Can a cracked passenger side mirror on a car cause it to fail an mot?

Question

Am buying a car that passed it's mot with a crack in the actual side mirror on the passenger side (the actual mirror rather than the casing). The car passed the mot but someone has just told me they think a car can't pass the mot with a crack in the mirror?

Help!

Answer 1

it can impair rear vision as you should utilise all mirrors,so yes it can fail MOT.

Answer 2

Yes it will. You are not required to have a wing mirror, but if you do it must be in working order.

Answer 3

yes, mine failed on that, but how do you know it didnt happen straight after the MOT.  

I just replaced the mirror, it wasnt expensive.

Actually, mine wasnt even cracked, it was a bit scratched, i suppose I was unlucky really. Anything that obscures your view is unsafe.

Answer 4

just get it repaireed., it wouldnt fail an mot cos of it

Answer 5

the simple answer is yes

Answer 6

Yes, it should fail an MOT. But the problem that most people don't realize is that document refers to the moment it was signed. Obviously if the car passed an MOT and 3 miles later a tie rod end fell off, there was a poor inspection done. But things like cracked mirrors or windows, blown bulbs or pretty much anything electrical is pretty difficult to prove there was a deficiency when it was inspected. If you are suspicious of the inspection, it might be worth your while to have one done yourself just to make sure everything else is OK.

Answer 7

A car is required to have an external mirror on the drivers side of the vehicle and either an interior mirror or another external one on the passenger side.

A cracked mirror is not a reason for MOT failure as long as it gives an effective rearward view.

Answer 8

This could be a safety item, and the mirror should be replaced. Check with your local dealershipand see if the mirror glass can be replaced .

Answer 9

If the crack doesn't prevent the mirror from functioning, it's not an MOT failure.

The exact definition of pass or fail for mirrors is;

Not distorted or damaged so as to seriously impair the driver's view of the rear

Answer 10

yes it is an mot fail you may have a dodgy mot on it so beware.if you drive round with children in this car go and get it checked over.

Answer 11

They're wrong.  You're required to have two mirrors these days (first used since August '78 in fact), one of which must be on the driver's side.  As long as you have the interior mirror too, you don't need the passenger's side mirror at all.

Answer 12

Yeah

A cracked mirror can cause a blind spot & a distorted view.

It could also fall under the category of " sharp edges".

Not expensive to repair. Get it fixed......ste

Answer 13

i did not think you were required to have a mirror on the passenger side, usually the inpaired vision would be in the windshield, rear window, rearview mirror and driver external mirror

Answer 14

yes i'm pretty sure that a cracked mirror is an MOT failure. sorry about that! not too difficult to replace though, you should be able to pick them up at halfords or something.