{"id":80855,"date":"2023-02-08T23:14:17","date_gmt":"2023-02-09T07:14:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogv2prod.wpenginepowered.com\/blog\/?p=80855"},"modified":"2024-03-23T03:32:33","modified_gmt":"2024-03-23T10:32:33","slug":"how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Adjust Headlight Alignment? Quick Steps"},"content":{"rendered":"<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC \"-\/\/W3C\/\/DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional\/\/EN\" \"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/TR\/REC-html40\/loose.dtd\">\n<html><body><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 6<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span><style>.kadence-column_2d0a1f-7e > .kt-inside-inner-col{border-top-width:0px;border-right-width:0px;border-bottom-width:0px;border-left-width:0px;}.kadence-column_2d0a1f-7e > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column_2d0a1f-7e > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column_2d0a1f-7e > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column_2d0a1f-7e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column_2d0a1f-7e > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column_2d0a1f-7e > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column_2d0a1f-7e{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column_2d0a1f-7e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.kadence-column_2d0a1f-7e > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column inner-column-1 kadence-column_2d0a1f-7e qk-look-widget\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-row ultp-block-12303e  qk-main-wrap\"><div class=\"ultp-row-wrapper\"><div class=\"ultp-row-content\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ultimate-post-column ultp-block-e2cf52\"><div class=\"ultp-column-wrapper\"><style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_c33807-2a, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_c33807-2a[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_c33807-2a\"]{text-align:center;font-size:20px;font-style:normal;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_c33807-2a mark.kt-highlight, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_c33807-2a[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_c33807-2a\"] mark.kt-highlight{font-family:Inter;font-weight:500;font-style:normal;color:#f76a0c;-webkit-box-decoration-break:clone;box-decoration-break:clone;padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_c33807-2a img.kb-inline-image, .wp-block-kadence-advancedheading.kt-adv-heading_c33807-2a[data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_c33807-2a\"] img.kb-inline-image{width:150px;vertical-align:baseline;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"kt-adv-heading_c33807-2a summary-title wp-block-kadence-advancedheading\" data-kb-block=\"kb-adv-heading_c33807-2a\"><span>Summary<\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\"><li>Your vehicle&rsquo;s ride height, suspension, and cargo load can affect the headlights&rsquo; alignment.<\/li><li>Misaligned headlights can prevent you from seeing the road clearly and might even cause trouble for other drivers.<\/li><li>Always make sure to test your lights after the alignment procedure to make sure that they&rsquo;re pointed in the right direction.<\/li><\/ul>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The headlights are one of your vehicle&rsquo;s key safety features. However, your headlights can become misaligned, which might be unsafe if they&rsquo;re pointed at treetops instead of on the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Are My Headlights Misaligned?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Over time, the screws that set your vehicle&rsquo;s headlight angle can loosen, changing where your headlights point. If the front end of your vehicle was hit in an accident, the jolt can also alter your headlights&rsquo; angle<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sometimes, it might not just be your headlight. Your vehicle&rsquo;s ride height and suspension can also affect where the headlights are pointed. If your vehicle&rsquo;s shock absorbers have sagged, then your headlights might point up or down depending on where the front of your vehicle is pointing. Misaligned headlights can also be caused by excess weight in your vehicle&rsquo;s trunk. Try to distribute the load evenly, so that your headlights remain level.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/car-headlight-on-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"illuminated car headlight assembly\" class=\"wp-image-80879\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/car-headlight-on-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/car-headlight-on-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/car-headlight-on-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/car-headlight-on-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/car-headlight-on-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/car-headlight-on-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/car-headlight-on.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption>If you have a misaligned headlight, seeing faraway objects at night can be difficult.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Should I Adjust My Headlights?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your headlights won&rsquo;t help if they&rsquo;re aimed at the wrong parts of the road. If they&rsquo;re pointed at a very low angle, you might not see a critical road sign or an object in the middle of the road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When traveling at a speed of 60 miles per hour or faster, you&rsquo;ll need to see objects far ahead of you to brake on time. But if you have a misaligned headlight, then seeing faraway objects at night can be difficult. You might see obstacles late and have little to no time to react.