The 10 Best Headlight Restoration Kits

The best headlight restoration kit will make your headlights look as good as new and keep you safer when driving at night.

Exposure to the environment causes the plastic headlight lenses of modern cars and trucks to degrade quicker than they were designed to, reducing the shine and visibility of the headlights. 

Considering the danger this poses when driving at night, keeping such an essential part of your car in good working condition is crucial. Fortunately, headlight restoration kits make restoring yellowish and hazy headlights an easy DIY task that can be carried out in little time.

We have reviewed a collection of the top headlight restoration kits on the market and provided a detailed buying guide to help you find the best headlight cleaner and restorer for your vehicle.

Here’s a quick rundown of our top picks.

Best Headlight Restoration Kit Reviews

While the cream of the crop, these are by no means the only great headlight cleaners and restorers currently available. And despite their ranking, you can’t go wrong with any of them.

Make sure to read the buyer’s guide section of this article for the criteria we used for our analysis.

1. 3M Headlight Lens Restoration System

Our top choice gives you everything you need to restore your headlights by hand and comes from a very reputable brand. 

With the 3M kit, you get several sanding discs, polishing pads, and a compound that’s safe to use on multiple surfaces, including your headlights, fog lights, and taillights. These materials are fairly easy to use by hand and work exceptionally well to remove yellowing, cloudiness, dirt, and minor scratches from lenses.

The rubbing compound is a nice addition that helps deliver a very smooth finish, and you get enough of it to potentially restore all the lights on your vehicle. 

A downside of 3M’s restoration kit is that you don’t get a clear coat for sealing and protecting your finished work, meaning you will need to buy one separately. We suggest going with a clear coat that contains a UV blocker, which will provide some protection against future oxidation and discoloration.

Bottom Line

The 3M Headlight Lens Restoration Kit is a complete system of light abrasives and polishes that let you effectively remove dirt, oxidization, scratches, and discoloration so that your lights look newer and shine brighter. CHECK LATEST PRICE

2. Turtle Wax T-240KT Headlight Lens Restorer Kit

Turtle Wax offers one of the most well-packaged and affordable kits on the market, a kit that consists of three restoration pads (sandpapers) of various grits, spray lubricant, a lens clarifying compound, and a lens sealing wipe.

The lens clarifying compound works quickly to treat surface discoloration and may be all you need to restore clarity, while the pads are intended for removing deeper discoloration, scratches, and other imperfections. The sealing wipe helps protect the lens against future oxidation and yellowing.

The Turtle Wax T-240KT Headlight Lens Restorer Kit can be used on all types of lenses, plexiglass, and plastic surfaces and, if used properly, can deliver desired results in 10 minutes or less.

The sandpapers are a bit small, however, so you may need to purchase extras to restore larger lenses.

Bottom Line

Everything you need to effectively restore your headlights at a very affordable price is provided by this kit. CHECK LATEST PRICE

3. Meguiar’s Headlight and Clear Plastic Restoration Kit

This kit is another great option for restoring “like-new” clarity to cloudy, oxidized, scratched, and yellowed plastic lenses. It’s also from Meguiar’s, one of the most reputable car care brands.

You get a 4 oz bottle of Meguiar’s ‘PlastX’ plastic cleaner and polish; a reusable, drill-operated buffing wool pad; and sanding and finishing pads to remove stubborn oxidation and defects.

To use, simply attach the pad to your drill, apply a tiny amount of the polish to the pad, buff the lens, and use a clean towel to remove any residual product. Sanding is not required.

Meguiar’s best headlight restoration kit works not only on headlights and taillights but also on boat windows, motorcycle windscreens, helmet visors, and other uncoated clear plastic surfaces. Unfortunately, it’s a bit pricey and you will need to buy a drill separately if you don’t have one on hand.

