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New MOT rules allow approved LED headlight upgrades for taxis
Taxi and private hire vehicle operators across Great Britain can use certain approved LED replacement headlamp bulbs under MOT rules taking effect from today.
The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) set out the change in MOT Special Notice 05-26, issued on 13 October. It applies to ECE-approved LED replacements fitted to compatible halogen headlamp units in Class 3, 4, 5 and 7 vehicles. Class 4 includes taxis and private hire vehicles carrying up to eight passengers.
The bulb must have a secure approval sticker permanently attached to the vehicle where it can be inspected. The sticker must show the bulb category, variant, rated voltage, ECE approval number and manufacturer, and include a security feature such as a hologram.
MOT testers will check that the sticker is present, legible and appears valid, but will not have to verify its details against external databases. A missing, unreadable, tampered or clearly mismatched sticker will result in a major defect under the existing light source and lamp compatibility category.
The change does not cover every aftermarket lighting modification. Halogen units converted to use high-intensity discharge bulbs, complete LED headlamp unit replacements and Class 1 and 2 motorcycles are excluded. Existing halogen bulbs do not need to be replaced, and operators must check compatibility before buying a replacement.
The revised inspection manual applies in England, Scotland and Wales. Local taxi and private hire licensing standards remain separate, so meeting the MOT requirements does not automatically satisfy any additional conditions set by a licensing authority.
