Headlight
Restoration
Cloudy, yellowed headlights aren't just an eyesore — they're a safety issue. Tedrow's Mobile Detailing restores faded headlights on-site, without a shop visit, and seals them with a protective coating to slow the return of oxidation.
Available as a standalone service or added to any exterior detail. Starting at $75 for standard headlights. We come to you throughout Westchester County and lower Fairfield County, CT.
The Factory Coating
Fails. That's the Problem.
Modern headlight lenses are made from polycarbonate plastic — lightweight, impact-resistant, and clear when new. The factory applies a UV-protective coating to the outside of the lens to keep it that way. That coating is the weak point. Exposed to sunlight, heat, road chemicals, and moisture year after year, it breaks down. When it fails, the polycarbonate underneath oxidizes and turns yellow, hazy, or milky.
What looks like a surface problem is actually a coating failure. The lens itself is usually fine — it's the protection over it that's gone. That's what restoration addresses: removing the failed coating and the oxidation it let through, then applying a fresh protective layer over the now-clear polycarbonate.
This matters beyond appearance. A yellowed headlight can reduce light output by 80% or more compared to a clear one. The beam pattern degrades, range shortens, and visibility at night drops significantly — a real safety issue on unlit roads in Westchester and Connecticut.
Headlight restoration doesn't fix the underlying problem permanently — it removes the damage and applies a new coating that buys significant time. With proper maintenance and protection, restored headlights can stay clear for a year or more.
Safety, Appearance,
and Real Cost Savings
Visibility & Safety
Severely oxidized headlights can cut usable light output by 80% or more. That's not a cosmetic issue — it's a functional one. Restoring clarity means your headlights are actually doing the job they're designed to do on dark roads, in rain, and in the kinds of low-visibility conditions that Westchester and Connecticut winters regularly produce.
Appearance
Yellowed headlights age a vehicle faster than almost anything else on the exterior. A car with clean paint and cloudy lenses looks neglected. Restoration brings the front end back in line with the rest of the vehicle — often a significant visual difference that's immediately noticeable from the front of the car.
Resale Value
Buyers notice headlight condition. Cloudy lenses signal deferred maintenance and raise questions about how the rest of the vehicle has been cared for. Restored headlights remove a visible objection before a prospective buyer even opens the door — a small investment that protects a much larger one.
Cost vs. Replacement
OEM headlight assemblies for modern vehicles commonly run $300–$800 per side — and some luxury or European vehicles cost significantly more. Restoration at $75–$125 per pair delivers a functionally and visually comparable result at a fraction of the replacement cost, making it one of the highest-return services on the exterior of a vehicle.
Paired with a Detail
Headlight restoration added to an exterior detail is the most efficient way to do it — the vehicle is already being worked on, the setup time is shared, and the finished result is cohesive. A freshly detailed vehicle with restored headlights looks the part from every angle. It's the natural pairing for an Exterior Essentials or Signature Exterior Reset.
Mobile — No Drop-Off
Restoration is performed on-site at your home or driveway throughout Westchester County and lower Fairfield County, CT. No shop visit, no waiting room, no leaving your vehicle somewhere for the day. Book a standalone appointment or add it to an existing exterior service and it's handled in the same visit.
Standard & Complicated
Headlights
Not all headlights are the same job. Pricing reflects the actual complexity of the lens — size, severity of oxidation, housing geometry, and how the vehicle's front end is configured. If you're not sure which category your vehicle falls into, call us and we'll tell you before you book.
- Wet sanding to remove oxidation and failed UV coating
- Progressive polishing to restore optical clarity
- UV-protective sealant coating applied to both lenses
- Both headlights included — no per-lens pricing
- Available standalone or added to any exterior service
- Same multi-stage wet sand and polish process
- Additional compound stages for severe oxidation cases
- UV-protective sealant coating applied to both lenses
- Both headlights included — final price quoted on assessment
- Available standalone or added to any exterior service
How to Tell Which
Category You're In
The distinction between standard and complicated isn't just about how bad the oxidation looks — it's about the physical size and geometry of the assembly, and the severity of degradation underneath the failed coating.
Standard headlights are the assemblies found on most sedans, compact SUVs, and everyday vehicles. They're moderate in size, straightforward to mask and work around, and typically present with surface-level oxidation that responds well to the standard wet sand and polish process.
Complicated headlights are the large wraparound assemblies on full-size trucks and SUVs, the complex multi-element housings on certain European and luxury vehicles, and any lens with severe deep oxidation or internal hazing that requires additional compound stages to address. More surface area and more difficult geometry means more time and product.
If you're unsure, send us a photo or call 914-451-0786 before booking. We'll tell you which category your vehicle falls into and quote you accurately — no surprises at the appointment.
Restoration Is Effective.
It's Also Not Permanent.
Headlight restoration works — the clarity improvement is real and immediate. But it's worth understanding what the service actually does and doesn't do, so expectations are set correctly before we start.
Faded headlights represent a failure of the factory UV coating. Restoration removes the damage and applies a new protective coating — but that new coating will eventually degrade too. How quickly depends on sun exposure, how the vehicle is stored, and how well the lenses are maintained after the service.
What the Service Does
Wet sanding removes the failed factory UV coating and the oxidized polycarbonate underneath it. Progressive polishing brings the lens back to optical clarity. A fresh UV-protective sealant is then applied over the now-clear surface — giving the polycarbonate the protection it needs to stay clear.
How Long It Lasts
The protective coating applied after restoration should hold for approximately one year under typical conditions — longer if the vehicle is garaged, washed regularly, and the headlights are cleaned and protected as part of ongoing maintenance. Sun exposure and neglect accelerate degradation.
Keeping Them Clear
Regular washing, UV protection applied during exterior maintenance visits, and avoiding prolonged exposure where possible all extend the life of the restored coating. Including headlight care as part of a monthly maintenance plan is the most practical way to stay ahead of oxidation returning.
Exterior Services That
Work Alongside Restoration
Headlight restoration pairs naturally with any exterior service. The most common combinations — an Exterior Essentials wash with restoration added on, or a full Signature Exterior Reset that addresses the entire painted surface while the headlights are restored in the same visit.
Exterior Essentials
Hand wash, wheel cleaning, tire dressing, and window cleaning. The right base service to combine with headlight restoration for a complete exterior refresh in a single visit.
View Exterior Essentials →Signature Exterior Reset
Deep decontamination, paint correction available, and fresh protection. The full exterior service — add headlight restoration and the entire front end of the vehicle is addressed in one appointment.
View Signature Exterior Reset →Monthly Maintenance
Regular professional exterior care on a monthly schedule. Consistent washing and UV protection applied to headlights during maintenance visits is the most practical way to extend the life of restored lenses.
View Monthly Maintenance →Ready to Restore
Your Headlights?
Book headlight restoration as a standalone service or add it to any exterior detail. We come to your home or driveway throughout Westchester County and lower Fairfield County, CT — no drop-off, no shop visit. Not sure which pricing tier your vehicle falls into? Call us first and we'll sort it out before you book.