Restore or replace? A practical guide.

The instinct when headlights look bad is to price out new ones. For most vehicles, that's a big jump — modern assemblies are complex, and replacements often mean removing the bumper cover or fascia to install.

Restoration keeps the original housing, seals, and wiring in place. The work happens on the outer lens surface, which is exactly where the damage lives. When the housing is sound, the result looks factory-fresh at a fraction of replacement cost.

There are cases where replacement is the right call: a cracked lens, a broken tab, moisture trapped inside, or a reflector that has burned or delaminated. Those are internal problems restoration can't fix.

The quick rule of thumb: if the cloudiness is on the outside and the light still functions, restore. If the assembly is physically damaged or water-logged, replace.