set, you can expect to receive a two-year warranty and lifetime support.

If you are set on getting HID bulbs for your D3S replacement, you can’t go wrong choosing a kit from Philips. These DOT-approved headlights come with a much higher price than the typical halogen bulb, but the brightness you receive makes it far worth the investment. Just remember that you might need some additional equipment to upgrade from halogen lights to HID bulbs.

This lightbulb set produces 3,000 lumens of 4200K white light. Because Philips is a leader in automotive lighting, you can count on the company to provide durable options for your vehicle. Still, it’s not clear why there is no warranty offered with this set, but premature failure doesn't seem to be an issue according to reviews.

If you already have HID bulbs installed, this should provide a direct replacement for your vehicle. In these situations, there’s very little you need to do to complete the installation. Just remove the old bulbs and put in the new ones for a bright white beam that helps you see better at night. Because HID lights don’t hold up as well under extreme temperatures and usage like the LED lights do, you might want to consider upgrading to LED instead, depending on how you use your vehicle.

To replace your headlight bulb, follow these steps with most models.

It’s important to clean your headlights when you wash the car. If the headlight assembly becomes foggy or yellow, you might need to use a headlight restoration kit.

The IIHS did a study on headlight brightness with the crash test ratings. With 2020 models, the study found six cars with the best headlights for night driving included as standard equipment: Genesis G70, Hyundai Nexo, Honda Insight, Lexus NX, Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid plus the Tesla Model 3.

If you experience headlight failure, start by trying the dimmer switch. If that doesn't work, try the hazard lights, parking lights, and turn signals. If nothing turns the lights back on, pull off the road, and call for roadside assistance.

What are the best headlight bulbs for night driving? If you are looking to upgrade to LED, we recommend the HIKARI Ultra. This complete conversion kit offers the clarity and beam you need to see clearly at night.