Replacement LED’s

According to the manual, you can only replace the Front and Rear Turn Signals (21W Wedge Base Amber), and Back Up Light (16W Wedge Base Clear) yourself.

The manual goes on to say:
Replacing the following bulbs
If any of the lights listed below has burnt out, have it replaced by any authorized Toyota dealer or repairer, or another duly qualified and equipped professional.
● Headlights
● Daytime running lights
● Front position lights
● Front fog lights
● Side turn signal lights
● Rear fog lights
● Tail lights
● Stop lights
● High mounted stoplight
● License plate lights

Indeed, for the above bulbs, the Halfords Website says "Not Serviceable by User".

While you can buy the parts yourself, if you replaced the headlight bulbs the auto levelling system would have to be re-calibrated, and it's not a simple task to get access to the bulb. The thing comes as a headlight unit, that costs around £500. I doubt you're expected to carry two of those around with you in Europe.

From what I understand, the strict answer is that "yes" you need a spare bulb kit, but the realistic answer is that nobody ever seems to get asked to prove they have one, and you only need them for the bulbs you can actually replace yourself at the roadside. In your case, you need one of each of the two bulbs types I mentioned at the start.

 

Buy two H 11 bulbs and carry them, the officer isn’t going to know they don’t fit, you carry the receipt and explain they were what was recommended, Or spend 1000 for two bulb kits.

Something sounds fishy.

 

There really isn't such a thing as a headlight bulb - well, there is, but you can't get one or get at it. A bit like an old-fashioned sealed beam headlight didn't have a removable bulb.

I can't find where I wrote it - but it's in PRIUSCHAT somewhere, but the expected life of the LED bulbs is 30-50,000 hrs (can't quite remember) - but even 30.000 hrs at maybe 6hrs/week would exceed your expected maximum life-span of 100 years.

I'd suggest carrying spares is impractical - it's thinking from the olden days of tungsten/halogen bulbs (I hear they're over $1000 each - as are many these days from FORD, BMW, MERC etc).

No idea of cost of the latest smart/intelligent/digital/Multi-Beam replacements - but I'm certain they won't be carrying spares in their Maybach - along with the necessary tools to replace them (or a Bugatti - which probably requires the entire front of the car to be disassembled to reach them).

Someone in your proposed travel legislatures needs to re-write this crazy law.

 

and welcome to Prius Chat. As everyone has pointed out already it's just not feasible to comply with that regulation. The Prius headlamps, tail lights and chevron lights over the headlights are all LEDs. Add such they cannot be replaced by the user. I would follow the advice of @Lucifer and carry something that wouldn't fit. If the lawman was incapable of knowing LEDs can't be replaced, he/she is unlikely to spot the difference!

Regarding the life of the LEDs, I don't believe it's ever been measured for 30,000 hours and it's just a hypothetical estimate suggesting a much longer life than an incandescent bulb ever had!

So, enjoy your motoring travels and get back home safe and prosecution free.

 

That's quite a lot of expensive spares to carry around
I've just had to replace a whole rear light assembly at £170 on SWMBO's Gen 2 because the LED brake light wasn't working, all the other lights in the unit are bulbs.

 

I think there is a problem with measuring that long - university estimates say "up to 100,000", but some manufacturers go on the conservative side giving figures between 10,000 and 30,000.

That said - auto headlights (high beam) turn off and on often which might affect longevity - but I'm not expecting to replace any.

 

Hmm, I forgot to mention hiding the additional expense over incandescent!
His old were the lamps from new?

 

On the Gen 4 Prii at least, the headlamp LEDs are the same for main beam and dipped. It's just a shield that moves inside the lamp unit.

 

Did I read that there were 2 different bulb type arrangements round the world? - not quite sure, can't find it now.

US/Canada models don't have Auto-Levelling headlights Their manual shows how to level them manually - something the EU/Australia manuals don't.