one of the best headlight restoration kits GearJunkie |

How We Tested Headlight Restoration Kits

Our esteemed GearJunkie tester and Buyers Guide author, Derek Mau, led the curation and field testing for this guide. A regular work day for Mau involves testing almost anything with four tires and a steering wheel. He obsessively researches and shops for the best deal. Of course, he shares his findings through detailed and informative writing and reviews of all things automotive for GearJunkie.

This busy guy knows something about detailing, specifically the chemicals used to make a car look pretty and how to use them to their fullest potential.

In this buyer’s guide, we chose headlight restoration kits that require varying degrees of effort. We tested each kit on older cars, trucks, and SUVs with heavily oxidized headlight lenses. We’ve used a couple of kits in the past and have general knowledge of how long the coating will last. Others, where noted, were our first experience using them.

Our choices were based on the final results, as well as the number of steps and effort required to achieve the best clarity. We also considered the price and the frequency of touchups that are needed after the initial restoration. 

Buyers Guide: How to Choose the Best Headlight Restoration Kit

Every automobile owner should care about having clear headlights. With yellow, scratched, dull, or old headlights, a driver’s nighttime visibility is diminished. Driving can become unsafe for yourself and others on the road. With a headlight restoration kit, you can make your headlights shine like new again.

Finding the best headlight restoration might be exhausting, but cleaning your headlights should be straightforward. Fortunately, we tested several kits so you can cut to the chase and pick the best product for your needs.

With a little bit of effort, one of our suggested kits will get your headlights back in like-new condition lickity-split. Invest in one of these headlight restoration kits, and you can’t go wrong.

With so many kits available, how do you pick the right headlight restoration kit for you? When choosing the right headlight restoration kit, consider a few key factors that we’ve outlined below.

Effectiveness of a Headlight Restoration Kit

Look for kits that have proven effective in restoring clarity to headlights. Check professional and customer reviews and ratings to gauge the kit’s performance. You want to select a kit that can handle the level of oxidation and haziness you’re trying to resolve.

Ease of Use

Opt for a headlight restoration kit that is easy to use and comes with clear instructions.

Kits with simple steps and minimal tools tend to be more user-friendly. If manually sanding and polishing isn’t your cup of tea, look for kits that are set up for use with a hand drill.

Included Materials

Ensure the headlight restoration kit includes all necessary materials, such as sandpaper, polishing compound, and sealant.

Some kits may also include drill attachments, masking tape, and protective gloves for convenience. The 3M Ultra Headlight Restoration Kit is one example that includes everything you need except for a powered drill. You’ll also need a block of time.

Longevity

Consider how long the results are expected to last. Some kits offer a sealant that provides long-lasting protection against future oxidation, while others may require more frequent maintenance.

Sometimes, the warranty gives an indication of the product’s longevity, especially if the instructions don’t mention how often touch-ups should occur. For example, Meguiar’s Two Step Headlight Restoration Kit has a warranty limited to product defects. It yields excellent results but requires periodic touch-ups to maintain lens clarity.

Brand Reputation

Choose a kit from a reputable brand known for producing quality automotive care products. Brands with a history of customer satisfaction and positive reviews are generally more reliable. Mothers, Meguiar’s, and 3M all produce outstanding products that are well-regarded by professional detailers. 

Considering these factors, you can select a headlight restoration kit that meets your needs and restores your headlights to like-new condition.

UV Blocker

It’s no coincidence that our top choices happen to include a UV blocker mixed in the polishing compound or sealant. To this point, the headlight restoration kits from 3M, Cerakote, Mothers, and SYLVANIA all contain a UV blocker of some type. Undeniably, UV-blocking agents in automotive care products offer several advantages.

Protection Against UV Damage

UV rays from the sun can cause fading, discoloration, and deterioration of automotive surfaces such as paint, plastics, and rubber. UV blocking agents help protect these surfaces from UV-induced damage, prolonging their lifespan and maintaining their appearance.

Preservation of Interior

UV rays can also damage the interior of a vehicle, causing fading and cracking of dashboard materials, leather seats, and other surfaces. UV blocking agents in products like interior cleaners and protectants help prevent this damage, keeping the interior looking newer for longer.

Maintained Value

UV blocking agents can help maintain a vehicle’s resale value by protecting its exterior and interior from UV damage.

When it comes time to sell or trade in the car, a well-maintained vehicle with minimal sun damage typically commands a higher resale value. Prospective buyers or dealers are often willing to pay more for a car that has a documented history of regular maintenance and minimal cosmetic faults, as it implies that the vehicle has been cared for and is less likely to have hidden issues.

Enhanced Aesthetics

Regular washing, waxing, and detailing keep the car’s exterior looking clean and well-maintained. UV blocking agents in automotive care products can help preserve the original color and finish, ensuring that your vehicle looks its best between cleanings. Subsequently, they can prevent paint damage, rust, and corrosion, which can detract from the car’s appearance and decrease its value.

Reduced Maintenance

UV blocking agents protect against UV damage and can reduce the need for frequent detailing or repairs, saving you time and money in the long run.

Common to the SYLVANIA Headlight Restoration and Cerakote Ceramic Headlight Restoration kits is a UV blocker. Both will maintain lens clarity after restoration without a need for future cleanings. They also offer a warranty that lasts for the life of the car.

Overall, a UV-blocking agent not only ensures a vehicle’s safety and appearance but also helps preserve its value over time. It’s wise to look for headlight restoration and automotive care products that have a UV-blocking agent, for both present enjoyment and future resale or trade-in.

