Do I need an interior rear view mirror for my MOT?

[blugnu]

MY interior mirror fell off a few weeks ago.

I stuck it on last night as it's MOT day today, but it has fallen off overnight. I guess cold weather isn't great for glue curing.

Anyway, I was just wondering if I actually need it for the MOT - I'll find out soon enough I suppose, but if I *have* to have it then I might be able to bodge it back on. The car has two wing mirrors, but is this enough?

Cheers

[anonymous-user]

blugnu said:

MY interior mirror fell off a few weeks ago.

I stuck it on last night as it's MOT day today, but it has fallen off overnight. I guess cold weather isn't great for glue curing.

Anyway, I was just wondering if I actually need it for the MOT - I'll find out soon enough I suppose, but if I *have* to have it then I might be able to bodge it back on. The car has two wing mirrors, but is this enough?

Cheers

Yep fine. Think of the myriad of Corsa vans etc that have no rear view mirror... 2 wing mirrors negates the need for a windscreen mounted jobbie.

[blugnu]

And it's no different because you can see out of the back of a car?

[anonymous-user]

blugnu said:

And it's no different because you can see out of the back of a car?

Nope. I once painted the back windows of an old car, and although I got pulled for it, the Police were only interested why (so nobody could see the £££ of musical equipment in the back), they had no problem with it being done.

Honestly, you'll be fine.

[blugnu]

Cheers.

[Mr AJ]

Your only required to have 2 mirrors, So you can have 1 wing mirror and the interior mirror or just the wing mirrors.

[Dracoro]

As I remember, you need minimum just 1 fixed & adjustable rear view mirror.

from http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_810.htm

mot said:

Obligatory mirrors are
a. an exterior mirror fitted to the offside (right-hand side when seated in the
drivers seat), or

b, an exterior mirror fitted to the
nearside fleft hand side when seated In the drivers seat), or

c. an interior mirror.

Goods vehicles are what need 2, one of which must be the drivers side mirror

Edited by Dracoro on Wednesday 12th January 10:24

[Fish981]

Dracoro said:

As I remember, you need minimum just 1 fixed & adjustable rear view mirror.

from http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_810.htm

mot said:

Obligatory mirrors are
a. an exterior mirror fitted to the offside (right-hand side when seated in the
drivers seat), or

b, an exterior mirror fitted to the
nearside fleft hand side when seated In the drivers seat), or

c. an interior mirror.

Goods vehicles are what need 2, one of which must be the drivers side mirror

Edited by Dracoro on Wednesday 12th January 10:24

You missed out quite a fundamental bit, and I quote:-

'Passenger vehicles with more than 7 passenger seats of any age, and all passenger vehicles first used on or after I August 1978 (not being a minibus as above), must have two mirrors, one of which must be option 'a'.'

You need 2 mirrors, one of which has got to be the drivers wing mirror.

[Dracoro]

So drivers side mirror plus one other (can be either interior or passenger).

TBH that's what I thought it was until I searched the mot site (not thoroughly enough! ) so I stand corrected

I had vague memories knowing the rules of my MK1 Golf but that was a 1978 model but before 1st August, every car since then has had 3 mirrors anyway so never something I needed to know (although my Westfield only had 2 side mirrors and no interior one).

[tvrgit]

I was watching one of those "police stop road wars nightcops camera action" things last night, and they had stopped a shed with various faults, one of which was the lack of an interior mirror - both door mirrors were intact. The cop said "that's an MOT fail" and added it to the (fairly long) list of faults.

I thought "that's not right", which just goes to show that some cops might not necessarily know the law (which is set out correctly in the previous post).

[anonymous-user]

tvrgit said:

I was watching one of those "police stop road wars nightcops camera action" things last night, and they had stopped a shed with various faults, one of which was the lack of an interior mirror - both door mirrors were intact. The cop said "that's an MOT fail" and added it to the (fairly long) list of faults.

I thought "that's not right", which just goes to show that some cops might not necessarily know the law (which is set out correctly in the previous post).

But tell him he's not correct, and you'd fail the so-called attitude test...

[tvrgit]

Opulent said:

tvrgit said:

I was watching one of those "police stop road wars nightcops camera action" things last night, and they had stopped a shed with various faults, one of which was the lack of an interior mirror - both door mirrors were intact. The cop said "that's an MOT fail" and added it to the (fairly long) list of faults.

I thought "that's not right", which just goes to show that some cops might not necessarily know the law (which is set out correctly in the previous post).

But tell him he's not correct, and you'd fail the so-called attitude test...

That was exactly what I was thinking when I watched it, and again when I wrote that post - how do you politely point out that he's wrong without getting more grief? Do you just quietly take the FPN ticket and not pay it, and go to court? Are you better to quetly take the ticket and write to the station explaining WHY you're not paying it? Can you refuse to accept the FPN and insist on court and let him make an arse of himself there (which would be my preferred course of action if he was determined to be a smart-arse)?