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your headlights are pointed at a higher angle, they might <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-avoid-the-glare-from-oncoming-headlights\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"blind other drivers in the opposite lane\">blind other drivers in the opposite lane<\/a>. You&rsquo;re not just depriving them of vision, you&rsquo;re also putting yourself at risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"article-search-widget\">\n<div class=\"cp-search\">\n<div align=\"center\">\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cld.partsimg.com\/image\/upload\/w_auto,dpr_auto\/carparts\/logos\/badge_wordmark\/full_color\/CP_LOGO_COLOUR_RGB\" alt=\"CarParts.com\" width=\"300\" height=\"56\">\n<\/div>\n<form id=\"cpsearchform\" name=\"cpsearchform\" action=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/search\" method=\"get\" target=\"_blank\" accept-charset=\"character_set\" aria-label=\"search CarParts.com\">\n    <input type=\"text\" class=\"keyword\" name=\"q\" placeholder=\"Search for parts on CarParts.com\" value=\"\" aria-label=\"Search CarParts.com\"><input type=\"submit\" class=\"btn-search\" value=\"Search\" aria-label=\"Search\">\n<\/form>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How To Adjust Your Headlights<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adjusting your headlights isn&rsquo;t that difficult, but it can be tedious. Finding the right angle might take some time, since the process is trial and error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The caveat is that not all headlights are adjustable, and some are only adjustable on one axis, meaning up and down but not side to side. Some OEM instructions are to check for body damage and\/or replace the headlamp because there is no aiming procedure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\"><p>The caveat is that not all headlights are adjustable, and some are only adjustable on one axis, meaning up and down but not side to side.<\/p><cite><em>&ndash;&nbsp;<\/em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/richardmccuistian\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician\">Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Setting Up<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First, you&rsquo;ll need to find a perfectly vertical wall. Park your car around 10 to 25 feet away from it. You should consult your owner&rsquo;s manual to verify if it indicates an appropriate distance for aligning your vehicle&rsquo;s headlight.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Various manufacturers recommend varying lengths for headlight alignment, so make sure to check your owner&rsquo;s manual or online resources. Chrysler suggests aligning headlights at 33 feet, while Toyota advises 10 feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/proper-distance-headlight-adjustment-996x1024.jpg\" alt=\"proper distance when doing headlight adjustment\" class=\"wp-image-81345\" width=\"996\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/proper-distance-headlight-adjustment-996x1024.jpg 996w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/proper-distance-headlight-adjustment-292x300.jpg 292w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/proper-distance-headlight-adjustment-768x790.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/proper-distance-headlight-adjustment-150x154.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/proper-distance-headlight-adjustment.jpg 1459w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 996px) 100vw, 996px\"><figcaption>Illustration showing proper distance and angle when adjusting headlight alignment | Image Source: Richard McCuistian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The surface in front of this wall also needs to be flat so that you can properly gauge your headlight&rsquo;s alignment. You should remove any cargo inside your vehicle. The tires should also be inflated to their appropriate pressure, as these variables can cause your vehicle to tilt or sag.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/headlight-alignment-technique-1024x570.jpg\" alt=\"illustration of a headlight alignment technique\" class=\"wp-image-81346\" width=\"1024\" height=\"570\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/headlight-alignment-technique-1024x570.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/headlight-alignment-technique-300x167.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/headlight-alignment-technique-768x428.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/headlight-alignment-technique-150x84.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/headlight-alignment-technique.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption>Illustration showing proper technique (using tape) to adjust headlight alignment | Image Source: Richard McCuistian<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Jolt your suspension to make sure the shock absorbers are level. You can do this by pushing down on your vehicle several times on all four corners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Marking the Target<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Turn on your headlights and park as close to the wall as possible. Find the center of your low-beam headlights. Run a length of tape horizontally and vertically across the center of the brightest part of the wall. Do this for both headlights. When you&rsquo;re done, there should be two crosses indicating your headlight bulb&rsquo;s height.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Make sure the two crosses are even. If not, then you should measure the distance between your headlight bulb and the ground and use this distance to dictate the vertical height of the tape.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Finding the Screws<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Open your vehicle&rsquo;s hood and find the headlight adjuster screws. Their locations vary from vehicle to vehicle, but they&rsquo;re generally located at the back or side of the headlight assembly. On rare occasions, these screws are underneath the assembly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unfortunately, they&rsquo;re not always marked. But they tend to stand out from the black headlight assembly since they&rsquo;re usually gray or silver. Occasionally, manufacturers use bolts instead of screws.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/adjusting-car-headlight-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"mechanic adjusting car headlight\" class=\"wp-image-80880\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/adjusting-car-headlight-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/adjusting-car-headlight-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/adjusting-car-headlight-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/adjusting-car-headlight-600x400.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/adjusting-car-headlight-1200x800.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/adjusting-car-headlight-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/adjusting-car-headlight.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\"><figcaption>Once you have identified the appropriate distance for aligning your headlight, adjust the screws to the light&rsquo;s necessary vertical and horizontal angles.