How to Adjust Your Headlights

If you have ever cursed an oncoming driver because their lights were blinding you, or noticed that your lights tend to illuminate the tops of roadside trees instead of the road, there is a good chance that you are dealing with misaligned headlights.

Correct headlight alignment is extremely important for vehicle safety. Properly aligned headlights not only light up the road, they help illuminate road signs and any animals that might jump out onto the road. Driving with misaligned lights is dangerous, and they should be adjusted as soon as possible.

Luckily, adjusting your headlights is a pretty easy fix that most people can handle in their driveway or garage. However, newer vehicles that have halogen or high-intensity bulbs should be taken to a professional for proper alignment.

Part 1 of 3: Reasons headlights need to be adjusted

In most cases, headlights simply slip out of adjustment over time. In fact, most headlights will need to be adjusted every few years. Here are a couple of reasons your headlights may be pointed at the sky:

Reason 1: Too much weight. One of the most common reasons that headlights are not shining on the road or are blinding oncoming drivers is due to excess weight in the trunk or cargo area. This will push down the rear of the vehicle enough to tilt the front of it up, along with the light beams.

  • If you frequently haul large loads you may want to consider load-leveling air shocks, which will fix the issue. Costs will vary but expect to spend a few hundred for shocks and installation. These shocks automatically pump more fluid into the rear shocks in order to maintain ride height when the vehicle is weighed down.

Reason 2: Worn shocks. Much like hauling a heavy load, worn shocks can lead to headlights that are aimed too high. As shocks wear out they sag and if it is the rear shocks that are sagging, the front end of the car will be pointed higher than normal, throwing off the headlights. While adjusting the headlights will fix this problem, replacing the shocks is the better option.

Reason 3: Car was hit. If someone taps the front end of your car with their vehicle, it is possible the headlights will be knocked of alignment but there will not be any visible damage to your vehicle.

Part 2 of 3: Checking the alignment of your lights

It is fairly simple to check the alignment of your lights. All you need is a flat surface, a wall to project the lights on, a tape measure, a carpenter’s level, screwdriver and some tape. Here are step-by-step directions on how to verify your lights are aligned.

headlights shining evenly

Step 1: Prepare the car. In order to make sure the car is properly leveled when aligning the lights make sure all the tires are properly inflated, the vehicle has at least a half tank of fuel and there is someone sitting in the driver’s seat. This will ensure that the vehicle is leveled and is reflects common driving conditions when the measurements are taken.

headlights shining on wall

Step 2: Park the car. Find a flat level surface with a wall in front of it and park the vehicle about 10 to 25 feet from the wall or garage door with the lights aimed at the wall. This distance is optimal as it recreates common conditions out on the road. If you have a flat driveway, the garage door should work well, otherwise consider the ground floor of a parking ramp as it is usually flat, dark and has a wall.

Step 3: Level the car. Push down all four corners of the vehicle up and down a few times to settle the suspension and make sure the shocks are level.

measuring between front headlights

Step 4: Measure the lights. Use the tape measure to measure from a fixed point on each of the headlamps down to the ground. The measurements should be within a half inch of each other. This will verify the suspension is not sagging on either side, which would throw off the measurements.

measuring light on wall

Step 5: Turn on the headlights. Turn on the lights but do not use the fog lights or high beams. Use the tape to mark both the horizontal and vertical centerlines of the headlight beams.

marking light on wall with tape

Step 6: Measure the lines. The centerlines should not be any higher than 3.5 feet above the ground. Use the carpenter’s level to verify the centerlines from each headlight are even. If the lines are not even, lower the higher mark to the level of the lower one.

car parked 25 feet from wall

Step 7: Back up the car. The car should now be backed up so it is sitting exactly 25 feet from the wall. This should not be estimated, use the tape measure so the vehicle is exactly 25 feet away.

  • While 25 feet is standard for most vehicles, the specifications do vary by automaker so be sure to check your owner’s manual for details. Regardless of the recommended distance, accuracy is key so carefully measure the distance with a tape measure.

Part 3 of 3: Adjusting the lights

Now it’s time to make the adjustments to get your lights shining down on the road, where they belong.

headlight adjustment screws

Step 1: Find the adjustment screws. The first thing you need to do is locate the adjustment screws on your vehicle. In many cases, it will be necessary to remove the trim ring from the headlight. Most adjustment screws are located on the top and side of the light housing. They should be clearly marked.

  • If you cannot locate the screws, check your owner’s manual.

  • It should be noted that some manufacturers have located the adjustment screws in the engine compartment behind the headlight housing. It may be necessary to remove the battery or even the coolant reservoir to reach the screws. In some cases, it may pay to have a professional do the work.

Step 2: Adjust the headlights individually. If possible, having another person sitting in the driver’s seat that can turn the lights on and off will be a big help. The headlights should be adjusted one at a time. Put a rag or towel over a chair in front of the light you want to block. Covering the light assembly directly can damage the plastic lens - it can get too hot if fully blocked.

Step 3: Adjust the vertical field. The screw on the top of the light housing should be turned clockwise to raise the lights and counterclockwise will lower the light. The headlight should be adjusted until the top of the most intense part of the light beam shines directly on or just below the center of the tapeline on the wall.

  • It can be somewhat difficult to determine the middle of the most intense part of the beam but in general, there should be very little of the overall beam above the line.