Bottom Line

Meguiar’s Headlight and Clear Plastic Restoration Kit is a well-packaged, easy-to-use, and all-around solid product for quick restorations. CHECK LATEST PRICE

4. Rust-Oleum Wipe New Headlight Restore Kit

Here is an incredibly easy-to-use, fast-acting headlight restorer that delivers surprisingly good results. With the Rust-Oleum Wipe New Headlight Restore Kit, you get a ‘Wipe-It’ sealant, a two-sided headlight polishing pad, a microfiber cloth, and a pair of gloves.

Using it simply requires wetting the headlight lens, sanding with the 2,000 grit side of the polishing pad and then with the 3,000 grit side, wiping dry with the microfiber towel, and applying the Wipe-It sealant.

The sealant uses a nano-polymer formula that provides long-lasting protection from oxidation and UV damage.

Rust-Oleum’s kit will certainly make your car’s headlight lens clearer; however, the polishing pad is a bit small, thin, and difficult to hold, and you may find your figures rubbing against the headlamps as you used it.

Bottom Line

An easy-to-use and affordable kit that will give you clearer headlights quickly and save you money. CHECK LATEST PRICE

5. Cerakote Ceramic Headlight Restoration Kit

Cerakote promises that their ceramic headlight restoration kit will last as long as your car. That’s because the proprietary ceramic clear coating that you get forms a strong chemical bond with your headlight lenses to provide long-lasting UV protection.

See:  The 10 Best Ceramic Coatings For Cars

Oxidation removal wipes and ergonomic sanding pads with different grits are also part of the package, and no tools are required. You have everything you need to get the job done right.

Great results can be achieved in just three simple steps: First, remove yellow surface oxidation using the oxidation wipes; second, use the abrasive pads and discs to remove deep oxidation and any light scratches; and three, apply the ceramic coating 

Cerakote Ceramic Headlight Restoration Kit is easily one of the best headlight restoration kits currently available. It’s a premium product that delivers premium results, though that also means it has a premium price. 

Bottom Line

If money isn’t an issue, the Cerakote Ceramic Headlight Restoration Kit will provide your headlights with a level of clarity and protection that few other kits can match. CHECK LATEST PRICE

6. SYLVANIA Headlight Restoration Kit

Sylvania’s Headlight Restoration Kit allows you to restore your headlights to a like-new appearance in three straightforward steps and provides all the materials you need to perform the restoration in less than 30 minutes with the use of tools.

The kit is very well-packaged, consisting of a surface activator, UV blocking clear coat, clarifying compound, a set of premium sandpapers (400, 1000 & 2000 grit), two polishing cloths, an applicator cloth, and a pair of vinyl gloves.

Restoring your headlights requires you to first apply the surface activator to prep the lens for sanding. You will then use the sandpapers and polishing cloths to remove the oxidation and discoloration. Finally, you will seal the polished and cleaned headlight with the UV blocker.

You will be happy to know that this kit also comes with a lifetime warranty for as long as you own your vehicle. It’s just too bad that it’s only good for two headlights and the included towels may be too small to be usable.

Bottom Line

Sylvania is one of the most reputable brands for light bulbs, so it’s not surprising that they also offer one of the best headlight cleaners and restorers. CHECK LATEST PRICE

7. Philips Headlight Restoration Kit

Remove haze and yellowing from your headlights reliably and protect them from the elements with the Philips Headlight Restoration Kit. 

The kit includes everything you need to restore both of your car’s headlight lenses, particularly a water-based pretreatment, a cleaning and polishing solution, a shine restorer and preserver, a set of sandpapers ranging from 600 to 2000 grits, and paper towels. 

You will first clean the lenses with the pre-treatment and then sand them with the various grit sandpapers if there is severe yellowing. Next, polish with the headlight cleaner and finish off by applying the UV restorer. 

This headlight restorer can also be used on your car or truck’s taillights, turn signals, and reflective lens covers, and Philips promises it will provide two years of UV protection. 

A lot of wet sanding is required, however, and you will need several rounds to remove the oxidation and yellowing.

Bottom Line

An effective and rather straightforward solution for removing the fading and yellowing of headlight lenses. CHECK LATEST PRICE

8. Chemical Guys Headlight Restore and Protect

This is possibly the best headlight restoration kit from Chemical Guys, and it will easily clean your headlights and make them clear again by removing any unpleasant yellowing and haziness and protecting them from future damage… all in one easy step.

