Vehicle test procedures - Stage 2

Headlamp Alignment

You will be guided forward and requested to stop your car in front of the headlamp alignment equipment. At this stage you will be asked to operate your lights. The Headlight Alignment Test will be carried out.

Also at this stage the following items will be checked:

• Headlamps
• Direction indicators
• Stop lamps
• Rear reflectors
• Seat belts
• Seats
• Windows and windscreen
• Windscreen washers and wipers
• Horn
• Mirrors
• Front and rear position lamps, registration plate lamps and rear fog lamp
• Body condition
• Doors, boot lid and bonnet
• General condition of vehicle
• Vehicle structural integrity and construction

Headlamp Alignment Testing Criteria

The most common type of headlamps fitted to vehicles are those known as European type headlamps which are checked for aim on the dip beam.

These headlamps have an asymmetric dipped beam pattern with a distinctive horizontal cut-off on the right, and a 15 degree wedge of light above the horizontal (the 'Kick up') towards the left.

Any of the following points will result in the vehicle being refused a certificate.

• The beam pattern blurred and does not show a distinctive cut-off point.
• The beam 'kick-up' is to the offside, i.e. The headlamp dips to the right.
• The image break point is not between the vertical -2.0% line (blue vertical line) and the vertical 0% line (black vertical line).
• Headlamp centres not more than 850mm above the ground. The beam horizontal cut-off line (pitch) is not between -0.5% and -2% line (red lines).

or

• Headlamp centres more than 850mm above the ground. The beam horizontal cut-off line (pitch) is not between -1.25% and -2.75% line (green lines).

Note: There will be no opportunity to adjust headlamp alignment during the test. Levelling devices should be set for unladen condition, normally located on vehicle dash.

After the lights have been inspected you will be asked to leave your vehicle and open the fuel cap (this is to inspect the seal on the cap as many accidents have been caused by fuel spillages) and the car boot. The boot should be free of luggage to allow the examiner to inspect the boot floor and body structure. The examiner will then instruct you to take a seat in the passenger seat of your car.

The examiner will now drive your car forward to stage 3