How to Replace Porsche Tail Lights

If your Porsche tail lights stop working, you can repair them at home with a couple tools and our handy guide.
Written by Jessie Devine
Reviewed by Melanie Reiff
background
If one of your Porsche tail lights is out, you can most likely solve the problem at home in a few minutes without spending a lot of money. Replacing a burned-out bulb is the simplest and cheapest solution, but even if you have to replace the entire casing, you can save money by doing it yourself.
Having a tail light out is not only a hazard, it’s also a pain in the butt that can lead to a ticket. Instead of taking your Porsche to a specialized mechanic and paying big bucks for a simple repair, you can do your Porsche tail light replacement at home.
No matter what Porsche you have,
car insurance
shopping app
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can help you get your tail light fixed in a jiffy so you can get back to cruising. We'll even break down how to save on your
Porsche car insurance cost
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How to replace a Porsche tail light

Cost: $10-$20
Time: 10 to 30 minutes
Tools needed: Goggles, safety gloves, screwdriver, wrench, replacement parts (like bulbs)
Difficulty: Easy
Before you start working on your Porsche tail light replacement, you need to figure out why the tail light is not working. A burnt-out bulb is the most prevalent reason for Porsche tail light failure. Fortunately, this is also the cheapest and simplest of the various issues to resolve.
However, if neither tail light is working, or if your turn signals and running lights are also affected, there may be a problem with a fuse, your Porsche’s wiring, or the control switch. If you can't figure out what's causing the problem, you'll need to take your car to a mechanic.
This guide will concentrate on the most common cause of Porsche tail light failure—a faulty bulb. To begin, look up the bulb's replacement part number.
Keep in mind that even simple items like light bulbs differ from car to car. A
Porsche Cayenne
tail light bulb will be different from a
Porsche Cayman
. Your Porsche’s
trim level
can also change which part you need, so do a little research to make sure you’re buying the right one.
Once you have your bulb, you can start your Porsche tail light replacement. The exact procedure will vary based on your model, but you can use these basic steps as a guide:
  • Disconnect the battery. You risk getting shocked if you don’t.
  • Pop the trunk and move to the affected side.
  • Use a screwdriver to pop the tabs from the trunk liner.
  • Remove any bolts that are revealed.
  • Pull your Porsche tail light straight out.
  • Disconnect the connector by pinching the side tabs and pulling.
  • Use a screwdriver to remove the tabs on the back of the tail light assembly.
  • Pull out the bulb.
  • Wearing gloves to avoid smudging, install the new bulb.
  • Reinstall all parts in reverse order.
Key Takeaway If your Porsche tail lights are broken, you can replace the bulb at home in just a couple of minutes.

Commons reasons for Porsche tail light malfunctions

Porsche tail lights stop working for a variety of reasons, and you’ll sometimes know exactly what it is. If you were in a collision that damaged the light or had a run-in with a deer, the cause could be obvious. But if you’re not sure why your Porsche tail light is out, check out these potential causes.
  • Dead bulb: Tail light bulbs feature sensitive filaments that burn out quickly. This is most likely the cause if you only have one light out.
  • Faulty wiring or fuses: If swapping the bulb does not help, a wiring or fuse issue may be at blame.
  • Damaged socket: If exposed to moisture, tail light sockets may corrode. When changing the bulb, look for discoloration and buildup.
  • Broken control switch: If it isn't one of the reasons listed above, a defective control switch could be at fault. If you're not sure, bring your car to a mechanic.

Does car insurance cover broken tail lights? 

You can probably get your insurance to cover your Porsche tail lights, but unless the switch is part of a larger, more pricy repair, going through insurance may not be worth it.
Repairs are covered by car insurance
if the damage was caused by something covered by your policy. If you have
collision coverage
, for example, your policy should cover broken tail lights caused by an accident. If your broken tail light is the result of vandalism or a natural disaster, you’ll be covered if you have
comprehensive insurance coverage
.
So if you have coverage, why shouldn’t you use it? Because, in order for insurance to cover you, your whole deductible must first be paid. Because the average
car insurance deductible
is $500, and even in a specialist shop, a basic tail light replacement costs around $120, your insurance will not cover the expense. 
You'll have to pay out of pocket nonetheless, and if you file a claim, your insurance premiums may soar!

How to find affordable Porsche insurance

Porsche drivers pay about $2,839 per year for car insurance. With Jerry, you can be saving around $887! How? By comparison shopping with Jerry.
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“Because I have a luxury car, I was more interested in finding better coverage than the exact price.
Jerry
helped me upgrade my policy, and when my record is cleared next year, I will be using Jerry again to choose an even cheaper plan!” —Paige W.
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FAQs

Repairing luxury cars is typically expensive, but switching out a tail light bulb on your own—even Porsche tail lights—only costs around ten bucks. If you decide to go to the shop, it will run you around $120.
Absolutely! You can replace your Porsche tail lights in just a few minutes even if you’re unfamiliar with car repair and don’t have any specialized tools.
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