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Adjusting the Lights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Back your car away around 10 to 25 feet away from the wall, depending on the manufacturer&rsquo;s suggestion. Use a tape measure to make sure you&rsquo;re at the exact distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Turn on your headlights and block one of your headlights. You can do this by placing a towel or a piece of cardboard over a chair and placing it in front of the headlights. This will eliminate interference from the other light and allow you to focus on the one you&rsquo;re adjusting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One screw usually controls the light&rsquo;s vertical angle, while another controls its horizontal angle. Verify how the screws adjust the vertical and horizontal angles by observing the light&rsquo;s movement as you adjust the screws. For the ideal vertical angle, the center of the most intense part of the beam should be at or below the centerline of your horizontal tape line. For the ideal horizontal angle, the most intense part of the light should be to the right of the vertical tapeline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You might be wondering why you&rsquo;re supposed to point your lights slightly toward the right. This allows the light to still illuminate the middle of the road while preventing too much light from spilling into the opposite lane, which can blind oncoming traffic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Take note that some manufacturers also have recommendations on where you should aim your headlights. For example, General Motors specifies that the edge of the beam should meet the horizontal centerline of the headlamp, while Toyota specifies that there should be a distance of half an inch from the edge of the beam to the horizontal centerline. Meanwhile, Chrysler allows two to six inches below the centerline, while Nissan allows little more than three and a half inches. Try to be patient, because getting the correct angle might take some trial and error.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Test Your Lights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Once you&rsquo;ve realigned your headlights, take your vehicle out on the road to ensure that they&rsquo;re properly set. This step is important because the headlight&rsquo;s alignment might have worsened if you made an incorrect adjustment. Use your headlights on a dark road to ensure that they&rsquo;re properly aligned. If they&rsquo;re still not properly adjusted, repeat these steps until you achieve the correct alignment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Where to Get Quality Replacement Headlights for your Vehicle<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your vehicle&rsquo;s headlights are an important part of driving safely at night. Misaligned headlights will impact your ability to see the road ahead, making nighttime driving more risky. If you&rsquo;re unable to align your headlights due to a defect after an accident or another issue, it might be time to order a new set. Thankfully, CarParts.com is here to help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here at <a href=\"http:\/\/carparts.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\" aria-label=\"CarParts.com\">CarParts.com<\/a> we emphasize safety and convenience. You can order from the comfort of home with just a few clicks on our easy-to-navigate website. Checkout is also convenient and secure. We even help you order with confidence by implementing price match and lifetime replacement guarantees. Our friendly and helpful customer service team is ready to answer any questions or concerns you might have. They&rsquo;re available round-the-clock to assist you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Avoid driving with wonky headlights as much as possible. Order replacement <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/headlight\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" aria-label=\"headlights\">headlights<\/a> at CarParts.com today.<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"span-reading-time rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\">Reading Time: <\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\"> 6<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">minutes<\/span><\/span>The headlights are one of your vehicle&rsquo;s key safety features. However, your headlights can become misaligned, which might be unsafe&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\/\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":80878,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[3745,52],"tags":[191],"ppma_author":[2607,2985],"class_list":["post-80855","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-car-lights","category-diy","tag-headlight","entry"],"acf":{"adrotate_specific_mobile_ad":"","adrotate_specific_desktop_ad":""},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How to Adjust Headlight Alignment? Quick Steps - In The Garage with CarParts.com<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"You should ensure your vehicle\u2019s headlights are properly aligned. Learn why it\u2019s important and how to adjust them in this article.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Adjust Headlight Alignment? Quick Steps - In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"You should ensure your vehicle\u2019s headlights are properly aligned. Learn why it\u2019s important and how to adjust them in this article.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-02-09T07:14:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2024-03-23T10:32:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/car-headlight-adjustment.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1500\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1018\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@carpartscom\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"7 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\\\/\"},\"author\":[{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"4\",\"name\":\"CarParts.com Research Team\",\"jobTitle\":\"Expert Automotive Writer\",\"description\":\"The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com&#039;s thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.\",\"knowsAbout\":\"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews\",\"publishingPrinciples\":\"\\\/blog\\\/our-team\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/thecpteam\\\/\",\"sameAs\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/carpartscom, https:\\\/\\\/twitter.com\\\/CarPartscom, https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@CarPartscomOfficial\\\/, https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/carpartscom\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"$id\":\"4\",\"name\":\"Richard McCuistian\",\"jobTitle\":\"ASE Master Automobile Technician\",\"description\":\"Richard McCuistian has worked for nearly 50 years in the automotive field as a professional technician, an instructor, and a freelance automotive writer for Motor Age, ACtion magazine, Power Stroke Registry, and others. Richard is ASE certified for more than 30 years in 10 categories, including L1 Advanced Engine Performance and Light Vehicle Diesel.