All you have to do is simply scrub some of the solution onto the lens and then wipe it off, repeating until you are satisfied with the results. No tools required.

The chemists at Chemical Guys incorporated UV blockers into the formula to provide your headlights, turn signals, taillights, and other plastic lenses on your car with a layer of protection from future oxidation and UV damage.

It’s worth noting that this product doesn’t come as an all-in-one kit, meaning you’ll have to purchase all of the application materials separately if you don’t already have them on hand. 

Also, while a power tool isn’t necessarily, achieving desired results by hand can require a lot of elbow grease.

Bottom Line

Perhaps the best headlight cleaner from Chemical Guys, this solution won’t fail to make your headlights clearer. CHECK LATEST PRICE

9. Mothers NuLens Headlight Renewal Kit

Mothers is one of the most respected and best-known car care brands, and the NuLens Headlight Renewal Kit is a testament to their unrelenting quest to consistently deliver quality products.

The kit, which includes an 8-ounce bottle of polish, a 3-inch backing plate, a polishing tool, and restoration disks, was designed to quickly and safely restore, protect, and maintain all types of plastic and acrylic headlights. 

You get everything you need to easily remove yellowing and other discolorations, as well as buff out minor scratches and other imperfections. Just place some of the polish onto the applicator and then buff and clean.

A downside of this restoration kit is that a power tool from Mothers is required. Also, it doesn’t provide the tools needed to power the plate and pads it comes with. 

Bottom Line

The Mothers NuLens is a good example of professional headlight restoration made easy and affordably. CHECK LATEST PRICE

10. Rain-X Headlight Restoration Kit

Rounding off our list of best headlight cleaners and restorers is the Rain-X Headlight Restoration Kit, a very popular product that quickly and deeply cleans yellowed, hazed headlights using a specially-designed polish and sealant.

The kit gives you one bottle each of Rain-X Lubricant, Headlight Restorer, and Sealant, as well as three grades of sandpaper (polishing pads), and a microfiber cloth — everything you need to easily clean, clarify, and protect your lenses for improved nighttime visibility.

A drill isn’t required, though one can be used to speed up the restoration process. 

Some users have found the polishing pads to be a bit too small and difficult to hold, while others are perplexed as to why Rain-X didn’t specify the grit of each one. But these are minor complaints about an otherwise well-rounded product.

Bottom Line

Rain‑X products have been helping drivers outsmart the elements for over 40 years, and their Headlight Restoration Kit is certain to enhance the clarity of your headlight lenses and improve their resilience to the adverse effects of the environment. CHECK LATEST PRICE

Headlight Restoration Kit Buying Guide

We are going to provide all the information and tips you need to find the best head restoration kit so that you don’t run in circles weighing the pros and cons of the myriad of options available to you.

What Is Headlight Restoration?

Air pollution, grit, ultraviolet light, and other environmental factors cause the polycarbonate plastic of headlight lenses to degrade from the moment your car or truck leaves the factory, discoloring and clouding them to pose a serious safety concern. That’s where headlight restoration comes in.

Headlight restoration is a process of removing oxidation and discoloration from headlight lenses and restoring their original clarity, allowing your car’s headlights to shine more brightly. 

Headlight restoration kits provide people with the simple tools they need to perform the restoration without the help of a professional. Though they can vary greatly in their contents, many products come with a cleaning solution and an abrasive for removing the layer of oxidation and discoloration on the lenses.

The best headlight restoration kits are far more affordable than professional restorations, fairly easy-to-use, and deliver quick results. However, for certain jobs, restoration by a professional is sometimes the best course of action.

Headlight Restoration Kits Vs. Professional Restoration

Whether or not DIY headlight restoration kits are as good as a professional restoration will depend on several factors, namely how discolored or damaged the headlights are, the quality and contents of the kit used, and how well the instructions of use are followed.

You can expect a DIY kit to deliver comparable results to a professional restoration job in most cases, however, though the end results might be shorter-lived. 

