Question: I was hoping to take my car somewhere quick and easy to replace my headlights. Does Walmart change headlights?
Answer: Not only is driving with a burned-out headlight illegal, but it can create dangerously low visibility when you’re driving in the dark. To keep you driving safely, Walmart Auto Care Center offers headlight bulb changes, headlight restorations, and more.
Walmart headlight installation
If you need your headlight bulbs changed, a technician at a nearby Walmart Auto Care Center will install them in your vehicle for $10.00 per light. This does not include the price of new headlight bulbs, which typically cost between $15 and $25 each at Walmart depending on the type of light you need. This should bring the total cost of your headlight replacement to about $25–$35 per light.
Note: If your entire headlight assembly needs to be replaced, you’ll likely need to take your vehicle to a repair shop rather than a Walmart Auto Care Center.
Here are a few other national brands where you can get your headlight bulb replaced. With the exception of O’Reilly’s, most of these locations can also inspect your headlight housing and electrical system, making them a good choice if you need more than a simple bulb swap.
- O’Reilly Auto Parts: Free with purchase of bulbs (not all vehicles will qualify)
- Firestone: Cost may vary by vehicle
- Valvoline: Cost may vary by location and vehicle
- Jiffy Lube: Cost may vary by location and vehicle
- Pep Boys: Starting at $20
- NAPA Auto Parts: Up to $300 if the entire assembly must be replaced
Walmart miniature bulb installation
If one of your auxiliary lights go out, like your back-up lights or the headlamp in your vehicle’s cabin, the techs at your local Walmart Auto Care Center will also change those. The cost of this service is $7.50 per light. Expect to pay around $5–10 extra for a pack of miniature bulbs—they typically come in a pack of two.
Walmart headlight restoration
If your headlights are still working but they seem dimmer than usual, you might not need to change the bulbs—you may need a headlight restoration.
Oxidation and small scratches can make your headlight lenses look cloudy or yellow, decreasing the effectiveness of your lights. During a headlight restoration, a tech will buff the headlight lens until it’s clear again, improving your visibility on the road.
Headlight restorations cost $26.88 at a Walmart Auto Care Center. If you’d prefer to do the work yourself, you can buy a headlight restoration kit starting at around $10 at Walmart—but considering higher-end kits can easily cost $20–$25, the professional headlight restoration service at Walmart is a pretty good bargain.
Bottom line: If you need to swap out a headlight bulb or miniature bulb, or you just want to have your headlight lenses restored, Walmart Auto Care Center is a budget-friendly option. But if you’ll need more extensive work done to your headlights, visit an automotive repair shop instead.
Expert insurance writer and editor Amy Bobinger specializes in car repair, car maintenance, and car insurance. Amy is passionate about creating content that helps consumers navigate challenges related to car ownership and achieve financial success in areas relating to cars. Amy has over 10 years of writing and editing experience. After several years as a freelance writer, Amy spent four years as an editing fellow at WikiHow, where she co-authored over 600 articles on topics including car maintenance and home ownership. Since joining Jerry’s editorial team in 2022, Amy has edited over 2,500 articles on car insurance, state driving laws, and car repair and maintenance.
Kevin Berry is the Senior Director of Content at Jerry and has been working in the digital content space since 2011 across the car insurance/repair, personal finance, travel and sports industries. Prior to Jerry, Kevin was a content team lead at NerdWallet overseeing the Multimedia Production and Travel Rewards teams. Previously, he worked for NBC Sports, Comcast Cable and Nike. He has a Master`s Degree from Arkansas State and a Bachelor`s from Oregon State University.
