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Car lights – what not to do with car bulbs?
You use them every time you start the engine. Car bulbs, as we are talking about them, are an essential element of every car's equipment. Although this may seem like an exaggeration, they ensure safety. Therefore, it is important which car bulbs are installed. Check what the law says about this.
- Approval of car bulbs
- Car lights - what is illegal?
- LED car bulbs and the law
- Beware of penalties for using the wrong bulbs
- Examples of car light offenses and current fines:
Car bulbs are used both day and night. They provide better visibility – not only for you, but also for other drivers. You can see how important a role they play not only when driving at night, but also on a rainy or foggy day. If not car bulbs, it would be difficult to spot you on the road. That's why their quality matters.
You may be interested in: Replacing a light bulb in a car – how to do it yourself?
Approval of car bulbs
In Poland, only car bulbs with ECE approval can be used. These products are thoroughly checked in terms of current regulations in force in a given country. They have certificates confirming that they can be used on Polish roads.
The approval also specifies:
- type of light source that can be used in a given place,
- purpose of the bulb – related to the type of car,
- compatibility with a specific type of lampshade.
The approval is only issued for the specific use of the bulb. If it is installed in a different place, contrary to its intended purpose, in the event of an inspection, you may be subject to a fine or having your registration certificate confiscated.
We are aware of this, which is why our assortment includes, among others: Moje Auto Virage/Car Lum Halogen car bulbs. They will work well for both passenger cars and motorcycles.
Car lights - what is illegal?
There are some practices that are not legal. This includes, among others: about:
- assembly car bulbs with higher power - the law specifies power limits for individual light bulbs. For H4 products it is 60/55 W. Again H7 car bulbs – 55 W. This rule applies to cars driving on public roads,
- installing cassette lamps instead of H4 and H7 bulbs - this is an illegal modification that may lead to inappropriate light distribution. Such bulbs pose a threat to other road users,
- installation of LEDs – LEDs are becoming increasingly popular, but there are no approval standards yet that would allow their legal use.
LED car bulbs and the law
LED car bulbs are brighter than halogen ones. They also use less electricity. For this reason, they have become increasingly popular recently. Are LED car bulbs legal? It is worth remembering that LED car bulbs are not legal in Poland. Current approval regulations do not take into account this type of lighting.
Do you know that? There is one way to "circumvent" these regulations. After installing LED car bulbs, go to the Motor Transport Institute. This is where thorough lighting tests are performed. If the LEDs meet applicable standards, it is possible to obtain a special permit.
However, this is a very time-consuming and expensive process.
Beware of penalties for using the wrong bulbs
Penalties related to car bulbs result not only from the use of inappropriate products. Poorly adjusted car headlights may also expose you to legal consequences. What can you expect? What is the fine for unapproved bulbs? You can pay up to PLN 3000 for using car bulbs without approval. This is obviously a considerable amount! Importantly, you can also get ticket for faulty lights! Similarly, its amount will be up to PLN 3000. What's more, the police may also take away your registration certificate. It can only be returned after the fault has been removed or the appropriate bulbs have been installed.
Remember! In Poland, driving with low beam headlights is also mandatory 300 hours a day. Choosing different lighting can result in a fine of up to PLN XNUMX.
Examples of car light offenses and current fines:
Car bulbs — even though they are small, they can mean large fines.
- driving without required lights from dawn to dusk – PLN 100 and 2 points (from dusk to dawn it is PLN 300 and 6 points),
- driving without the required lights in the tunnel – PLN 200,
- using lights without approval – up to PLN 3000,
- transport of cargo that covers the lights – PLN 200,
- using rear fog lights with normal air transparency – PLN 100 and 2 points.
If your registration certificate is confiscated, you must also add the cost of a technical inspection, which is necessary to recover the document.
We hope that our article answers all your questions about car bulbs and what not to do. It is worth remembering that having appropriate and functional light bulbs is very important. After all, it affects safety.
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