[GT03ROB]

As others have said definitely not. My Elise passed without one a few months back.

[Dracoro]

tvrgit said:

Opulent said:

tvrgit said:

I was watching one of those "police stop road wars nightcops camera action" things last night, and they had stopped a shed with various faults, one of which was the lack of an interior mirror - both door mirrors were intact. The cop said "that's an MOT fail" and added it to the (fairly long) list of faults.

I thought "that's not right", which just goes to show that some cops might not necessarily know the law (which is set out correctly in the previous post).

But tell him he's not correct, and you'd fail the so-called attitude test...

That was exactly what I was thinking when I watched it, and again when I wrote that post - how do you politely point out that he's wrong without getting more grief? Do you just quietly take the FPN ticket and not pay it, and go to court? Are you better to quetly take the ticket and write to the station explaining WHY you're not paying it? Can you refuse to accept the FPN and insist on court and let him make an arse of himself there (which would be my preferred course of action if he was determined to be a smart-arse)?

This is where YOUR people skills come into play.

I would, in a nice voice, politely etc. ASK (not tell - i.e. people skills etc.) him what the rule is as you believe(!) that you have been misled by your local MOT bloke who said the rule was XYZ. If worded well, he won't take offence but it will plant the seed in his head and he may change his stance.
e.g. with sincere smiles etc. say "Sorry about that officer, can you let me know what is the rule I must have got it wrong as I thought I remember the local MOT bloke led me to believe that the rule was I needed 2 mirrors, once being the drivers side and one other", you may then get the response "hang on a minute sir, just need to confer with my colleague" etc. and come back and say "sorry sir, it appears you are right".

However, if you say to him "nah mate, your wrong, I know the rule, gimme your badge number", guess what you'll get a less than favourable response.......

If you take the polite route unsuccessfully then later, call the local plod (or the traffic division?) and speak to them about what happened (say you're read up on the rules etc.) and they may have other ways to scrap the FPN. A better idea than just waiting and taking it to court which just wastes the public's time and money. Of course if your call is unfruitful then by all means but with most things, there is a simpler less painful option for all those involved.

[blugnu]

Cheers chaps - I have two side mirrors so I guess I'll be fine. Have had to cancel the test anyway though as the person supposed to be covering me at work is off ill, so it's getting done tomorrow now.

[Rubber-Ducky]

Fish981 said:

Dracoro said:

As I remember, you need minimum just 1 fixed & adjustable rear view mirror.

from http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_810.htm

mot said:

Obligatory mirrors are
a. an exterior mirror fitted to the offside (right-hand side when seated in the
drivers seat), or

b, an exterior mirror fitted to the
nearside fleft hand side when seated In the drivers seat), or

c. an interior mirror.

Goods vehicles are what need 2, one of which must be the drivers side mirror

Edited by Dracoro on Wednesday 12th January 10:24

You missed out quite a fundamental bit, and I quote:-

'Passenger vehicles with more than 7 passenger seats of any age, and all passenger vehicles first used on or after I August 1978 (not being a minibus as above), must have two mirrors, one of which must be option 'a'.'

You need 2 mirrors, one of which has got to be the drivers wing mirror.

You MUST have 2 mirrors? I'd better go and rip one of mine off then...

[streaky]

Does the vanity mirror on a sun-visor count? - Streaky

[Dracoro]

streaky said:

Does the vanity mirror on a sun-visor count? - Streaky

Don't think so, they must be fixed (albeit adjustable).

[Fish981]

Rubber-Ducky said:

Fish981 said:

Dracoro said:

As I remember, you need minimum just 1 fixed & adjustable rear view mirror.

from http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual_810.htm

mot said:

Obligatory mirrors are
a. an exterior mirror fitted to the offside (right-hand side when seated in the
drivers seat), or

b, an exterior mirror fitted to the
nearside fleft hand side when seated In the drivers seat), or

c. an interior mirror.

Goods vehicles are what need 2, one of which must be the drivers side mirror

Edited by Dracoro on Wednesday 12th January 10:24

You missed out quite a fundamental bit, and I quote:-

'Passenger vehicles with more than 7 passenger seats of any age, and all passenger vehicles first used on or after I August 1978 (not being a minibus as above), must have two mirrors, one of which must be option 'a'.'

You need 2 mirrors, one of which has got to be the drivers wing mirror.

You MUST have 2 mirrors? I'd better go and rip one of mine off then...

Park outside my house, one'll soon get knocked off.

DAMHIK

[streaky]

Dracoro said:

streaky said:

Does the vanity mirror on a sun-visor count? - Streaky

Don't think so, they must be fixed (albeit adjustable).

Where does it say that, and how is 'fixed' defined? The extracts fromn the MOT test given above make no mention of fixture. Besides, they are fixed - to the sun-visor.

Streaky