Rear-view mirrors on motor vehicles
Published 1 May 2010
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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mirrors-on-motor-vehicles/summary-of-requirements-for-mirrors-on-motor-vehicles
General guidance and advice on the legislative requirements in Great Britain relating to rear-view mirrors in buses, cars, dual-purpose vehicles and goods vehicles used on the road. These requirements are set out in full in regulation 33 of The Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 (SI 1986 No. 1078).
Every effort has been made to ensure that it is factually correct but recipients should check with the producers of this document if they are unsure about the validity of a particular regulation after the date of publication or if they have reason to believe any part is not correct or is now out of date.
Where a vehicle has received Individual Vehicle Approval (for example, because it is imported or amateur built), other standards may be permitted which provide an equivalent level of safety.
General requirements
The tables below summarise the number, type and standard of mirror required to be fitted to various types of vehicle. In addition, the following requirements should also be met:
- each mirror must be fixed to the vehicle in such a way that it remains steady under normal driving conditions
- each exterior mirror on a vehicle fitted with windows and a windscreen shall be visible to the driver, when in his driving position, through a side window or through the portion of the windscreen which is swept by the windscreen wiper
- where the bottom edge of an exterior mirror is less than 2 metres above the road surface when the vehicle is laden, that mirror shall not project more than 20cm beyond the overall width of the vehicle or, if the vehicle is drawing a trailer which is wider than the drawing vehicle, more than 20cm beyond the overall width of the trailer
- each interior mirror shall be capable of being adjusted by the driver when in his driving position
- except in the case of a mirror which, if knocked out of its alignment can be returned to its former position without needing to be adjusted, each exterior mirror on the driver’s side of the vehicle shall be capable of being adjusted by the driver when in his driving position. This requirement does not prevent such a mirror from being locked into position from the outside of the vehicle
- when drawing a trailer (or caravan) the references to a vehicle in the definitions in paragraph (7) of regulation 33 of The Road Vehicles (Construction & Use) Regulations 1986 shall be construed as including references to that trailer
Buses
Motor vehicles constructed or adapted to carry more than 8 seated passengers in addition to the driver - includes minibuses and coaches.
Mirror requirements for buses
| Date first used | External (offside) | External (nearside) | Internal | Mirror standard key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Before 1 June 1978 | yes | One external (ns) or one internal (May 2010: at least one mirror fitted externally on the nearside unless a mirror which gives the driver an adequate view to the rear is fitted internally) | One external (ns) or one internal (May 2010: at least one mirror fitted externally on the nearside unless a mirror which gives the driver an adequate view to the rear is fitted internally) | A |
| On or after 1 June 1978 | yes | yes | B | |
| On or after 26 January 2007 | yes | yes | D |
Cars
Vehicles constructed solely to carry 8 or less seated passengers (excluding the driver) and their effects.
Dual purpose vehicles
Those with an unladen weight not exceeding 2040kg constructed or adapted to carry both passengers and goods, but there are also other detailed conditions set out in regulation 3 of The Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986.
Mirror requirements for cars and dual purpose vehicles
| Vehicle - date first used | External (offside) | External (nearside) | Internal | Mirror standard key |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cars - before 1 June 1978 | yes | One external (ns) or one internal (at least one mirror fitted externally on the nearside unless a mirror which gives the driver an adequate view to the rear is fitted internally) | One external (ns) or one internal (at least one mirror fitted externally on the nearside unless a mirror which gives the driver an adequate view to the rear is fitted internally) | A |
| Dual purpose vehicles - before 1 June 1978 | yes | One external (ns) or one internal (at least one mirror fitted externally on the nearside unless a mirror which gives the driver an adequate view to the rear is fitted internally) | 1 external (ns) or 1 internal (at least one mirror fitted externally on the nearside unless a mirror which gives the driver an adequate view to the rear is fitted internally) | A |
| Cars and dual purpose vehicles - after 1 June 1978 | yes | One external (ns) or one internal (at least one mirror fitted externally on the nearside unless a mirror which gives the driver an adequate view to the rear is fitted internally) | One external (ns) or one internal (at least one mirror fitted externally on the nearside unless a mirror which gives the driver an adequate view to the rear is fitted internally) | B |
| Cars and dual purpose vehicles - after 26 January 2010 | yes | yes | yes (unless the internal mirror cannot provide an adequate view to the rear) | D |
Goods Vehicle
A motor vehicle or trailer constructed or adapted for use for the carriage or haulage of goods or burden of any description.
Mirror Requirements for Goods Vehicle
| Weight - date first used | External (Offside) | External (Nearside) | Internal | Additional External | Mirror Standard key |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All weights - first used before 1 June 1978 | yes | One external (ns) or one internal (at least one mirror fitted externally on the nearside unless a mirror which gives the driver an adequate view to the rear is fitted internally) | One external (ns) or one internal (at least one mirror fitted externally on the nearside unless a mirror which gives the driver an adequate view to the rear is fitted internally) | A | |
| Not exceeding 3500kg - first used on or after 1 June 1978 | yes | yes | B | ||
| Greater than 3500kg - first used on or after 1 June 1978 but before 1 April 1985 | yes | yes | B | ||
| Greater than 3500kg but not exceeding 12000kg - first used on or after 1 April 1985 | yes | yes | B | ||
| Greater than 12000kg - first used on or after 1 April 1985 but before 1 October 1988 | yes | yes | B | ||
| Greater than 12,000kg - first used after 1 October 1988 | yes | yes | yes (a close-proximity mirror required on the nearside. If the vehicle is articulated, it must also have a wide-angle mirror) | C | |
| Greater than 3,500kg - first used on or after 1 January 2000 | yes | yes | yes (May 2010: a close-proximity and a wide angle mirror required on the nearside where the cab height permits the close-proximity mirror to be fitted at least 2 metre above the ground) | E | |
| Greater than 7,500kg - first used on or after 26 January 2007 | yes | yes | yes (May 2010: a close-proximity and a wide angle mirror required on the nearside and a front view mirror above the windscreen) | D |
Mirror standard key
Text for the mirror standard key used in tables:
A: Internal mirrors must be surrounded by some material so that it is unlikely that severe cuts will be caused should the mirror be struck by any occupant of the vehicle.
B: Mirrors must comply with the requirements set out in item 2 of Annex I to Community Directive 71/127 or 79/795; or Annex II to Community Directive 86/562 or 88/321; or paragraphs 4 to 8 of ECE Regulation 46.01.
C: Mirrors must comply with the requirements set out in Annex II to Community Directive 86/562 or 88/321; or paragraphs 4 to 8 of ECE Regulation 46.01.
D: Mirrors must comply with the requirements set out in Annex II to Community Directive 2003/97 or 2005/27; or paragraphs 4, 5 and 6.1 of ECE Regulation 46.02.
E: Mirrors must comply with the requirements set out in Article 3 to Community Directive 2007/38.
Further information
Consolidated versions of National regulations can be found in Sweet and Maxwell’s Encyclopaedia of Road Traffic Law and Practice (Construction and Use) which should be available at most main reference libraries.
Copies of National regulations can also be purchased from TSO:
TSO Orders/Post Cash Department
PO Box 29
Norwich
NR3 1GN
tel: 0870 600 5522
fax: 0870 600 5533
Email TSO customer services: customer.services@tso.co.uk
The Community Directives may be downloaded from the European Commission.
UNECE Regulation 46 may be downloaded from the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe.
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