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How bad is the ticket if you have a headlight out?
I have a headlight out, but I have to drive to work tonight. What’s the ticket for having a headlight out?
Matt Terzi · Updated on
Reviewed by Shannon Martin, Licensed Insurance Agent.
We’re sorry to hear you have a headlight out. And yes, you can definitely get a ticket for driving with a headlight out. Besides that, it’s incredibly unsafe to drive with just one headlight. We strongly recommend seeing if you can get a ride from a coworker instead.
Each state has its own recommended or required fines for driving with one headlight or no headlights, and most states will ticket you for using your high beams when they can blind other drivers, too.
Tickets for blown headlights can cost anywhere from $10 to hundreds of dollars. It all depends on where you are when you’re pulled over and the conditions when you’re stopped.
It might seem safe to drive with just one headlight, but it isn’t. Your visibility is reduced and if something or someone darts out at you from the wrong angle, the results can be catastrophic. If your car has a blown headlight, don’t drive it until you can get it fixed.
It might be surprising to learn that you can be pulled over for driving with a blown headlight in broad daylight, too. If you’re driving with your headlights on during the day and an officer sees a headlight out, they can stop you and let you know you need to get it fixed.
You’ll usually spend between $100 and $150 to have a mechanic replace a headlight bulb for you. These repairs can cost more for some makes and models but it’s usually a fairly cheap repair. Some headlights will last 1,000 hours, and others can last well over 30,000, so this shouldn’t be a repair you end up doing constantly.
Know what else is illegal? Driving without
liability insurance
, in most states anyway. And most auto lenders require full coverage until your car loan is paid off, too. That’s why you should download Jerry
, America’s #1 top-rated car insurance
app!Jerry can find you cheap car insurance with great coverage in a matter of minutes. Download the app today and see how much money you can save!
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- Gregory R.
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Jerry partners with more than 50 insurance companies, but our content is independently researched, written, and fact-checked by our team of editors and agents. We aren’t paid for reviews or other content.
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