Conventional headlights are halogen-based and are the most commonly used type of headlight technology on the road today. HIDs, or High Intensity Discharge headlights, are considered upgrades that are often adapted for use in cars, trucks, and SUVs, even though some higher-end manufacturers do include them standard (or as options) on their vehicles. Deciding whether to stick with halogens or upgrade to HIDs can be a difficult choice, as there are differences in maintenance, appearance, and results that one has to consider. Below, we'll go through relevant facets of each headlight technology, so you can decide what lighting type is best suited for your driving needs.

Halogens

-Installation: Most vehicles are already equipped with halogen-based headlights, so if you're looking to replace busted halogen bulbs or even worn-out ones, you simply have to take out the dead or dying bulbs and screw in new ones. The only reason you'd have for a more complicated installation process would be if you decided to downgrade from HIDs to halogens, but that's a rarity in today's market.

-Appearance: Halogen headlights don't really add much to a car, but they don't take away anything either. They're so commonplace on the road today that having them equipped is like seeing people wearing shirts and pants; it's only unusual one someone is against the norm, not when someone is following it wholeheartedly.

-Performance: Halogens headlights certainly aren't bottom rung technology; in fact, they last a fairly long time and they emit generally sufficient quantities of light. Over time, they can dim though, and that makes it difficult to see on the road, even if they're technically still in working order.

HIDs

-Installation: HIDs are far from the most difficult parts to install, but they certainly aren't for novice installers either. You'll need to install new ballasts and other components (sometime even wire harness adaptors as well), and that can take time. If you're used to upgrading your vehicle, this shouldn't be an extraordinary feat, but don't expect to just unscrew halogen bulbs and screw in HID ones; it doesn't work that way.

-Appearance: Here's where HIDs start taking the lead. HID headlights can be customized to the owner's preference, so you can select a color along a spectrum that best suits your taste. Like something subtle? Go with a gold-to-yellow color. Prefer something ultramodern and bold? Try bright blue or vivid purple headlights. HID colors are based on your color temperature selection. But don't worry; color temperatures only correspond to the resulting color of the headlights, not the intensity of the bulb light.

-Performance: If you want headlights that can last ten-times longer and shine nearly 3x as brightly as halogen arrays, you'll want to pick up some HIDs. Some users get concerned immediately after installation because of a low humming sound or mismatched headlight colors, but don't be alarmed. HIDs sometimes take awhile to adapt to your car's systems once installed, and these unusual occurrences should clear up rather quickly.