A vehicle lighting unit (10, 10A) comprising: a laser light source (22, 22A) configured to emit laser light and having an optical axis (AX 20); a wavelength converting member (26, 26A) configured to receive the laser light emitted from the laser light source (22, 22A) and wavelength-convert at least part of the laser light to light with different wavelengths; and a lens member (40, 40A) configured to include a light incident surface (42, 42A) on which light from the wavelength converting member (26, 26A) or the laser light is incident, a first reflecting surface (44, 44A) configured to totally reflect the light from the light incident surface (42, 42A), a light exiting surface (48, 48A) through which the light totally reflected by the first reflecting surface (44, 44A) can exit, and a total-reflection prevention structure (56, 56A) at the first reflecting surface (44, 44A), the total-reflection prevention structure (56, 56A) configured to prevent the laser light entering the lens member (40, 40A) from being totally reflected by the first reflecting surface (44, 44A); wherein the laser light source (22, 22A) emits the laser light towards the light incident surface (42, 42A), wherein the wavelength converting member (26, 26A) is held by and fixed in a holding member at a position distanced away from the laser light source (22, 22A) in between the laser light source (22, 22A) and the light incident surface (42, 42A), and wherein the total-reflection prevention structure (56, 56A) is disposed in a region of the first reflecting surface (44, 44A) where the laser light, around the optical axis (AX 20) of the laser light source (22, 22A), reaches after having been emitted through the light incident surface (42, 42A) and entered the lens member (40, 40A). a laser light source (22, 22A) configured to emit laser light and having an optical axis (AX 20); a wavelength converting member (26, 26A) configured to receive the laser light emitted from the laser light source (22, 22A) and wavelength-convert at least part of the laser light to light with different wavelengths; and a lens member (40, 40A) configured to include a light incident surface (42, 42A) on which light from the wavelength converting member (26, 26A) or the laser light is incident, a first reflecting surface (44, 44A) configured to totally reflect the light from the light incident surface (42, 42A), a light exiting surface (48, 48A) through which the light totally reflected by the first reflecting surface (44, 44A) can exit, and a total-reflection prevention structure (56, 56A) at the first reflecting surface (44, 44A), the total-reflection prevention structure (56, 56A) configured to prevent the laser light entering the lens member (40, 40A) from being totally reflected by the first reflecting surface (44, 44A); a light incident surface (42, 42A) on which light from the wavelength converting member (26, 26A) or the laser light is incident, a first reflecting surface (44, 44A) configured to totally reflect the light from the light incident surface (42, 42A), a light exiting surface (48, 48A) through which the light totally reflected by the first reflecting surface (44, 44A) can exit, and a total-reflection prevention structure (56, 56A) at the first reflecting surface (44, 44A), the total-reflection prevention structure (56, 56A) configured to prevent the laser light entering the lens member (40, 40A) from being totally reflected by the first reflecting surface (44, 44A); wherein the laser light source (22, 22A) emits the laser light towards the light incident surface (42, 42A), wherein the wavelength converting member (26, 26A) is held by and fixed in a holding member at a position distanced away from the laser light source (22, 22A) in between the laser light source (22, 22A) and the light incident surface (42, 42A), and wherein the total-reflection prevention structure (56, 56A) is disposed in a region of the first reflecting surface (44, 44A) where the laser light, around the optical axis (AX 20) of the laser light source (22, 22A), reaches after having been emitted through the light incident surface (42, 42A) and entered the lens member (40, 40A).