If you were involved in a recent fender bender and damaged the tail light, you might be tempted to hold off on repairs. However, these lights are critical to your safety on the road, which is why you should head over to the auto shop for a quality used tail light at the first sign of damage. Here’s what you need to know about the importance of broken tail light repair. 

Safety & Legal Consequences

Your tail lights ensure your car is visible during poor weather conditions or at night. If it’s raining or snowing outside, this will hinder a motorist’s reaction time on the road; a broken tail light might prevent that driver from seeing you on time, leading to a collision. Your blinkers will also be affected. Other drivers may have a harder time anticipating you changing lanes or turning, which can result in risky maneuvers.

In addition to affecting your safety, operating a vehicle with a broken tail light is illegal. A police officer can pull you over and fine you for failing to replace this part, even if only the casing is damaged. 

How to Tell if Your Tail Light Is Broken

Turn your vehicle’s headlights on and then put your vehicle in park. Walk to the back of the car and inspect the tail lights; if they’re not lit up when the front headlights are on, they’ve likely burnt out. If the fuse is at fault, a technician can replace this. However, if the entire bulb is burnt or smashed due to an accident, you’ll need to replace it with a new or used tail light.  

If you’re in the market for a quality used tail light to replace your broken one, turn to the team at Stewart’s Used Auto Parts. Based in Barkhamsted, CT, this locally owned and operated auto shop offers a wide selection of new, used, and recycled car parts, from used tail lights to radiators, at their salvage yard. They also provide convenient junk removal services. Call (860) 379-7541 to discuss your needs. You can also visit them online for more information about their auto parts and services.