Shop by Part
Headlight Motor
The headlight motor moves retractable headlights on pop-up headlight vehicles, raising and lowering the light pod.
Real-Time Inventory
Live stock from thousands of sellers
Fast Nationwide Delivery
Quick shipping to your door
Warranty-Backed
Confidence with quality you can trust
Top-Rated Sellers
Trusted recyclers and suppliers
Millions of Parts
Parts for virtually every vehicle
Filters
All Results
/yms/production/powerlink/196/I/667573/667573_01.jpg)
$157.55
/yms/production/powerlink/380/V/19888/19888_01.jpg)
$140.07
/yms/production/powerlink/14/V/100757/100757_01.jpg)
$191.02
/yms/production/powerlink/196/I/667574/667574_01.jpg)
$157.55
/yms/production/powerlink/843/V/18581/18581_01.jpg)
$116.09
Buying Guide
Headlight Motor Buying Guide
Headlights are essential safety equipment, and this guide covers the headlight system: the main lighting assembly and the motors and covers used on pop-up (retractable) headlight cars. Most are direct replacements, but matching technology, side, and trim is critical.
Whether your headlight was cracked in a collision or has turned milky from UV oxidation, a used OEM replacement headlight assembly restores full lighting performance and maintains factory appearance.
What's Included
The complete headlight housing including the lens, reflector, projector (if equipped), and typically the bulb sockets. Not included: the headlight bulbs themselves (halogen, HID, or LED) unless explicitly stated, the wiring harness, ballast (for HID systems), headlight adjusters, or the mounting bracket in some cases.
Left vs. Right
Driver side and passenger side headlights are mirror images — always specify which side you need. They are not interchangeable.
Technology to Match
Headlights come in distinct technologies that are not interchangeable:
Halogen — traditional tungsten filament bulb; the most common and least expensive
HID/Xenon — high-intensity discharge arc lamp requiring a ballast and igniter; significantly brighter than halogen
LED — light-emitting diode arrays; factory LED headlights are sealed units in most cases and the entire assembly replaces as one unit
Adaptive/Steerable — the headlight housing contains a motor that swivels the beam with steering input; requires the matching motor-equipped housing
If your vehicle has HID headlights, a halogen replacement will not fit the same wiring and won't produce the same light output. Always match the technology.
Bulb Fitment and HID Ballasts
If your vehicle uses HID headlights, the ballast (high-voltage converter) is sometimes separate from the headlight housing. If the ballast is bad, you may only need to replace it rather than the full assembly. HID ballasts are sold separately.
Lens Condition
Verify that the replacement lens is clear and crack-free. Light surface hazing can sometimes be polished out. Cracks through the lens allow water to collect inside the housing, causing bulb failures and corrosion.
Aiming
After replacing a headlight, the beam aim must be adjusted. Misaimed headlights blind oncoming drivers. Most vehicles have adjustment screws accessible from the engine bay — use a wall target method or a professional beam aimer.
ADAS / Camera Notes
Some headlight assemblies include or work in conjunction with camera and sensor systems for adaptive cruise control and lane-keeping. If your vehicle has these features, ensure your replacement assembly is compatible with these systems.
Found on vehicles with pop-up (retractable) headlights — common on 1980s–1990s sports cars and some imports. The headlight motor raises and lowers the headlight pod; the headlight door/cover is the body panel that conceals the light when retracted.
Motor issues: Pop-up headlight motors fail from worn brushes, corroded contacts, or mechanical gear strip. A common symptom is one headlight that raises slower than the other or stops mid-travel. Used motors are a viable replacement — test by applying 12V directly to the motor terminals to verify it runs before purchase.
Headlight door/cover: Sold as the door panel only — the motor, hinge, and headlight assembly are separate. Match by vehicle to ensure the contour and hinge mount align.
Support
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers on fitment, shipping, returns, payments, and how ShopEarl works.
Still have questions?
Talk to a real person Mon–Fri, 8 AM – 5 PM CT, or browse the full Help Center.
ShopEarl.com is a network of American auto part suppliers - salvage yards, aftermarket vendors, and powertrain remanufacturers.
Our mission is to make finding the right auto part easy, affordable, and environmentally friendly by giving quality used parts a second life and keeping them out of landfills.
We use a comprehensive vehicle fitment database that matches parts to specific makes, models, years, and engine types.
For critical components like engines and transmissions, we also require VIN verification for your vehicle to ensure an exact match. The VIN (Vehicle Identification Number) contains specific information about your vehicle's configuration that helps identify the exact parts it needs.
If you're ever unsure about fitment, our team is available to help verify compatibility before you make a purchase.
ShopEarl.com accepts the following payment methods:
- Major credit and debit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, and American Express
- Affirm
- Link
- Apple Pay
- Google Pay
All payment data is encrypted using TLS technology. We never see or store your full payment information—only a secure token provided by our processor to complete your purchase.
ShopEarl.com offers free shipping within the continental United States. Shipping times can vary depending on shipping methods, and ‘unbolted’ used parts typically ship a day faster than ‘yard’ parts that have to be professionally dismantled from the vehicle first. You’ll receive email and text notifications every step of the way.
Delivery to commercial locations is always free, but larger parts that ship freight may incur surcharges if they are delivered to a residential address. You can always ship these for free to a repair facility or our team can help find a nearby commercial address for local pickup.
At the moment, we don’t offer expedited shipping options. However, we’re always looking for ways to improve our services, and we hope to offer faster shipping options in the future.
All parts come with a minimum 30 day return window from the date your part arrives. See full return policy for all the details.
A core charge is a refundable fee charged when you buy a part that can be rebuilt or remanufactured, like an engine, alternator, or transmission. It works like a deposit:
- You pay the core charge upfront when you buy the part.
- After installing the new part, you return the old part (the “core”) to the seller.
This system encourages recycling and helps manufacturers refurbish used parts instead of making new ones from scratch.
Used parts are OEM auto parts professionally dismantled by certified auto recyclers.
Remanufactured parts are used OEM parts that have been completely disassembled, cleaned, and rebuilt with new components where necessary. They're tested to meet or exceed original equipment specifications, and often come with warranties similar to new parts.
New parts are new, aftermarket components that have never been installed on a vehicle.