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