Only approved LEDr bulbs with the manufacturer's approval sticker are covered, and the headlamp must still pass every other check

SALFORD, England – October 26, 2026 – HIDS-DIRECT, the UK car lighting specialist, is helping drivers make sense of the MOT change that took effect on 14 October 2026, which allows approved LED replacement bulbs fitted to halogen headlamps to pass the test in England, Scotland and Wales.

What has changed

Under DVSA MOT special notice 05-26, testers now accept ECE-approved LED replacement bulbs, known as LEDr bulbs, in existing halogen headlamp units on class 3, 4, 5 and 7 vehicles, which include cars and light vans.

The change does not cover motorcycles, halogen headlamps that have been converted to HID bulbs, or full LED headlamp unit replacements.

Approved LEDr bulbs are not ordinary LED conversions

The new rule does not make every LED headlight bulb acceptable. An LEDr bulb is approved as a replacement for a specific halogen bulb category, such as H11. An ordinary aftermarket LED conversion without that approval is still a major fail when fitted to a halogen headlamp.

Compatibility, correct fitting, beam pattern and headlamp aim all still matter, and the headlamp has to pass the rest of the lighting checks as before.

Why the approval sticker matters

To pass, the vehicle must carry the bulb manufacturer's approval sticker, fixed permanently where the tester can see it. The sticker shows the bulb category and variant, rated voltage, ECE approval number, manufacturer's name and a security feature such as a hologram.

A missing, unreadable or tampered sticker, or one that clearly does not match the bulb, is recorded as a major defect.

"Drivers have waited a long time for this, but the detail matters," said a spokesperson for HIDS-DIRECT. "An approved bulb still has to suit the headlamp and be fitted properly. We would rather customers check compatibility before they buy than find out at the test centre."

What drivers should do

• Check the headlamp is a halogen unit and that the approved LEDr bulb matches its bulb category
• Keep the manufacturer's approval sticker and fix it where a tester can see it
• Have the headlamp aim checked after fitting

About HIDS-DIRECT

HIDS-DIRECT is a UK automotive lighting specialist with more than 20 years in the trade and over 5,000 customer reviews. It sells HID xenon kits and bulbs, LED lights and car bulbs for cars, motorbikes and trucks, with tracked UK delivery and shipping to over 78 countries. The business is run by Car Part Hut Ltd.

Media contact: [email protected] · www.hids-direct.co.uk