Polishing headlights: "Repair" can cost TÜV

Created: 06/14/2022, 10:17 am

By: Simon Mones

There are a few things to keep in mind when caring for your car.

So the headlights must not be polished.

The vehicle can even fail the TÜV.

Munich – Everyone has a different attitude when it comes to keeping their cars tidy.

While some cars are so littered that the police have to intervene, other drivers attach great importance to clean cars.

However, there are a few things to keep in mind, because not everything is always allowed.

For example, there are car parts that you are not allowed to put your hands on.

The Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO) regulate what is allowed in car care, for example as part of spring cleaning.

This also specifies how the headlights are to be polished, because a mistake in cleaning or repairing the lights can have serious consequences.

In Germany it is forbidden to polish the headlights.

©Panthermedia/Imago

Polishing headlights: "Repair" can cost TÜV

For example, the headlight could become dull, which can become a hazard on the road.

In addition, the grinding can create indentations and grooves that cause the light to break incorrectly.

"The repair of headlight covers by grinding, polishing and sealing or similar procedures is not permitted," as the Ministry of Transport explained at the request of "ADAC".

In addition to road safety, there are other reasons for a ban.

The plastic on the headlight is removed by the polish.

As a result, it is no longer in its original condition.

In addition, the headlights must meet the requirements specified in Germany and therefore require a type approval.

According to § 22a No.7 of the Road Traffic Licensing Regulations (StVZO), the design may not be changed.

But that's exactly what happens during polishing, which means that the operating license also expires.

Polishing headlights: "Repair" costs an operating permit

However, the TÜV has the last word, which decides whether the headlights pass the main inspection or not.

“If the cover plate is part of the type approval (this is usually the case), it must not be modified by applying paint, machining or coating or the like.

In this case, the type approval expires and must be proven again and identified by a separate label.

The headlight is a component/independent technical unit and changes to it lead to the general operating license becoming void," Allianz Direct quoted TÜV as saying.

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In plain language this means: If you polish the headlights on your car, you risk that it won't make it through the next general inspection.

However, it is difficult to determine whether these have been processed.

It is still advisable to replace the headlights directly instead of polishing them.