The Headlight Restoration Market
Most vehicles manufactured after the early 1990s are equipped with acrylic rather than glass headlight lenses. This trend from glass lenses to acrylic lenses has allowed vehicle designers more flexibility in creating gas-efficient vehicles because they can better utilize aerodynamic design principles. The problem with this transition, however, is that, unlike glass, acrylic lenses fade, yellow, and discolor over a period of time due primarily to constant exposure to the sun's UV radiation. Other factors such as road debris and chemicals also cause new plastic lenses to deteriorate both in appearance and, more importantly, in function over time.
With over 250 million registered vehicles on the road today, it's plain to see that headlight restoration is a great stand-alone or add-on service for automotive repair and restoration technicians. The average headlamp assembly replacement costs between $250.00 and $500.00. Since restoration can be offered at a fraction of the cost of replacement, it's easy to see the potential profitability of this service. In addition, many local and state motor vehicle departments now require annual inspections that include headlight luminosity testing. Not only will this service save the consumer 85-95% off the cost of headlamp assembly replacement, but it will also enhance the luminosity of the existing headlamp, restoring the lens to its original condition.