LED Headlights - Change in MOT rules

[bbh]

Stolen from another forum where this was posted by an MOT tester

The upgrading of existing halogen headlamps with HID bulbs has been a MOT fail for a few years now. However upgrading with LED bulbs was OK. Not anymore! From 11/01/2021 the MOT rules have been updated to make the fitment of LED bulbs ( in existing halogen units) a fail.

I attach the new rule for clarity.

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.'


This does beg the question though that if your car is equipped with pre halogen headlamps and you convert to LED's, is that OK.   Might depend upon how the old optics scatter the light, if the focus / origin point is different?

[Admin]

I think it also depends on the MOT tester.

[bbh]

Looks like this has been reversed for "classics"

[Admin]

If you don't need an MOT how can they check?