That’s because professionals are more meticulous when restoring headlights, and their work can pay good dividends if you have money to splurge.

But you shouldn’t put a price on safety. If your car’s headlights are too damaged for you to fix by yourself, seek the help of a professional detailer.

The last thing you want is to get into an expensive or injurious accident because you couldn’t see the road ahead, thus negating the money you saved by not seeking help.

Benefits Of Headlight Restoration Kits

There are many benefits to headlight restoration, and this section goes over the biggest ones.

1. Improved safety. Yellowed or cloudy headlights greatly reduce your visibility at night, so restoring them is a sure-fire way to minimize the risk of a collision. Safety first! Don’t wait to restore your headlights when they appear to need a touch-up.

2. Improved aesthetics. Even in instances where your headlights aren’t too hazy and discolored to impede your visibility, they can adversely affect the overall appearance of your car. Keeping them in tip-top shape can go a long way to ensure that your otherwise snazzy, pristinely waxed car or truck looks its best at all times.

3. Better resale value. When selling your car, even the smallest imperfection can reduce its resale value by a large sum. People simply don’t like dirty or yellow headlights when buying a used car, so do yourself a favor and keep your units clean and spotless.

4. Maintenance costs. Replacing headlights can be an expensive and time-consuming affair. Routinely maintaining the ones on your car will reduce the likelihood of having to waste a lot of time and money buying a replacement.

5. DIY repair. A quality headlight restoration kit will provide the tools you need to easily repair your lights without having to pay a professional. It’s a small investment that will save you a lot of time and money.

Types Of Headlight Restoration Kits

Headlight restoration kits can be classified into two categories — those that require just one step to restore the headlights and those that require two or more steps. With some products, the use of a power tool is also necessary.

Single-Step Kits 

Single-step headlight restoration kits typically come with only a cleaning solution and are the most affordable and easy-to-use option. Using them simply requires wiping the headlights with the solution.

While these kits have some degree of efficacy, they are primarily intended for minor restorations and quick touch-ups.

Multi-Step Kits 

Two- and three-step kits are more expensive; however, their packaging includes an abrasive and possibly other application tools in addition to a cleaning solution, making them better suited for more serious restorations.

Not only are they usually the best restoration kits for very cloudy, yellow, or dirty headlights, but they are also the best option for those who simply like to keep their vehicles looking perfect at all times.

Power Tool Usage

Some headlight restoration kits require the use of power tools such as a drill or a sander. Often of the multi-step variety, they are intended for very bad cases of yellow and cloudy headlights, 

If you don’t have a power tool, don’t worry. A hand-craft kit will suffice, though using one will require a bit more effort.

Top Headlight Restoration Kit Brands

There are many headlight restoration kits available on the market, and finding a good one in the sea of options can be difficult. Fortunately, there are quite a number of reputable brands that you can bet on to consistently deliver quality and effective products. 

3M

At over 100 years old, this American multinational conglomerate operates in many fields, including consumer goods, applying science to deliver very innovative products. One of their most popular products in the car care arena is the 3M Headlight Lens Restoration System.

Turtle Wax 

Operating in more than 90 countries and with a strong following, Turtle Wax is the top-selling brand of spray wax, car wash, carpet and fabric care, and several other car care products.

For anyone looking for a quality all-in-one kit at an affordable price, the Turtle Wax Headlight Lens Restorer Kit is easily one of the best options available.

Meguiar’s 

Meguiar’s is a household name in the car care world. With over 110 Years of experience, the company has a reputation for delivering quality products such as the Headlight and Clear Plastic Restoration Kit.

You will find Meguiar’s on many of our lists of best car products.

Rain-X 

Rain-X products have been helping drivers outsmart mother nature for over 40 years. The brand’s product portfolio includes a wide variety of water-beading car care products, including glass cleaners, wiper blades, car washes, waxes, and Headlight Restoration Kits. 

One of its best-sellers is the Rain-X Headlight Restoration Kit.

