How to Adjust LED Headlights In 5 Easy Steps

If you can’t see far enough down the road, you notice your lights are shining into oncoming traffic, or you are in the process of replacing your vehicle lights, you might need to align your headlights. That’s right, the process of installing or replacing headlights involves more than just putting the bulb in place. Headlights that aren’t properly aligned can impair the vision of other drivers and impact your ability to see signs or obstacles on the road correctly. Our step-by-step guide below will walk you through how to easily adjust your headlights at home.

If your factory bulbs are aimed properly but you want to replace them with LEDs, check the aim of your headlights before replacing them. This will give you an idea of where the new alignment should be. Not every car is able to level the headlights, so refer to your owner’s manual to make sure your vehicle will allow for an adjustment. If your vehicle uses bubble levels, there is no need to follow the steps below. Simply adjust the vertical and horizontal levels to the correct position. For vehicles with combined low and high beam bulbs, adjusting your low beams should also accurately align your high beams.

• Painter tape or masking tape
• Tape measure 
• Screwdriver (or tools to remove headlight assembly)
• LED headlights
• Owners manual (optional)

Note: It is recommended to replace headlight bulbs in pairs as beam style, brightness, and color temperature vary.

Pull your vehicle up to a blank, large wall and stop about 3 feet away. Make sure the vehicle is parked on level ground.

Identify the vehicle center. This will generally be the badge on the front of the car. Add a vertical piece of painter’s tape on the wall where the vehicle center is.

Next, find the center of each headlight.

Pro tip: You can find the center of your headlight by the small dimple in the headlight assembly plastic.

With a tape measure, measure the distance from the ground to the center of your headlight. Copy this measurement against the wall directly across from each headlight. Subtract 2 inches and mark with a horizontal piece of tape.

The bottom of the horizontal tape at the 2-inch marks should be where the top of your beam pattern sits when you’re 25 feet away.

To find the alignment adjuster, open the hood, look down, and find the vertical and horizontal screws or bolts. Most headlight alignment adjusters will use a Philip screwdriver.

Adjust your headlights so the most intense part of the beam is just below the horizontal tape line marked on the wall.

With your correctly adjusted lights, you should be able to see the road correctly.

If your vehicle used halogen bulbs previously, and you want to upgrade to LED headlights, it is important that you know how headlight assembly reflectors will impact the aim of your LED headlights. Traditional halogen and HID bulbs emit light in 360 degrees, and headlight housing reflectors are designed to reflect this light into a projected beam. However, LED headlight bulbs only have chips on two sides. Therefore, you must install your LEDs so the chips face the reflectors (usually facing directly left and right). Otherwise, the light may not hit the necessary reflectors and can produce an inefficient beam pattern or decreased light output. You may need to adjust the bulb collar to rotate the headlight exactly where you need it. You can do this with an Allen wrench or screwdriver. 

Headlight reflectors are specifically designed to accompany the size and placement of the factory bulb. When choosing an LED bulb to replace your halogen or HID headlight, choose an LED that is the same type as the factory bulb. This will guarantee that the reflectors are able to aim the light from your LED as it was originally intended.

If you aren’t sure about a step, consult a mechanic before making any changes to your car’s lighting system. You can also refer to your vehicle’s owner's manual for information specific to your car. 

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call us at 866-590-3533. Our customer service and technical support teams are available from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. CT Monday-Thursday and 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. CT on Friday.