Replacement Smart tail lights can cost somewhere between $40 and $80 per light. Replacing your Smart tail lights yourself can save you some money, but you can also take your Smart car to a shop to have a mechanic replace them for you.

When your Smart tail lights are working, it’s a lot easier for other drivers to see you on the road, especially when visibility is low. But when one or both of your Fortwo’s tail lights aren’t working, you’re at a much greater risk of getting into a collision.

To help you avoid that risk—and a ticket—

car insurance

comparison app

Jerry

is here with a guide to replacing Smart tail lights. Read on to learn about the steps involved with replacing your tail lights, general costs, and whether it’s a smart idea to report a busted tail light to your insurance. We'll also help you lower your

Smart car insurance costs

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How to replace a Smart tail light

Cost: $40 to $80

Time: 10 to 30 minutes

Tools needed: Safety glasses, gloves, Philips head screwdriver or socket wrench, replacement part(s), pry tool (optional)

Difficulty: Easy

Before replacing your tail light, it helps to try and determine the problem’s source.

If you only have one tail light that isn’t working, you might simply have a burned-out bulb on your hands. If both your tail lights are having issues, you might be dealing with something more extensive, like bad wiring or a faulty control switch.

Replacing a tail light

is a task many drivers are able to manage themselves, but if you’re having difficulty determining why your tail light isn’t working, or you just don’t want to do the repair yourself, you always have the option of bringing your car to a mechanic.

If you’ve determined that it’s a tail light that needs to be replaced, look to your owner’s manual to find the right part number based on your car’s model, year, trim level, and engine type.

Once you have your replacement parts, tools, and safety gear ready to go, here are the general steps involved when replacing a Smart Fortwo tail light:

First, disconnect the battery as a safety precaution to avoid any risk of accidental electrocution. Remember to start with the negative cable!

To replace a 2013 Smart Fortwo tail light, open the trunk or liftgate. There are plastic panels on the right and left sides of the cargo area with tabs you can push in to release.

Remove the access cover and the second cover behind it, where you’ll see the wiring on the inside of the tail light assembly. (To keep the inside cover out of the way, you can use a clip or tape to hold it back, or just fold it in on itself.)

Push up on the bulb’s retaining clip to release it and pull out the circuit board with the light bulbs. You can release the second wire connector by pressing on its plastic clips.

Twist the bulb slightly counterclockwise and remove it from the socket.

Insert the new bulb.

Reinsert the bulb socket board back into the tail light assembly.

Some Smart tail lights will slightly deviate from these steps based on your car’s make, model, and year, so you’ll want to understand how your tail lights are set up (including their important wire connections) before you get started.

On a 2006 Smart Fortwo, for example, you must remove the tail light assembly to replace bulbs. Removing the two bolts holding your tail light in place. Then, with care for the wiring, gently take the tail light assembly out of the car by swinging the right side out over the bolts. To access the bulbs, unclip the assembly covers and unhook the single wire connector at the back.

While some tail light assemblies come with bulbs, others require you to buy them separately, so pay attention to part details when you order them.

Pro Tip It’s a good idea to wear gloves when handling your tail light bulbs to avoid getting oils or smudges on them. Twisting a bulb close to the base will also make you less likely to accidentally damage it.

Commons reasons for Smart tail light malfunctions

Not sure why your Smart tail light stopped working? The following are some common reasons for tail light malfunctions:

Burned-out bulb: If you’re only having a problem with one tail light, you might simply have a burned-out bulb.

Damaged or corroded socket: If your tail light’s been exposed to moisture, this can cause rust or corrosion, so look for signs of this before installing a new tail light bulb.

Faulty wiring, control switch, or fuses: If you find your tail lights still aren’t working after replacing your bulbs, you might be dealing with a more extensive issue, which could be related to a faulty control switch, fuse, or bad wiring.

MORE:

DIY headlight restoration guide

Does car insurance cover broken tail lights?

Whether your car insurance will cover broken tail lights

depends on various factors like:

The cause of damage

Your level of coverage

Your deductible amount

However, making a car insurance claim for your tail light replacement might not be a “smart” option.

Let’s get into why that is. If you have

collision coverage

, you’d generally be covered for damages that happened due to—well, a collision. If you have

comprehensive coverage

, you’d see coverage for damage after events including falling objects, vandalism, or natural disasters.

But in most cases, even if the event that damaged your tail light technically qualifies you for coverage, you’d still need to

reach your deductible

amount first. Common deductible amounts are $500 or $1,000.

Replacing a Smart tail light is generally inexpensive; a single tail light assembly could cost between $40 and $80 for parts. If a mechanic took care of it for you, you’d also have an additional labor cost, which still might not get you to your deductible amount.

If you do file a claim for your tail light, depending on your policy, you might also see your insurance rate go up, so in most cases, it ends up being more cost-effective to pay for a tail light replacement out of pocket

MORE:

When should you not make a car insurance claim?

How to find affordable Smart insurance

Do you know what else is smart? Using the

Jerry

app to help you save time and money on car insurance shopping.

If you’re new to the Jerry experience, here’s how it works. Once you’ve entered your information, Jerry will show you personalized

car insurance quotes

from top providers, all in one spot, so you can find the lowest rate for the amount of coverage you’re looking for.

If you find a better deal than your current insurance, Jerry can even help you with setting up your new policy and canceling your old one.

It’s an easy process that pays off for plenty of drivers in a big way. The average Jerry user saves $800+ per year on car insurance!

“
Jerry
got me insured through Allstate with $100 of savings each month compared to my previous insurance. The customer service was excellent, and they even detected an error my previous insurer didn’t!” —Warren H.

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Thousands of customers saved on average $887/year on their car insurance with Jerry

Gabriella R.

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How much does it cost to replace a Smart tail light?

The cost to repair a single Smart tail light could fall between $40 and $80, depending on your vehicle model and year, as well as whether you replace the light yourself or have a mechanic do it for you.

Can you replace tail lights yourself?

Replacing a Smart tail light is a relatively quick and straightforward task that many drivers are able to handle themselves. However, it does involve working with electrical components, so it’s a good idea to understand best safety practices before you get started.

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