Sylvania

Sylvania is a brand of German lighting manufacturer OSRAM, one specializing in light bulbs and other lighting products for the North American market. 

The Sylvania Headlight Restoration Kit is widely regarded as one of the best kits for restoring yellow and cloudy headlights.

Features Of The Best Headlight Restoration Kit

Now that you know what headlight restoration kits are, their benefits, and the different available types, let’s bring everything together to help you find the right one for your needs. Indeed, there are many factors to consider when looking for the best headlight cleaner and restorer.

Contents

While all headlight restoration kits come with the basic tools for minor restorations, not all of them are suitable for heavy-duty applications.

Single-step kits offer the least flexibility since they typically only come with a cleaning solution, so you would be wise to buy one for only minor repairs such as slightly hazy headlights and quick touch-ups.

Two or three-step kits provide more tools to work with, including an abrasive such as fine sandpaper for removing heavy oxidation and smooth out scratches. If your headlights are yellowed, cloudy, and/or even stained, a multi-step restoration kit is what you need.

Either way, make sure to look closely at what the kit comes with. Try to opt for a complete kit, one that contains cleaning and sealing solutions, gloves, a towel, and several sandpapers with different grits.

You will find that higher-quality restoration kits usually come with more of the supplies you need for a wider variety of jobs than lower-quality ones.

Power Tool Requirement

While many kits work well without the use of sophisticated tools, some require the use of a power tool such as a drill or sander.

Generally speaking, the more damaged your headlights, the handier a power tool is likely to be. Don’t own a power tool? A hand-craft kit may work just as well.

UV Protection

Not only is it imperative that you repair your damaged headlights, but you should also take preventative measures to avoid future damage. 

Restoration kits that contain a UV-blocker will mitigate the damaging effects of the sun’s ultraviolet light, which is largely responsible for the oxidization, yellowing, and clouding of headlights.

UV protection will help keep your headlights in tip-top shape for as long as possible, saving you time and money on their maintenance.

Lens Type

Although vehicle headlights are generally made of some type of polycarbonate plastic, the composition of these plastics can vary greatly. 

That being said, not all restoration kits are suited for every type of lens, so make sure the one you are considering is compatible with your car’s headlights.

Ease Of Use

DIY headlight restoration kits are generally designed for the average Joe or Jane, meaning they are fairly simple to use. However, kits that include an abrasive step (e.g. sanding) or require the use of a power tool often need a bit more skill to achieve the best results and avoid accidentally damaging the headlights.

How To Restore Headlights

If you have noticed a yellowing or fading of your headlights, don’t wait to deal with the issue. Driving at night with less than optimal headlights puts you at serious risk of an accident.

When using a headlight restoration kit, always follow the manufacturer’s instructions to get the best results. The following step-by-step guide provides only a general overview of how to restore headlights.

Step 1. Preparation

Before you start restoring your headlights, you need to gather all the necessary tools and prepare your car.

Tools You’ll Need

The easiest route is to grab your choice of the best headlight restoration kit, preferably a multi-step one that includes all the necessary supplies. Alternatively, if you already have some of the parts, you can buy them individually to complete your set.

Just make sure you have the following…

• Polishing compound
• Paste wax
• Sandpaper (800, 1000, and 2000 grit)
• UV sealant
• Blue painter’s tape 
• Microfiber towels

Washing The Headlights

The last thing you want when sanding or buffing your headlight is to have stones, insects, or other debris smear or scratch it, so take the time to thoroughly wash the headlights.

Use car wash soap and some water to rid the headlights and surrounding areas of all dirt, debris, or other substances that can undermine your work. Rinse with clean water and dry using a clean microfiber towel before proceeding further.

Protect Surrounding Paint

You’ll want to be sanding only the headlight lenses and not the surrounding paint or trim, so use the painter’s tape to cover and shield the immediate surfaces around each headlight to prevent causing accidental damage. Try to tape in between the crevices. 

Step 2. Sanding

Sanding is the pivotal step in the headlight restoration process, and it’s fairly straightforward.

Take the most abrasive sandpaper (800 grit), wet it along with the headlight, and then repeatedly sand the lens in a straight, horizontal pattern.

