Headlight restoration in Exeter
Professional headlight restoration services in Exeter and surrounding areas. Local, reliable handyman - no job too small.
Price Guide
£60-£85
Typical Duration
1-1.5 hrs
Location
Exeter, Devon
Headlights restored from cloudy and yellowed back to clear. Sanded, polished, and sealed to restore visibility and smarten up your car's appearance.
Stop Driving with Foggy Headlights
Cloudy headlights aren't just ugly - they block light and make night driving properly dodgy. That yellow haze cuts your visibility and makes the car look tired. Restoration brings them back to nearly-new clarity.
💡 Pro tip: Cloudy headlights fail MOTs and devalue your car. An hour's work can make a 10-year-old car look years younger.
Restored vs Cloudy
| ✅ After Restoration | ❌ Cloudy Lenses |
|---|---|
| Clear, bright light output | Dim, yellowed appearance |
| Passes MOT easily | Potential MOT failure |
| Car looks well-maintained | Looks neglected |
| UV sealed for longevity | Continues degrading |
What You Get
🔧 The Process
| Stage | What Happens |
|---|---|
| Sand | Remove oxidized layer with wet sanding |
| Polish | Restore clarity with progressive polishing |
| Seal | Apply UV protective coating |
📦 What's Included
- Full sanding and polishing
- UV protective sealant
- Both headlights done
- Before/after visibility check
Pricing Guide
| Job Type | Time | You'll Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Light oxidation | 1 hr | £60 |
| Moderate yellowing | 1.5 hrs | £85 |
| Heavy restoration | 2 hrs | £110 |
Based on £60 minimum (first hour) + £50/hr after. Includes materials.
Perfect For Your Project If...
✅ MOT coming up - cloudy lights can fail
✅ Night visibility poor - light not getting through properly
✅ Selling the car - tired headlights devalue it
✅ Car looks tatty - fresh headlights transform appearance
Why Choose Us for Headlight restoration in Exeter?
Restore clear visibility
Improve car's appearance
Better than replacement lenses
Lasts with UV protection
What to Expect
Step 1: Assessment
I check how bad the oxidation is. Light clouding is quick, heavy yellowing takes more sanding.
Step 2: Sanding & Polishing
Wet sand the lens to remove the damaged layer, then polish with progressively finer compounds until it's clear.
Step 3: UV Sealing
Apply protective coating to stop them clouding up again immediately. This is what makes it last.
🔧 DIY Tips
Headlight restoration kits exist - here's the reality:
🔧 What you need
- Headlight restoration kit (3M, Meguiar's, etc)
- Bucket of water
- Microfiber cloths
- Masking tape
- Patience
🛠️ The process
- Mask around headlights to protect paintwork
- Wet sand with 800 grit (supplied in kit)
- Progress through 1500, 2000, 3000 grit
- Polish with compound
- Apply UV sealant immediately
⚠️ Common DIY mistakes
- Sanding too hard (go through the lens)
- Skipping grit stages (won't get clear)
- Forgetting UV sealer (clouds up again in weeks)
- Getting compound on paintwork (stains)
- Doing it in direct sunlight (too hot to work)
💡 Pro trick: Keep the lens wet while sanding. Dry sanding melts the plastic and makes it worse. Little squirts from a spray bottle as you work.
Rather leave it to a pro? No problem - that's what I'm here for. Give me a call.
Good to Know
🔧 MOT due soon? Headlight restoration often sorts out MOT failures for "insufficient light output" - worth doing before the test.
How long it lasts: Properly sealed restoration lasts 2-3 years. The UV coating is critical - without it, they'll haze up again within months.
Can't fix everything: Deep cracks, chips, or internal moisture means replacement. But 90% of cloudy headlights are just surface oxidation that polishes out fine.
Devon coastal areas: Salt air accelerates the oxidation. Cars near the coast in Exmouth, Dawlish, or Sidmouth often need headlights doing every few years.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do headlights go cloudy?
UV damage to the plastic lens over time. Sun breaks down the protective coating and the plastic oxidizes, going yellow and hazy. Happens to all cars eventually, especially ones parked outside in Devon's weather.
Can you restore really badly yellowed headlights?
Most of the time, yes. I sand off the damaged outer layer and polish the lens back to clarity. Severe pitting or cracks might need replacement, but oxidation and cloudiness I can usually sort.
How long does restoration last?
Properly done with UV sealant - couple of years minimum. The trick is sealing it afterwards so the fresh plastic doesn't just oxidize again immediately. Some quick polish jobs last weeks, mine lasts years.
Is it worth doing or should I just replace the units?
Restoration is way cheaper. Replacement headlights can be £100-300 each. If the lenses are just cloudy but not cracked, restoration makes sense. I'll tell you if they're too far gone.
Will it pass MOT?
Cloudy headlights can fail MOT if they're blocking too much light. Restored lenses usually pass fine. Worth doing before the test if they're looking hazy.
Headlight restoration Also Available In:
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01392 964094Request Online QuoteOur Rates
Got multiple jobs?
Make the most of your first hour - I can often tackle several small tasks in one visit. List everything you need done when you call!
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