Most headlight lenses are polycarbonate plastic with a factory UV coating. After several years of sun, the coating breaks down and the plastic underneath oxidizes. That’s the yellow, cloudy haze, and it can cut how much light reaches the road on dark, rainy nights.
Is it inside or outside the lens?
Almost always outside. Run a finger across it: if it feels rough or chalky, it’s surface oxidation and it can be restored. Fogging or water droplets on the inside mean a broken seal, and that usually needs a new assembly.
Why quick fixes fade
Toothpaste, bug spray and one-step wipes polish off a thin layer, so the lens looks better for a while. But they leave bare plastic with no UV protection, so the haze often comes back within a few months.
How proper restoration works
- Wet sanding removes the damaged, oxidized layer.
- Compounding and machine polishing bring the plastic back to clear.
- A UV-protective coating replaces the factory layer so the haze doesn’t come straight back.
Restore or replace?
New headlight assemblies can cost hundreds of dollars each, more for LED units. Restoration is usually a fraction of that. Our Headlight Restoration is $99 for both lights on any vehicle ($69 when added to another detail), done in your driveway and backed by a 1-year warranty.