Ensure the surface is wet at all times to prevent the grit particles from building up and scratching the lens, and take your time with this initial sanding as your overall results will largely depend on how well it is performed.

Repeat the process using the 1000 grit sandpaper and then the 2000 grit, making sure the lens is cleaned every time you make a switch. 

With the 2000 grit sandpaper, sand uses a diagonal motion; with the 300 grit, sand in the opposite diagonal direction. Don’t rush, and make sure to keep the sandpaper and lens wet.

Step 3. Polish And Wax

After you’re done sanding, cleaning, and drying the lenses, you’re ready to polish and wax them.

Squeeze some polishing compound onto a clean microfiber cloth and buff the lens in a circular motion using moderate pressure. An orbital buffer can come in handy during this step, but you don’t need one to get good results.

Once your lenses are clear, you can wax them to make them shinier and provide a layer of protection against the elements. Wax the lens the same way you would wax a car.

Step 4. Apply UV Sealant

When you sanded the headlights, you removed the old oxidized sealant that protected them from the sun’s UV rays and other elemental factors. You will need to apply UV sealant to prevent the lenses from becoming hazy again.

Some sealants come as wet wipes, while others need to be applied to a cleaning rag. Whatever the case, follow the exact instructions provided by the manufacturer.

Note: If you followed the recommended instructions to a tee but didn’t get the desired results, then you might want to sand the lenses again. It’s also possible that your lenses are too degraded and can only be repaired by a professional or need to be replaced entirely.

Headlight Restoration Kit FAQs

This roundup of frequently asked questions highlights many of the important points made in our headlight restoration kit buying guide.

Why Are My Headlights Yellow And Cloudy?

There are a couple of factors that can cause headlights to become yellow or cloudy, but the biggest culprits are damage from oxidation and the sun’s UV rays.

Routinely cleaning your car, including its headlights, and using products such as a UV blocker will help mitigate or prevent yellowing and clouding.

Do Headlight Restoration Kits Really Work?

Yes. Headlight restoration kits can make your headlights clearer and sharper by removing their failing clear coat. However, some work better than others.

Two- or three-step kits work better than single-step kits because they typically include an abrasive such as sandpaper, which is used to sand away the lens’s cloudy and yellowed clear coat.

How Long Do Restored Headlights Last?

The lens of a restored headlight can remain clear for 9 months to 2 years before becoming oxidized once again. However, your results may vary depending on the quality of the headlight restoration kit used and how well it’s applied, as well as the type of lens, environmental conditions, and how regularly you maintain your car.

It’s quite possible for headlight lenses to become yellow and foggy less than a month after being restored.

How Often Should I Restore My Headlights?

Not unless you live in an area with extreme weather, which can cause headlights to become cloudy and yellow more often, restoring your headlights once a year should be enough to keep them sharp and clear. 

Of course, you will need to take prompt action once they begin showing signs of serious degradation. Don’t wait weeks or months, let alone a year.

What Grit Sandpaper Do I Use For Headlight Restoration?

When restoring headlights, you’ll want to use 800-1000 grit sandpaper to remove the initial layer of oxidation and then follow up with a 2000 and 3000 grit to achieve the best possible finish.

Use moderate pressure when sanding so as not to damage the lens.

Final Thoughts

Driving at night with hazy and yellowed headlight lenses puts you at serious risk of getting into an accident, so it’s essential that you keep your car’s lenses in optimal working condition at all times. Fortunately, this is a problem that can be easily and affordably addressed with a quality headlight restoration kit.

On top of providing you with a detailed buying guide, we reviewed 10 of the best headlight cleaners and restorers on the market to spare you the trouble of having to scan through the large plethora of available options. Don’t put this information to waste.

The best headlight restoration kit in our opinion is the 3M 39008 Headlight Lens Restoration System, a solid option that provides all the tools you need to easily repair your hazy and yellowed headlights and achieve amazing results. For a more affordable option, consider the Turtle Wax Headlight Lens Restorer Kit.