Back in the ‘80s, projector headlights were only available in select luxury vehicles. Now, they are in all the new cars, illuminating dark roads everywhere.

A major advantage of projector headlights is that, despite being brighter than the older reflector headlights, they actually blind oncoming drivers less.

According to

Lifewire

, each projector headlight comes with a bulb, reflector, shutter, and lens.

The reflector focuses the bulb light to the shutter, which is where the magic happens. The shutter creates a sharp cutoff line between light and dark where the light beam shines. This effectively aims light at only the road, preventing it from blinding other drivers.

Finally, the lens works to evenly distribute the light beam. Some brands of lenses can soften the harsh cutoff line.

While all projector headlights have the same basic design, what differentiates them is the type of bulbs they use.

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Pros and cons of the different headlight bulbs

Halogen projector headlights

These were the first kind of projector headlight bulb to be introduced. They have a tungsten filament inside them, which is where the light comes from.

Older halogen headlights tend to create much sharper cutoffs. They are brighter than reflector lights and create a golden hue of light.

HID (high intensity discharge) headlights

These headlights emit a bright white, bluish glow. There are popular xenon HID lights, as the bulbs contain xenon gases to amplify the lights into a bright white, bluish glow. They’re two or three times brighter than halogen bulbs.

HID headlights began to be used in the ‘90s. Because they need a lot of power to start up, a ballast is required to regulate the current. That’s why you may see bulky boxes behind HID lights of a vehicle.

Matrix/Multibeam/Intelligent Lights

These are advanced smart lights that do all the dipping and dimming of high beams for the driver automatically.

LEDs in the smart headlights scan and analyze what’s before them. When cars, people, and road signs are scanned, the LED headlights automatically adjust their light beams so no one is blinded.

Factors such as the style and color of light you prefer might affect which type of bulb is best for you.

Longevity comparison

	Average lifespan of bulb
Halogen	500 to 1,000 hours
Xenon	10,000 hours
HID	2,000 hours
LED	30,000 hours

Halogen headlights have the worst longevity because when their tungsten filaments emit light, it’s very hot and causes filament material to drip inside the bulb, reducing its operational lifespan.

Based on the typical performance of headlights, LED headlights are the overall best choice. They have the best longevity, bright lights, and provide the most safety and features.

As with all car parts, headlights can get damaged and require repairs. They might sometimes also come with product defects, which can affect the headlights’ lifespan as well.

How to save money on car headlights repairs

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Depending on the type of insurance you have, your repairs may or may not be fully covered. Comprehensive insurance would be your best bet; however, if the headlights need repair from general wear and tear insurance will not cover the cost.

You can save a lot of money by finding the most affordable insurance for your car. But as with all kinds of insurance, auto insurance can be difficult to navigate.

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