Car insurers see rise in LED headlight-related claims

Richard Aucock, Contributor
Tue, 08 Oct 2024

Car insurers are reporting a rise in headlight-related claims, involving both crashes caused by dazzled drivers and an increase in headlight theft.

Both factors are related to modern ultra-bright LED headlights, says car insurance specialist Claims Management & Adjusting (CMA).

There is usually a rise in glare-related claims at the start of autumn, explains CMA with such incidents often occuring in the morning, especially if it has been raining overnight, or just before sunset.

But dazzling incidents are now being compounded due to the brightness of modern LED headlights says CMA.

"Traditional halogen headlamps typically produce around 1000 lumens, whereas the latest LED ones can produce up to 4000. They emit whiter light too, rather than the yellow of halogens, which seems to exacerbate the dazzling threat," says CMA technical director Philip Swift.

He pointed to RAC research that found 89% of drivers believe some car headlights are too bright. In April, the previous government commissioned research into the issue.

The other issue is headlight theft. CMA says high-tech headlights can be worth hundreds of pounds – even several thousand on luxury cars like the Bentley Continental GT or Porsche Panamera.

"Such attacks are rudimentary but effective – rip out the front lights and leave quickly."

While unlikely to result in a write-off, these are costly repairs, due to the expensive profile of the vehicles concerned.

Swift said the trend mirrors catalytic convertor theft and is another disturbing issue that adds to the pressure on increasing car insurance premiums.  

Ask HJ

Why are people using headlights during the daytime?

Why is there a plague of car drivers driving in good daytime viability using full headlights? This habit is a minor irritation with old fashioned headlights but is a massive issue with the dazzling potential of xenon and LED systems.

There is no law against using your headlights in daylight - assuming they are not dazzling other drivers of course - in fact a European study concluded that using dipped headlights at all times can reduce the chances of being involved in a collision by as much as 30%. However, incorrectly adjusted headlights can be a significant distraction particularly with higher-powered LED arrangements. Drivers may be using the automatic setting on headlights which is causing them to be illuminated more frequently, or may not even be aware that they are switched on as the majority of cars will automatically turn off headlights when the vehicle is switched off. Unfortunately it is down to the individual to ensure their lights are correctly aligned.

Answered by David Ross

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