Agreed,

its quiet obvious when a car with aftermarket HID's drives towards you. The first thing you notice is the whiteness, and the then the glare and dazzle. I dont bother flashing cars just because they are dazzling bright and blinding, whats the point as they'll just carry on anyway.

On this note I fitted a kit (HIDS4U ultimate 5000K) and the MOT guy said it was fine, the kit wasn't glaring, but there was just too much light out the front for other drivers to deal with.

Dark, windy country roads meant that other people were getting blinded due to a lack of auto-levelling and I think just too much light straight at them.

I took them out and returned the items after 2 tries at night and 2 MOT centres checking them and went back to 50% brighter bulbs.

Sure it's a bit darker, but it's not the end of the world and certainly not enough to warrant blinding others on the road.

Thats slightly contradicting, and not a black or white answer.

On one hand, they are deemed as NOT LEGAL so this would suggest your not covered.

On the other hand, if you let them know about it you are covered?

This could be open to a persons interprataion rather than a cut and dry answer.

The safest option is to go with the same type of bulb that was fitted from factory.

The replay from dan was:-

Hi Ben,

As long as they are legal and we have been notified of them then it's fine

Dan.

I'm guessing he wont mind me posting this.

Which means you need self levelling AND headlight washers to be legal.

Thats slightly contradicting, and not a black or white answer.

On one hand, they are deemed as NOT LEGAL so this would suggest your not covered.

On the other hand, if you let them know about it you are covered?

This could be open to a persons interprataion rather than a cut and dry answer.

The safest option is to go with the same type of bulb that was fitted from factory.

No, see above.

What is the penalty for being fined with these?

Can the car be impounded?

It bloody well ought to be.

You'd be risking a prohibition!

DVTA Compliance: FAQs

6) I was issued with a prohibition notice at a recent roadside vehicle check what should I do?

A Vehicle Examiner issues a prohibition notice (Form V1/V2) when the severity of one or more defects discovered on a vehicle is considered to be a significant road safety concern. You must comply immediately with all specified conditions set out on the notice regarding continued use of your vehicle and the rectification of any stated defects.

That usually means at the roadside, Or having the vehicle recovered for the work to be carried out.

Then theres the inspection!

Police in MK are starting to check cars, one of my mates got stopped the other day.... i don't know for certain but he said to me the police man said you can have your car impunded as it is classed as unroadworthy, as it is he just got a £30 fine.

If you have projector lamps you will more or less get away with it as they stop the glare very well and most projector lamps are HIDs anyway.

Insurance payouts are also a strange subject. When I was side swiped on the motorway the other insurance company inspected my car, They went as far as taking the headlamps off to check for HID's. Insurance companys are using them as ways of voiding clains and policys.

Your policy will state that your car is within the law and roadworthy, by having HIDs fitted it is classed as unroadworthy and so is breaking the policy conditions.

Also on another note...... i have seen some fabia and ibizas where the onboard computer screens in the dials go blank when HIDs are installed without a relay harness. and to get a relay harness your looking at £30 or so and then soldering it together yourself

Edited 22 July, 200916 yr by phil_monk