\",\"knowsAbout\":\"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews\",\"publishingPrinciples\":\"\\\/blog\\\/our-team\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/author\\\/richardmccuistian\\\/\",\"sameAs\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/in\\\/richard-mccuistian-2681891b\\\/, https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/McCuistian\"}],\"headline\":\"How to Adjust Headlight Alignment? Quick Steps\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-02-09T07:14:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-03-23T10:32:33+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1383,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/car-headlight-adjustment.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"headlight\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Car Lights\",\"DIY\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\\\/\",\"name\":\"How to Adjust Headlight Alignment? Quick Steps - In The Garage with CarParts.com\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/car-headlight-adjustment.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2023-02-09T07:14:17+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2024-03-23T10:32:33+00:00\",\"description\":\"You should ensure your vehicle\u2019s headlights are properly aligned. Learn why it\u2019s important and how to adjust them in this article.\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/car-headlight-adjustment.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2023\\\/02\\\/car-headlight-adjustment.jpg\",\"width\":1500,\"height\":1018,\"caption\":\"car headlight adjustment\"},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"name\":\"In The Garage with CarParts.com\",\"description\":\"\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"CarParts.com\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/cp-itg-logo.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2025\\\/03\\\/cp-itg-logo.png\",\"width\":2048,\"height\":398,\"caption\":\"CarParts.com\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/carpartscom\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/@CarPartscomOfficial\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/www.carparts.com\\\/blog\\\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Adjust Headlight Alignment? Quick Steps - In The Garage with CarParts.com","description":"You should ensure your vehicle\u2019s headlights are properly aligned. Learn why it\u2019s important and how to adjust them in this article.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Adjust Headlight Alignment? Quick Steps - In The Garage with CarParts.com","og_description":"You should ensure your vehicle\u2019s headlights are properly aligned. Learn why it\u2019s important and how to adjust them in this article.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\/","og_site_name":"In The Garage with CarParts.com","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom","article_published_time":"2023-02-09T07:14:17+00:00","article_modified_time":"2024-03-23T10:32:33+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1500,"height":1018,"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/car-headlight-adjustment.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@carpartscom","twitter_site":"@carpartscom","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"","Est. reading time":"7 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\/"},"author":[{"@type":"Person","$id":"4","name":"CarParts.com Research Team","jobTitle":"Expert Automotive Writer","description":"The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com&#039;s thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust.","knowsAbout":"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews","publishingPrinciples":"\/blog\/our-team\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/thecpteam\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom, https:\/\/twitter.com\/CarPartscom, https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@CarPartscomOfficial\/, https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/carpartscom\/"},{"@type":"Person","$id":"4","name":"Richard McCuistian","jobTitle":"ASE Master Automobile Technician","description":"Richard McCuistian has worked for nearly 50 years in the automotive field as a professional technician, an instructor, and a freelance automotive writer for Motor Age, ACtion magazine, Power Stroke Registry, and others. Richard is ASE certified for more than 30 years in 10 categories, including L1 Advanced Engine Performance and Light Vehicle Diesel.","knowsAbout":"Auto Repair, Car Maintenance, Auto Parts, Car Reviews","publishingPrinciples":"\/blog\/our-team\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/richardmccuistian\/","sameAs":"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/richard-mccuistian-2681891b\/, https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/McCuistian"}],"headline":"How to Adjust Headlight Alignment? Quick Steps","datePublished":"2023-02-09T07:14:17+00:00","dateModified":"2024-03-23T10:32:33+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\/"},"wordCount":1383,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/car-headlight-adjustment.jpg","keywords":["headlight"],"articleSection":["Car Lights","DIY"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\/","name":"How to Adjust Headlight Alignment? Quick Steps - In The Garage with CarParts.com","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/car-headlight-adjustment.jpg","datePublished":"2023-02-09T07:14:17+00:00","dateModified":"2024-03-23T10:32:33+00:00","description":"You should ensure your vehicle\u2019s headlights are properly aligned. Learn why it\u2019s important and how to adjust them in this article.","inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/car-headlight-adjustment.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/car-headlight-adjustment.jpg","width":1500,"height":1018,"caption":"car headlight adjustment"},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/","name":"In The Garage with CarParts.com","description":"","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"CarParts.com","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cp-itg-logo.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/03\/cp-itg-logo.png","width":2048,"height":398,"caption":"CarParts.com"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/x.