While the headlights and tail lights grant you visibility and allow your vehicle to be seen on most days, fog lights are needed in extremely low visibility conditions when the lights, as mentioned earlier, aren't effective enough. Fog lights are powerful lights mounted low on your vehicle at the front, rear, or both, and are able to cut through mist, fog, and dust. Because of their role in promoting safety, rear fog lights, like the headlights and tail lights, are a legal requirement in many countries.

What Fog Lights Do

Under typical conditions, the headlights and tail lights are enough to illuminate the road ahead and allow your vehicle to be seen. In heavy mist, fog, or snow, these lights might not have the most effective beam pattern. This is why all cars come fitted with fog lights that are designed to reduce glare and illuminate the road surface in poor conditions. They are located low at the front and the rear, with rear fog lights being made a legal requirement in many places.

You should turn on your fog lights if you're unable to see 100 meters ahead of you and should turn them off when the weather starts to clear. To know if your fog lights are on, you can see if the fog light symbol on the speedometer is illuminated. This appears as a lamp with straight diagonal lines passing through wavy lines in front of it.

Fog Light Types

Fog lights come with three main types of bulbs—halogen, HID, and LED.

Halogen Lights

Halogen lights are the most affordable upfront but are the least energy-efficient option and typically have a shorter lifespan. They are also not as bright as other types of bulbs.

HID Lights

HID, or high-intensity discharge, lights make use of xenon gas to produce a bright light. These are brighter and more energy efficient than halogens, although not as efficient as LEDs.

LED Lights

Although the most expensive, LEDs, or light-emitting diodes, boast good lifespan, energy efficiency, and brightness and can be customized with different colors and patterns. This makes them the most popular choice for modern vehicles.

Maintenance

To keep your fog lights functional for as long as possible, you should routinely clean the lenses to prevent dirt, grime, and moisture from building up and obscuring the beam. Make sure that the housing is also free from cracks, as water might enter and cause damage to the expensive bulbs and other components.

Fog Light Issues

They Won't Turn On

Fog lights can be either automatic or require you to flick a switch. If they don't turn on when they should, get your vehicle checked out. You might need a replacement set.

Lights Are Flickering or Dim

When the fog lights are dim or start flickering, there might be a problem with the electrical system, such as the battery or alternator, or with the wiring. The problem could also lie with the bulb(s), in which case they might need replacing.

Blown Fuse or Switch

The fog lights might have a blown fuse and stop working when there is a power surge. This usually can be solved by replacing the fuse. However, if the fuse blows again, you should bring your vehicle to a mechanic to identify the issue.

Sharp Clicking Sound

A sharp click sound indicates that there is a problem with a fog light relay or the relay connections. This can be solved by replacing the fog light relay and problematic connections.

How to Choose the Right Fog Lights

Aftermarket or OEM

Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) fog lights are those made by either the car brand itself or its authorized manufacturers, whereas aftermarket units are made by third-party manufacturers.

We recommend investing in OEM fog lights to restore your vehicle's level of safety. Because of the more stringent levels of manufacturing, you'll likely get more use out of an OEM replacement. Not to mention, installing aftermarket units may void your vehicle's warranty.

Key Features & Vehicle Compatibility

To guarantee a proper fit, ensure that you're getting a fog light specific for your vehicle, as they can differ between models and even model years. You can search for fog lights by your vehicle's VIN and then double-check that the bulb type, beam pattern, color temperature, bulb size, connector type, and mounting points are all the same before you make your purchase.

If you're installing fog lights on your vehicle without existing ones or want a change, you can choose from aftermarket units, or even those used in other cars, to get the type of fog lights with the features you want.

Installation and Considerations

Once you have purchased the right replacement fog lights for your vehicle, you can go ahead and install them. If your vehicle already has existing fog lights, turn off your car and locate the fog light housing. Remove any covers, undo the old bulb, and insert and screw in the new one. Reattach any covers, and you're good to go.

If your vehicle doesn't have existing fog lights, the process is slightly trickier. You will have to wire the fog lights according to the instructions in the manual and install them on the vehicle. If your vehicle's front bumper doesn't have openings for the fog lights, you will have to cut them yourself. Alternatively, you might want to mount them on a grill or rack.

Where to Buy Quality New & Used Fog Lights

Brand-new fog lights can be found at various trusted auto parts dealers. For used fog lights in excellent condition and at great prices, shop here with BE FORWARD Auto Parts.