Headlight Restoration Service in Brighton
Yellowed, foggy headlights are one of the most common and noticeable signs of an ageing vehicle. Car Detailing in Brighton offers professional headlight restoration at Brighton Marina — restoring clarity, improving night visibility, and potentially saving your MOT.
From £40
What Is Headlight Restoration Brighton?
Polycarbonate headlight lenses, used on the majority of vehicles manufactured since the 1990s, degrade over time through UV oxidation. The clear protective coating on the lens surface breaks down under UV exposure, allowing the underlying polycarbonate to oxidise — turning yellow, hazy, or opaque. This degradation is purely cosmetic at first, but as it progresses it significantly reduces the output of your headlights, creating a genuine road safety issue. Severely oxidised headlights can also cause an MOT failure on illumination grounds. Our headlight restoration process uses multi-stage wet sanding with progressively finer abrasive papers to remove the oxidised outer layer, followed by machine polishing to restore optical clarity and gloss. A UV-stable sealant is then applied to the restored lens surface to protect against further oxidation. The result is a lens that looks like new and performs significantly better at night. Restoration costs a fraction of headlight replacement — typically £40–£80 per pair versus £200–£800+ for new OEM units on modern vehicles.
Our Process
Assessment
We assess the severity of oxidation on each lens to determine the sanding and polishing stages required.
Masking
Surrounding paintwork is masked to protect against any contact with sanding materials.
Wet Sanding
Progressive wet sanding (typically 400–2000 grit) removes the oxidised outer layer of the polycarbonate lens.
Machine Polishing
Machine polishing with cutting and finishing compounds restores full optical clarity and gloss to the sanded surface.
UV Sealant Application
A UV-stable protective sealant is applied to the restored lens to prevent rapid re-oxidation and extend the results.
Benefits of Headlight Restoration Brighton
Restores optical clarity and significantly improves night-time visibility
Costs a fraction of headlight replacement — typically £40–£80 vs £200–£800+
May resolve an MOT headlight failure
Makes the vehicle look significantly better and more cared-for
UV sealant slows future re-oxidation
Frequently Asked Questions
Can headlight restoration fix my MOT failure?
If your MOT failure is related to reduced headlight output caused by oxidised lenses rather than a bulb or electrical fault, headlight restoration may resolve it. We recommend confirming the specific failure reason with your MOT tester first.
How much does headlight restoration cost in Brighton?
Headlight restoration at Car Detailing in Brighton starts from £40 per pair for light oxidation and up to £80 for severely oxidised lenses requiring additional sanding stages.
How long does headlight restoration last?
With UV sealant applied, restoration results typically last 12–24 months before noticeable re-oxidation begins. Keeping the vehicle garaged or waxing the headlights periodically extends the results.
Is headlight restoration better than buying new headlights?
For the majority of vehicles, restoration is significantly more cost-effective than replacement — especially for premium vehicles where OEM headlight units cost hundreds of pounds. Results are comparable to new units in most cases.
£40
Starting price — confirmed before we begin
Book Your Headlight Restoration Brighton Today
Walk in any day 9am–6pm at Brighton Marina, or call ahead for specialist services. Price always confirmed before we start — no surprises.