The cost to replace a GMC tail light can vary considerably depending on what kind of vehicle you drive and the part(s) needed, but it generally falls somewhere between $70 and $400 per tail light assembly. If you’re looking to save some money on replacement, this is a repair that many car owners can take care of themselves.

Whether you drive a 2005

GMC Yukon

or a 2016

GMC Terrain

, your GMC’s tail lights help other drivers see your vehicle while you’re on the road, especially in low-visibility conditions. When your tail lights aren’t working, your risk of getting into an accident can substantially increases, so it’s essential to fix the problem as soon as possible.

That’s why the

car insurance

comparison and broker app

Jerry

has put together this guide to walk you through replacing your GMC’s tail lights. Read on to learn about common causes of broken tail lights, steps you can take to fix them, whether insurance covers them, as well as how to save on your

GMC insurance costs

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How to replace a GMC tail light

Cost: $70 to $400

Time: 10 to 30 minutes

Tools needed: Safety glasses, gloves, screwdriver, replacement part(s)

Difficulty: Easy

First, locate the problem

Replacing a GMC tail light bulb or tail light assembly is a relatively straightforward job that many drivers can tackle themselves.

Before getting started, though, it helps to have a sense of what exactly the problem is with your tail light, which might require some troubleshooting.

Is just one bulb not illuminating, or has the whole tail light assembly gone dark?

Is the problem with one tail light, or both?

Did you back into something and shatter the assembly’s lens?

Is the problem only with your tail lights, or are the brake lights also not working?

If you realize both tail light assemblies don’t work, the culprit could be a bad fuse. If the problem is isolated to just one light and your brake lights still work, you might just need to replace a burned-out bulb.

If you’re not sure what the problem with your tail light is, or if you’re hesitant to replace it yourself, you always have the option of bringing your GMC to a mechanic.

MORE:

How to decide if you should take your car to a repair shop or a mobile mechanic

Replacing a GMC tail light

If you’ve figured out where the problem is and you just need to replace a bulb or the tail light assembly, refer to your owner’s manual to find the correct replacement part based on your GMC’s year, model, trim level, and engine type.

Then, gather your gear and replacement part(s) and get ready to make your repair. Here are the general steps involved when replacing a GMC tail light:

Disconnect the battery: Always start with the negative cable. Since you’ll be working with electrical components, disconnect your GMC’s battery as a safety precaution.

Remove the tail light assembly and open the liftgate

Remove the fasteners and bolts holding the assembly in place. On a 2010 or newer GMC Terrain, as you remove the tail light assembly, you’ll want to carefully pull it off straight toward the back of the vehicle so you don’t bend or break the pins that are holding it in place. The GMC Terrain also has additional lights on the liftgate itself.

Remove the bulb socket. Rotate it slightly left or counterclockwise. Be careful not to damage the socket wires while you’re pulling it out.

Replace the bad bulb with a new one. You’ll simply pull out the old bulb and push in the new one. Then replace the socket and assembly in reverse order.

If the problem was just one bad bulb and this fixes it, you’re done! But if the problem is the entire tail light assembly, you’ll have a little more work to do.

Removing a GMC Terrain’s liftgate tail light can be just slightly trickier because of the awkward position. You’ll still push the unlocking tab and disconnect the wire harness and unscrew the bolts holding in the tail light assembly. Once all the bolts are removed, you should be able to pull off the tail light assembly from the exterior side.

On the 2015-2020 GMC Yukon, there’s just one bulb in the assembly, and the rest is powered by LED lights. If the LED lights are the problem, you’ll probably have to replace the entire tail light assembly.

To remove the old assembly:

Push the unlocking tab

Disconnect the wire harness

Replace it with the new one.

Pro Tip Handling replacement tail light bulbs with gloves or a microfiber cloth can help prevent smudging the bulb with oil or fingerprints.

MORE:

Does car insurance cover busted headlights and tail lights?

Common reasons for GMC tail light malfunctions

If you’re not sure what caused your GMC’s tail light to stop working, these are some of the most common culprits:

Burned-out bulb: If you notice the problem is only with one bulb, it’s likely it’s just burned out and needs to be replaced.

Faulty fuse, control switch, or wiring: If the problem doesn’t resolve when replacing your bulb or tail light assembly, you might have a more complex issue with a fuse, control switch, or wiring.

Damaged socket: Exposure to moisture can cause your bulb sockets to rust or get corroded, so look for signs of this before inserting your new bulb.

MORE:

Car loan for GMC 2022

Does car insurance cover broken tail lights?

Depending on the cause and your level of coverage, your car insurance might cover a repair for your GMC’s broken tail light—but that doesn’t mean it’s worth it to file a claim.

Collision insurance

covers repairs when a collision occurs, whether it’s with another car or a stationary object.

Comprehensive insurance

would assist with

car repair

costs for events like natural disasters or damage caused by vandalism. If the cause of a bad tail light is simply age or wear and tear, it’s unlikely to warrant coverage from a standard insurance policy.

Even if your car insurance coverage applies, you’ll probably have to pay your deductible before you’d see coverage for a repair. Common deductible amounts are $500 and $1,000.

The cost to replace a GMC vehicle’s tail light can vary. Just one replacement bulb could cost around $20 or less. A single GMC Terrain tail light assembly can cost upwards of $70, while a GMC Yukon’s tail light assembly can cost nearly $400. If you’re having a mechanic take care of the replacement for you, you should expect to add about $100 for labor.

Even if you reach your deductible, there may not be much on your bill left for your insurance to cover anyway, and you could find yourself with a higher insurance rate after the fact.

MORE:

When should you not make a car insurance claim?

How to find affordable GMC insurance

The average cost to insure a new 2022 GMC is about $3,587 per year—that’s a pretty hefty price tag! Luckily, the

Jerry

app can help make finding the best car insurance rate for your GMC quicker and easier than ever.

All you have to do is download the app, enter your information, and in an instant, Jerry will show you competitive car insurance quotes from top providers so you can find the right amount of coverage for you at the right price.

Jerry users enjoy an average savings of $887 per year on car insurance alone, and you can even get a home and auto insurance bundle to save money.

How much could you save on your car insurance policy? It takes less than a minute to get started and find out!

“I felt like I was paying too much for my insurance policy, so I downloaded
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. I literally only typed in 3 pieces of info and Jerry found my current insurance. In a few minutes, they pulled up 2 Progressive policies that showed $900 in savings over 6 months!” —Maeve J.

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FAQs

How much does it cost to replace a GMC tail light?

How much it costs to replace a GMC tail light depends on the extent of the problem and what vehicle you drive. Replacing a single bulb could cost you $20 or less to replace by yourself. If you need to replace an entire tail light assembly, costs can vary, but you could be looking at a range between $70 and $400 to replace it yourself. If you’re having a mechanic replace it for you, you’ll also want to consider the cost of labor.

Can you replace tail lights yourself?

Replacing a GMC tail light bulb or assembly is one of the most straightforward repairs you can make to your vehicle, and it’s a task many car owners can take care of themselves. It does, however, involve working with electrical components, so it’s a good idea to understand best safety practices before getting started.

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