They last longer, consume less, generate less visual fatigue… but installing them in your car was not legal. Or rather: replacing the lights on your vehicle with LEDs was only possible if you approved the change. Until now: on November 1, the latest reform of the Vehicle Reform Manual came into force and with it, It is no longer mandatory to homologate the LED lights of your car.
As announced in the State official newsletterthe seventh revision of the Vehicle Reforms Manual is applicable from November 1, 2022. This document from the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism includes the changes that are considered to be an important modification. Until now, replacing the halogen bulbs in the headlights with LED ones fell within these assumptions. Not now.
The key to change
After the reform, the Manual of Vehicle Reforms sets the following: “Reform will not be considered the installation of spare parts or spare parts (including replacement LED lamps approved according to UN Regulation No. 37 in headlamps approved for incandescent optics) or the replacement of incandescent side and rear light units by others with an LED system duly approved and located in the original location.
Until now, this modification had to be approved because it was understood that each lighting system had been designed and developed to house a certain type of light bulb. The only change that could be carried out without the need to homologate it was the installation of LEDs in the taillights: yes, they had to comply with European regulations and (obviously) be red. If we wanted to do the same in the front light clusters, it was mandatory to homologate it because it was considered an important reform.
a single requirement
Thus, to change the halogen bulbs in your car for LED ones you had to take the following steps: buy approved lights, request the conformity report from the manufacturer, go to a laboratory to certify the installation following the regulations and obtain the certificate of the workshop where the modification was made. With all these documents, all that remained was to pass the ITV so that they added the reform to the vehicle’s technical sheet. A process that could cost around 300 euros: failure to do so implied a fine of 200 euros.
Now you can save both amounts because you can change any bulb (front or rear) without having to homologate it and without fear of receiving a penalty for driving outside the margins of the law. Remember, yes, that must comply with European regulations: Regardless of whether or not they are legal, LED lights that are not approved by the EU can cause safety and performance problems.
LED lights for your car
The truth is that installing LED lights in your car has several advantages for driving. Its useful life is much longer than halogen: around 10,000 hours. They are also more efficient because they consume less energy, shine brighter and are more powerful. And above all, they reduce visual fatigue because they have better quality of light: something key when we circulate without natural light.