  • The lights should be turned off while adjusting the screws and then turned back on to determine if the adjustment was successful or further adjustment is needed.

headlights screws

Step 4: Adjust the horizontal field. The screw on the side of the light housing should now be turned to get the right/left adjustment correct. Adjust the lens so that the most intense part of the beam is to the right of the vertical line.

Step 5: Check manufacturer guidelines. It is always a good idea to check the manufacturer’s guidelines when adjusting headlights, as there may be very precise specifications that should be followed. This is especially true with the brighter headlights on new vehicles.

Step 6: Test your results. It’s time to get the vehicle out on the road to make sure the headlights are adjusted properly. This step is important because if you have done the adjustment incorrectly the headlights could be further out of adjustment. Check them on dark road so you can properly judge the adjustment. If they are still not properly adjusted repeat these steps until they correct.

If you’re having a hard time getting your headlights properly adjusted, or are just uncomfortable doing this type of work on your vehicle, a certified mechanic from YourMechanic will be happy to come to your home or office to perform the adjustment.


Next Step

Schedule Headlight is not working Inspection

The most popular service booked by readers of this article is Headlight is not working Inspection. Once the problem has been diagnosed, you will be provided with an upfront quote for the recommended fix and receive $20.00 off as a credit towards the repair. YourMechanic’s technicians bring the dealership to you by performing this job at your home or office 7-days a week between 7AM-9PM. We currently cover over 2,000 cities and have 100k+ 5-star reviews... LEARN MORE

SEE PRICING & SCHEDULING

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Recent Headlight is not working Inspection reviews

Excellent Rating

(122)

Rating Summary
112
3
1
1
5
112
3
1
1
5

Matthew

34 years of experience
1438 reviews
Matthew
34 years of experience
Chevrolet Impala V6-3.5L - Headlight is not working - Norfolk, Virginia
Always professional and offers the best info when it comes to preventing further issues with the car. I would recommend him to anyone.
Chrysler Sebring - Headlight is not working - Norfolk, Virginia
Matthew absolutely exceeded my expectations! Not only did he find the problem, but he also fixed it too. He was able to get all services I ordered done in close to an hour. He is an exceptional mechanic and a master of his trade. I would absolutely book him again.

Attila

20 years of experience
1104 reviews
Attila
20 years of experience
Mercedes-Benz GL450 V8-4.6L - Headlight is not working - Roselle, New Jersey
He is very honest. He diagnosed what I thought was an issue that would have been costly. Instead it was an easy minor fix and didnt crush my pocket.
Nissan Altima - Headlight is not working - Irvington, New Jersey
My experience with Atilla was great he came and got the job done in a short amount of time. I am pleased and will definitely reccomend him to others and will surely book him in the future. ï–’

Michael

49 years of experience
124 reviews
Michael
49 years of experience
Chevrolet Malibu V6-3.5L - Headlight is not working - Memphis, Tennessee
Michael has helped me on multiple car issues and always knows exactly how to fix things. Grateful for his help!
Chevrolet Malibu - Headlight is not working - Memphis, Tennessee
Michael always does everything he can to solve any car issues. He is always very kind and efficient.

Rusty

24 years of experience
567 reviews
Rusty
24 years of experience
Hyundai Genesis V8-4.6L - Headlight is not working - Arlington, Texas
All work completed successfully and in a timely manner. Rusty was great to work with. The weather was cold and raining but Rusty worked in the garage and completed the work. Great job!! Thanks !!
Lincoln Town Car - Headlight is not working - Arlington, Texas
Rusty was awesome, he help me figure out what the problem was and informed me what I needed to do to get it fix. Very very knowledgeable. I will always use him from now on!!! Thanks

Need Help With Your Car?

Our certified mobile mechanics make house calls in over 2,000 U.S. cities. Fast, free online quotes for your car repair.

GET A QUOTE

Related articles

How to Clean Headlight Covers
Car headlight covers get dirty with time and use. Cleaning car headlight covers can make your headlights brighter and easier to see for safer driving.
How to Replace a Headlight That Has Burned Out
From From time to time, some parts on your car may need to be replaced, and that includes the bulbs in the headlights. While you may perform regular checkups and maintenance on your car’s engine, brakes and tires, you may...
How to Use Car Headlights
Headlights (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-a-vehicle-s-headlights-work) are not only an important safety component on your vehicle, but also a feature that you are legally obligated to use....

Related questions

Charging system issue - 1991 Mercury Capri
Hello. It sounds like you have a bad connection. If the alternator is fine, then the negative battery connections should be checked. It is common for negative ground connections to become loose or corroded which will cause this. If those...
ADJUST SIDE TO SIDE & UP AND DOWN HEADLIGHTS GRAND MARQUIS WHICH SCREWS FOR EACH
Hi, thanks for your question about how to adjust your headlight screws. The top inside vertical screw will adjust the up and down for you. The lower inside horizontal screw adjusts the light to the left or right.
As soon as I start up the car and I press the brake I hear a beep sound and my right low beam headlight goes out.
The chime that you are hearing is for a brake light or a headlight that is burned out or shutting off. The brake system could have a problem and shorting out with the headlight circuit and the right headlight could...

How can we help?

Our service team is available 7 days a week, Monday - Friday from 6 AM to 5 PM PST, Saturday - Sunday 7 AM - 4 PM PST.

1 (844) 997-3624 · hi@yourmechanic.com