Headlamp aim: too high

This was recorded 379,191 times on cars and light vans in 2025, which makes it number 26 on the list of things that stop a car passing.

379,191recorded in 2025
26on the national list
1.8%of the top forty defects

What the tester is looking at

The aim of a headlamp is not within limits laid down in the requirements

What you can do about it

Headlamp aim drifts as a car ages. It is a quick adjustment on most cars.

How serious it counts as

The tester records this as a major defect. What the categories mean.

Other things checked on the headlamp aim

All forty defects, from 42,728,066 MOT tests in 2025.