While most vehicles purchased from a manufacture meet Texas' headlight requirements, drivers are responsible for ensuring that their headlights adhere to state law. Drivers of custom vehicles should take special care to ensure their headlights meet these requirements.
Texas law requires headlights for all motor vehicles be between 24 and 54 inches off the ground, measured from the center of the light, or lamp. This law applies to all vehicles, including passenger vehicles, motorcycles and mopeds.
Vehicles must have headlights that meet the state's height requirements in order to pass a Texas vehicle inspection. Headlights that are not the legal height will result in the vehicle failing inspection until the problem is corrected.
The Texas Department of Public Safety notes that measurements should be taken when the vehicle is parked on level ground and is not carrying a load. The department also notes that drivers who have altered their vehicle's height should ensure that the headlights meet state requirements, as there is no exemption or exception to the law for vehicles that have been altered.
