Posh Wash
Headlight Restoration in Cairns
Yellowed, foggy, or hazed headlights are a safety issue and an eyesore. We restore them to clear, like-new condition at your home or workplace — a fraction of the cost of replacement.
UV Is the Main Culprit —
and Cairns Has Plenty
Headlight lenses are made of polycarbonate plastic with a UV-resistant coating. Over time — and much faster in Cairns' intense UV — this coating breaks down, allowing the plastic to oxidise. The result is that yellowed, cloudy, hazy look that gets worse every year.
Foggy headlights aren't just ugly — they reduce your nighttime visibility by up to 80%. That's a serious safety issue on dark tropical roads. Headlight restoration removes the oxidised layer and applies a protective sealant, restoring clarity and light output to near-new levels.
At a fraction of the cost of new headlight assemblies (which can cost $300-$1,000+ per side), restoration is the smart choice — especially when Cairns' UV means even new headlights will eventually yellow again without protection.
Tropical UV Destroys
Headlights Faster
Headlights in Cairns deteriorate significantly faster than in southern cities due to the extreme UV exposure.
Faster UV Coating Breakdown
The factory UV coating on headlight lenses breaks down 2-3x faster in Cairns than in Melbourne or Sydney. Cars that are just 3-4 years old often show significant yellowing here, while the same car down south might last 7-8 years.
Heat Accelerates Oxidation
High ambient temperatures combined with engine heat behind the lenses accelerate the oxidation process. The plastic physically degrades faster in tropical heat, turning yellow and cloudy from the outside in.
Safety on Tropical Roads
Cairns has many unlit rural and suburban roads, and wet season storms bring sudden low-visibility conditions. Properly clear headlights are essential for safe driving in the tropics — not a cosmetic concern.
Assessment & Masking
We assess the level of oxidation and mask off surrounding paint to protect it during the restoration process.
Wet Sanding
Progressive wet sanding with increasingly fine grades removes the oxidised layer from the headlight lens. This is the key step that restores clarity.
Machine Polish
After sanding, we machine polish the lens to a crystal-clear finish, removing all sanding marks and restoring full transparency.
UV Sealant Application
A UV-resistant sealant is applied to protect the restored lens from future oxidation. This extends the life of the restoration significantly.
Headlight Restoration Pricing in Cairns
Headlight restoration is one of the best-value services we offer. Here's the pricing guide:
Headlight Restoration (Pair)
From around $80-$120 for both headlights. Full wet sand, polish, and UV sealant application. Most vehicles completed in 1-2 hours.
Headlights + Fog Lights
From around $120-$160. Headlights plus fog lights or additional lenses. Same full restoration process for all lenses.
Headlights + Ceramic Coating
From $150+. Full headlight restoration with ceramic coating applied instead of standard sealant for maximum UV protection and longevity.
Headlight restoration costs a fraction of replacement headlight assemblies ($300-$1,000+ per side).
Results are immediate — you'll see the difference as soon as we're done.
See Clearly Again
Book headlight restoration and we'll have your lights clear and bright in under 2 hours. Mobile service — we come to you.
Add Headlight Restoration To
Exterior Detailing
Pair headlight restoration with an exterior detail for a complete refresh of your car's appearance.
Learn moreFull Detail
Add headlight restoration to a full detail for the ultimate top-to-bottom transformation.
Learn morePaint Correction
If your headlights are oxidised, your paint probably needs attention too. Bundle them for the best result.
Learn moreHeadlight Restoration Questions
Straight answers about headlight restoration in Cairns — no jargon.
Headlight restoration for both headlights costs between $80 and $120 depending on the level of oxidation. That's a fraction of the cost of replacement headlight assemblies, which can run $300-$1,000+ per side.
With the UV sealant we apply, restoration typically lasts 2-3 years in Cairns' conditions. With ceramic coating instead of standard sealant, you can extend that to 3-5 years. When it does start to yellow again, we simply restore them again.
Restoration is almost always the better option. It costs 80-90% less than replacement, takes 1-2 hours, and produces results that are virtually identical to new. The only time replacement makes sense is if the lens is physically cracked or damaged.
Dramatically. Severely oxidised headlights can reduce light output by up to 80%. After restoration, most customers are amazed at the difference — it's like having new headlights. This is as much a safety improvement as a cosmetic one.
Yes — we restore headlights on all makes and models. The process works on any polycarbonate headlight lens, which is what virtually all modern cars use. Older glass headlights don't typically need restoration.
Cairns' extreme UV radiation breaks down the factory UV coating on headlight lenses much faster than in southern cities. What might take 7-8 years down south happens in 3-4 years up here. It's one of the most common car issues we see in the tropics.