How to Aim & Adjust Your Headlights at Home
Published on 2025-09-04
Misaligned headlights don’t just reduce your own visibility—they can also dazzle oncoming drivers and create dangerous road conditions. The good news: with a few simple tools, most drivers can align their headlights at home in under 20 minutes.
What You’ll Need
- A flat driveway or garage facing a vertical wall or garage door
- High-visibility masking tape for marking cutoff points
- A tape measure to record headlight height
- Headlight adjustment tool (or a long Phillips screwdriver)
Step 1: Vehicle Setup
Prepare your car before aiming:
- Inflate tires to proper pressures.
- Keep your fuel tank at least half full.
- Remove heavy cargo, and if possible, simulate driver weight with a load in the seat.
- Park 25 feet from a flat wall or garage door on level ground.
Step 2: Mark the Cutoff Line
Turn on low beams and measure headlight center height from the ground. On the wall:
- Mark a horizontal tape line 2 inches below that height.
- Place vertical tape lines aligned with each headlight center.
Step 3: Adjust Vertical & Horizontal Aim
Open the hood and find adjustment screws near each headlight assembly:
- Vertical screw: Lowers or raises the beam cutoff to match the horizontal line.
- Horizontal screw: Moves the beam left or right to align with the vertical tape.
For best safety, beams should sit slightly below and just right of center, reducing glare while maximizing road illumination.
Step 4: Road Test & Fine-Tune
Take your car on a dark road to confirm adjustments. Look for:
- Even, flat cutoff lines
- No glare blinding oncoming traffic
- Consistent illumination across your lane
If needed, repeat fine adjustments with your aiming tool until satisfied. This is also the perfect time to upgrade to LED bulbs with OEM-style beam patterns for improved clarity.