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/carpartscom","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/@CarPartscomOfficial\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"","url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\/"}]}},"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/car-headlight-adjustment.jpg","featured_image_src_square":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/car-headlight-adjustment.jpg","author_info":{"display_name":"","author_link":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/how-to-adjust-headlight-alignment\/"},"authors":[{"term_id":2607,"user_id":1651,"is_guest":0,"slug":"thecpteam","display_name":"CarParts.com Research Team","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/thecpteam.jpg","url2x":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/thecpteam.jpg"},"author_category":"","user_url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/thecpteam\/","last_name":"","first_name":"CarParts.com Research Team","job_title":"","description":"The CarParts.com Research Team is composed of experienced automotive and tech writers working with (ASE)-certified automobile technicians and automotive journalists to bring up-to-date, helpful information to car owners in the US. Guided by CarParts.com's thorough editorial process, our team strives to produce guides and resources DIYers and casual car owners can trust."},{"term_id":2985,"user_id":1646,"is_guest":0,"slug":"richardmccuistian","display_name":"Richard McCuistian, ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","avatar_url":{"url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/richard-mccuistian.png","url2x":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/richard-mccuistian.png"},"author_category":"","user_url":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/author\/richardmccuistian\/","last_name":"McCuistian","first_name":"Richard","job_title":"ASE Certified Master Automobile Technician","description":"<div class=\"auth-social-links\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/richard-mccuistian-2681891b\/\" class=\"btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"linkedin\" aria-labelledby=\"linkedin\">LinkedIn<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/McCuistian\" class=\"btn\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-label=\"instagram\" aria-labelledby=\"instagram\">Youtube<\/a><\/div>\r\n\r\nRichard McCuistian grew up in Alabama learning from his father who ran an automotive repair shop. Richard has worked for nearly 50 years in the automotive field as a professional technician, an instructor, a freelance automotive writer for Motor Age, ACtion magazine, Power Stroke Registry, and others (published every year since May 2000). He has developed training courses and written or edited training material for companies in the U.S. Canada, and the Netherlands, and even Bulgaria. He maintained an \u201cask a mechanic\u201d website for 10 years answering questions emailed to him from all over the world.\r\n\r\nRichard has an instructional automotive YouTube channel \u201cMcCuistian\u201d with 13,500 subscribers and over 1,300 videos. Much of his professional work requires photography and videography in shop environments, but Richard also enjoys taking pictures of landscapes, skyscapes, old barns and houses, small towns. He has produced a coffee table book of digital watercolors called \u201cMemories of South Alabama\u201d created from his personal photos, along with a dozen Christian fiction short original novels and a collection of short stories, all available in Kindle or softcover format. Richard has written a 2,500-word Bible study every week for the past 20 years and uses it to teach a small group at his church every Sunday morning.\r\n\r\n<strong>Credentials:<\/strong>\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"author-list\">\r\n<li><p>ASE Certified for more than 30 years in 10 categories, including L1 Advanced Engine Performance and Light Vehicle Diesel.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Professional Mechanic\/Technician for 25 years with experience on diesel and gasoline engines, vehicles and equipment (including hydraulics).<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Spent 5 years in fleet maintenance, 20 years in independent shops and dealerships (VW, Mazda, Renault, Jeep, Ford, Lincoln), specializing in driveability and electronics for the last 14 years of his career at the same dealership.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Senior Contributing Editor at Motor Age Magazine, first published in Motor Age in May of 2000 and every year since. He has won two International Automotive Media Awards for technical articles published in trade magazines.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Has attended hundreds of hours of automotive training from OEMs including GM, Volkswagen, Mazda, Renault, Jeep, Chrysler, as well as additional training at events like KC Vision and MACS (Mobile Air Climate Systems Association).<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Taught college level auto mechanics for 19 years.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Has written for automotive training companies (including course development work for training companies in Canada and the Netherlands) and has been hired to teach professional trade show technician courses at multiple training events in Texas and Alabama.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>While still teaching at the college level, Richard launched a new automotive program in Geneva, Alabama, setting up a dual enrollment department in a new building, organizing the shop and classroom, teaching morning classes to high school students for 2 years while still teaching at the college in the afternoon.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<li><p>Richard\u2019s college program at Lurleen B. Wallace Community College worked at professional shop speed during his tenure to prepare graduates for production level work in the real world.<\/p><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>"}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80855","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=80855"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/80855\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/80878"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=80855"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=80855"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=80855"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.carparts.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=80855"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}