Headlight restoration in Milton.

Milton has stretches where streetlights stop and the road keeps going. Out toward the escarpment and along rural concession roads the only light is your own, and a hazy lens scatters it instead of throwing it down the road. The change is gradual, so people adapt to it until a clear pair on another car shows how much they have lost.

The cause is the clear protective coating on a plastic lens failing under UV light and weather. Once it breaks down, the plastic underneath oxidises. Our guide to why headlights turn yellow explains the chemistry in plain terms.

It also affects newer cars more than people expect. Plastic lenses on a vehicle that lives outdoors in a subdivision driveway collect years of sun, and the highway adds sand and stone chips on top of that.

The aim is to remove the damaged outer layer and put protection back. In order:

1. Tape the surrounding paint and trim.
2. Sand the lens through progressively finer abrasives until the oxidised layer is gone and the surface is evenly matte.
3. Machine polish to bring back clarity.
4. Wipe clean and apply a UV protective layer, which is the step that stops it coming back quickly.
5. Check both lenses side by side under light.

Each lens takes real time, because the sanding has to be even or the finish looks patchy. We do both sides to match, rather than treating the worse one only.

Headlight restoration is priced on quote, so we say "quoted with your vehicle" rather than guess. Add photos of both headlights on the quote form and we will confirm the price. The headlight restoration service page has the details.

Usually, if the haze is on the outside of the lens. Run a finger over it. A rough, chalky feel means surface oxidation, which we can fix. Two cases are different:

• Moisture or fog inside the housing. Sanding the outside will not touch this, and it means a seal has failed.
• Deep cracks or pitting. Stone chips from highway driving can pit the lens beyond what polishing can hide.

We tell you which case you have before we start, and if restoration will not give a good result we say so. A lens that is too far gone is better replaced than polished, and we would rather tell you that than take the job.

A restored lens is protected, but it is not new. Parking in a garage or shade when you can, and washing the lenses with the rest of the car, makes a real difference. Pairing headlights with a full detail is a common choice, and our full detailing in Milton page shows what that involves.

We travel with water, power and lighting, so a driveway is fine. Restoration is a good same-visit add-on with any detail. See the Milton car detailing page for coverage. Rain means a free reschedule or a move into a garage. Payment is by card, e-transfer or cash, and every job ends with a walk-around so you can check the lenses yourself in daylight.