How to Replace 2013 Honda Accord Headlight Bulbs?

Last Updated on 2025-09-07

Look, buddy. If your 2013 Honda Accord’s headlights are looking and performing worse than your neighbors kid after a long day in school, you might want to address this issue. This is not just about avoiding being pulled over - it’s also about not driving blind at night and assuring other drivers can see you coming.

Your vehicle’s headlights are the eyes and the voice of the vehicle rolled into one. They make sure to turn on what lies ahead—be it potholes, shopping carts, or that deer that plays chicken with traffic. They also make sure to shout, “Hey, I’m still here and don’t crash into me!” especially important if the weather gets bad.

Now here’s the kicker: 2013 Accord’s bulbs are not immune. They dim over time, flicker, or just straight-up quit. It doesn’t matter if it’s halogen, HID, or LED - everything has an expiry date. Now, when do you think they should be changed? What do you expect when taking it to a shop? And what do you have to do to break things and change them yourself?

How Much Does It Cost to Replace 2013 Honda Accord Headlight Bulbs?

Your morning brew requires careful decision making, simply switching the headlight bulb on a 2013 Honda Accord ain’t that simple either. There are numerous puzzles to work through as well. Cost is determined by factors like what trim level of the Accord you’re driving, the location of the bulb, and the extent of damage it has sustained.

When browsing, you will most likely come across information stating that the cost for replacing a headlight bulb for a 2013 Honda Accord is somewhere between 54 to 63 dollars. The recharge for the service could hit between 30 and 40 dollars, with the bulb itself costing an additional 20 to 22 dollars.

Estimated 2013 Honda Accord Replacement Prices

Description	Cost Type	Price
2013 Honda Accord headlight bulb	Total Cost	$54-$63
Labor (mechanic's fee)	Labor Cost	$30-$40
Headlight bulb	Part Cost	$20-$22

When to Replace 2013 Honda Accord Headlight Bulbs?

So here’s the deal: bulbs don’t really go out with a bang. It’s more like they fade. Gradually. You probably won’t even notice at first. But eventually, you’ll be cruising around at night thinking, “Man, it’s dark out.” Nope—it’s just your weak headlights.

Here’s a rough idea of what you’re dealing with:

Halogens (what most Accords have stock): 500–1,000 hours. Once they go yellow or dim, time to toss ‘em.
HID (on some higher trims): 2,000–3,000 hours. When they start flickering or turning weird colors—replace ‘em.
LEDs (if you upgraded): 30,000–50,000 hours. These rarely fail outright but can slowly lose brightness.

Don't wait if you see one side looking dimmer than the other or it takes a second to light up—replace both. Always both. Otherwise, you’ll be like a half dimmed pirate ship with one lantern.

How to Replace 2013 Honda Accord Headlight Bulbs Step-by-Step?

Now for the fun part. You ready? Roll up your sleeves, pop that hood, and let’s get to work. It’s not rocket science, but there are a couple of tricks that'll save you from breaking stuff.

What You’ll Need:

New bulb (duh)
Gloves (latex or nitrile – don’t touch the bulb glass)
Flathead screwdriver
A flashlight
Maybe a 10mm socket wrench (for better access)

Step-by-Step Walkthrough:

Kill the engine and pop the hood. Give it a few minutes if it was running—hot engines suck to work over.
Unhook the battery. Yeah, I know, it seems like overkill. But you’re working around wiring. Don’t risk a short.
Get behind the headlight housing. This might be tight, especially on the passenger side. You may need to pull out part of the intake duct to get your hand in there.
Unplug the power connector. Give it a gentle wiggle—don’t yank it like a maniac.
Twist the old bulb out counterclockwise. Careful—if it’s stuck, rusted, or crusty, don’t force it. Better to pause than snap a socket.
Slide the new bulb in. Wear gloves. If you touch the glass, wipe it clean with rubbing alcohol—no grease allowed.
Reconnect everything and test the lights. Fire up the switch and check both beams.
Close it all back up. Snap the intake back in if you moved it, tighten anything loose, and you’re done.

Quick tip

Some folks upgrade to brighter halogen or plug-and-play LED bulbs. Just make sure they’re street-legal in your state. Some LEDs look slick but will get you failed at inspection.

What Bulb Size Do You Need?

Let me save you some headaches here. The bulb sizes for a 2013 Accord depend on the trim, but here’s a quick cheat sheet:

Light Type	Bulb Size
Low Beam	H11
High Beam	9005
HID (Touring)	D2S

Guide to Picking the Perfect Bulb:

In the Manual

Retrieve your often neglected glove compartment and get out that owner's manual that you seldom look at. It could be used as an emergency paperweight, but that isn’t its sole purpose. The manual explains everything from your Accord’s specifications’s to its bulbs intricacies.

Online

You can get assistance from reliable automotive bulbs s web too. There are numerous databases which have the correct size of the bulbs and are organized well.

The Old Bulb

Take a close look at the dud bulb before tossing it in the trash. Every once in a while, it's exterior contains the precise answers you're looking for.

At the Shop

Go to your neighborhood auto parts store and ask an attendant. Chances are, they've juggled more bulbs than you've sipped coffees.

Should You Disconnect the Battery?

Short answer? Please, take care of it.

Long answer: Some circuits remain live even when the engine isn’t running. If you incorrectly interface with something, you risk electing to destroy a fuse or set off a warning light, and it could cost you. There is not point in being sorry, so it is better to remove the negative terminal from the battery as a precaution.

Final Thoughts From the Garage

Changing your headlights is more than just basic maintenance - it is essential knowledge for any car enthusiast, regardless of gender. It is easy to do by yourself, saves money and makes the vehicle safer. Not to mention, gives you a sense of accomplishment when you switch them on and the lights shine like new.

So make sure you put some effort in before your next drive, unless you want the drive to be a game of guessing. If you want I can make recommendations for you or guide you to better documentation.

Let’s keep those Accords sharp and those roads bright. See you in the garage.