Also, check out our top recommendations for the best car detailing kit to make your ride truly shine. 

Why You Should Restore Your Car’s Headlights

Aside from taking care of those unsightly headlight lenses, there are several practical reasons for cleaning up the years of oxidation buildup.

Whether you take on the job yourself or hire a professional, consider the following reasons why it’s a good idea to restore the original clarity to those hazy headlights.

Improved Safety and Visibility

Headlights are essential to your safety on the road. If you can’t see the road in front of you, you can’t drive safely. Furthermore, if other drivers can’t see you, then they are in danger as well. Hazy, foggy, or scratched headlights can make driving at night more difficult and dangerous. With clean headlights and an upgraded LED headlight bulb, you can drive confidently at night.

Save Some Money

If you need to replace your car’s headlights in the future, you may end up having to shell out some serious dough. A high-quality restoration kit, such as the SYLVANIA Headlight Restoration Kit, sells for $25, which is pocket change by comparison. As with any aspect of your automobile, doing preventative work is far better than paying for costly repairs or replacements.

Resale Value

If you’ve considered selling or trading in your car in the future, you know it must be in optimal shape to get top dollar. Showing up with dirty, yellowing headlights isn’t going to help you seal the deal.

Restoring your headlight lenses can improve the overall appearance, making it look well-maintained. The Mothers NuLens Headlight Renewal Kit has a plastic polish that does an excellent job of removing layers of oxidation and restoring lens clarity to seemingly new condition. And it has enough materials to do touchups or more than one set of lenses.

Environmental Impact

By restoring your headlights to like-new condition instead of replacing them, you reduce the amount of waste going to landfills.

Headlight housings are typically made of polycarbonate materials that can take hundreds of years to decompose in landfills. After disposal, there’s also the danger of those microplastics getting into our food and water ecosystems. Subsequently, you reduce the demand for new headlights and the associated manufacturing processes, which are resource-intensive and a source of greenhouse emissions.

The disposal of toxic chemicals associated with the manufacture of new headlights also adds to the environmental impact. For all intents and purposes, choosing to restore headlights instead of replacing them contributes to a more sustainable approach to vehicle maintenance and helps reduce one’s ecological footprint.

Price

Refer to the comparison chart to compare the prices of different kits for your budget and vehicle. Consider the value each kit offers in terms of effectiveness, ease of use, materials provided, and longevity.

One of the best values we found was the Rain-X Headlight Restoration Kit. It has all the necessary materials to restore a set of headlight lenses and did an admirable job restoring clarity for the low cost of $20.

FAQ

Commercial headlight restoration kits are intended for car owners who want to restore the lenses’ original clarity.

These headlight renewal kits improve visibility while driving and enhance a vehicle’s tired appearance. They are typically sold in auto parts stores and in the automotive section of big box department stores. You can also buy them online.

Commercial headlight restoration kits are intended for car owners who want to restore the lenses’ original clarity.

A headlight renewal kit will remove years of oxidation, yellowing, and haziness on the lens, which is caused by years of exposure to the elements, road hazards, and the sun’s damaging UV rays.

A complete headlight restoration kit includes a polishing pad, sandpaper, polishing agent or oxidation remover, and a sealant. Some kits also include a drill attachment accessory for the sanding or polishing discs, masking tape, and plastic gloves. 

Though you may have heard of people using various other options to clean their hazy headlights (including sandpaper, toothpaste, vinegar, polish, and insect repellent), we recommend buying a dedicated headlight restoration kit.

There are many affordable options. These kits will ensure you get the best results without further damaging your headlights.

As the polycarbonate lens on your headlights ages, it is inevitable that they will start to yellow due to oxidation and exposure to UV rays.

Thankfully, some headlight restoration products include UV blocking agents to help protect these surfaces from UV-induced damage. Those agents prolong the lifespan of headlights and maintain their appearance.

Headlights can also become discolored, faded, and deteriorated from exposure to various chemicals that your car may encounter at home and on the road.

Absolutely! Headlight restoration kits from major brands (including Meguiar’s, Mothers, Sylvania, Cerakote, and 3M) will remove layers of oxidation and restore lens clarity. Light output at night is tremendously improved, along with elevating the look of your vehicle.

Yes, but it isn’t common. Ensure your headlights and turn signals are in good working condition as part of your regular maintenance routine, and you should not have to worry about failing an inspection.

The honest answer is it all depends on your vehicle and its environment.

If you frequently drive on heavily salted roads or your car sits outside in the elements, you’ll probably find yourself doing it more often. Parking outside and daily exposure to the sun’s damaging UV rays will increase the rate of oxidation and yellowing of the lenses.

The honest answer is it all depends on your vehicle and its environment.

If you frequently drive on heavily salted roads or your car sits outside in the elements, you’ll probably find yourself doing it more often. Parking outside and daily exposure to the sun’s damaging UV rays will increase the rate of oxidation and yellowing of the lenses.

If you aren’t subjecting your vehicle to anything beyond mild conditions, you may get away with using a headlight restoration kit once a year (or less) for maintenance.

Follow the instructions for whatever kit you purchase. Three basic steps for restoring headlight clarity include the following:

1. Removing oxidation from the lens using chemicals or physical sanding
2. Polishing the lens. That includes using a polishing compound specifically formulated for polycarbonate headlight lens or a final sanding step using P3000 grit sandpaper
3. Apply a UV coating and sealant to protect the lens