How Much Does It Cost To Fix a Tail Light?
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Your tail light is something that you can’t see that has high importance. They don’t serve you directly and act as a warning sign for others approaching you. Each time that you slow down, come to a stop or even tap the break, your lights are there to tell drivers behind you to slow down. If you have a tail light out, you need to fix it as soon as possible, keeping yourself out of harm’s way.
Apart from looking at how your tail lights work and how to replace them, below, we’ll break down how much it costs to fix a tail light and share a few things that you can keep an eye out for to tell if it’s time to replace yours. Keep yourself and other drivers safe by keeping your tail lights in tip-top shape.
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How Your Tail Light Works
Your taillights are covered by a durable material that could make it difficult to see if your lights are getting dull or giving out. These lights are housed near a lens that helps them reflect, giving them the bright red color that we see when we stop or slow down.
The plastic material is most often polycarbonate, sealed tightly to keep moisture out. Though the seal is tight, your lights are not indestructible and could break, scratch, or tear if you have a collision or some other type of accident.
Signs Your Tail Light Needs to be Replaced
Because you need to replace your tail light fast, you need to constantly keep a close eye to make sure they are safe. The more aware that you are of the signs and symptoms, the safer you will be, knowing that your lights are always working properly. Before you take off and drive, check for:
- A cloudy appearance that seems to cover your light
- A crack or break in the plastic covering over your light
- Signs of moisture within your tail lights
Why You Need to Replace your Tail Lights
We mentioned the risk that a broken headlight comes with above. While it mostly has to do with other drivers, you should still replace your tail lights when they are out for more reasons than one. Check them often and, if you see any signs of wear and tear, replace them as soon as you can to avoid costs and damage.
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1. You’re at risk of getting stopped by the police
If a cop sees that you have a faulty tail light, they will normally pull you over. Often, it serves as a warning, but if you’re a repeat offender, you could be looking at a hefty fine for driving unsafely. Any time, day or night, you will need to have tail lights that work well when you stop, slow down, or turn.
2. They prevent accidents
When a car is coming behind you, the flashing of your tail lights is a way for them to gauge whether you’re slowing down. This helps them decide whether to slow down too or keep coming up at their current speed. Your taillights are beneficial if you ever have to slam on your breaks, warning the person in from of you to slow down too.
3. They show your next move
Apart from slowing down, your tail lights are responsible for lighting up when you need to switch lanes or make a complete turn in either direction. In this way, you won’t be cutting others off and swerving in and out of traffic without a fair heads up of your next move.
How Much Does It Cost to Fix a Tail Light?
So, how much does it cost to fix a tail light? Well, the price for your particular vehicle depends on a few things. First of all, different vehicles have different lights; some LED while others are just regular bulbs. Check your owner’s manual before you purchase anything to see what kind your car uses.
On top of the lights, the price you can expect to pay also depends on the damage. A crack in your tail light could be more expensive to repair than just your light bulbs, as you’ll have to replace the entire covering. Lastly, the cost is affected by your location, with some areas coming with a higher average cost than others.
You could be looking at anywhere from $100 to $800 to fix your tail lights on average. The variation in cost comes from the fact that you may need to buy parts and you’ll probably need to pay for labor, two things that can add up when trying to repair parts on your car.
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Replacing your Tail Lights: How To
The plastic covering that goes over your tail light is screwed on with a few nuts and bolts. So, to access the lights and get to the bottom of the issue, your technician will likely need to unscrew the pieces and remove the plastic. Then, it’s as simple as:
- Finding the wiring
- Follow until you get to the lens
- Replace lights and put everything back together
Keep Yourself and Others Safe on the Road
Taillights are one of those parts of your car that are important. Though you can’t see them, they give others around you an indication of what you’re doing on the road, including slowing down, turning, and switching lanes.
If your tail lights don’t work properly, you’re looking at a long list of issues, including costs to fix them and fines if you get pulled over. Driving with faulty tail lights is a hazard and something that you are responsible for as your car’s driver.
When it comes to driving safely, your taillights are there for many reasons, mostly giving off a warning to many of those around you. If you see signs that your tail lights are dimming or not working at all, take a look at what’s causing the problem and chat with your nearest technician.
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