3. Visibility

Field of vision, bonnet catches, condition of the glass, the view to the rear, windscreen wipers and windscreen washer rules and inspection for car and passenger vehicle MOT tests.

3.1. Field of vision

You must inspect all windscreens, including windscreens that open.

How to inspect:

  1. Sit in the driver바카라 사이트™s seat.

  2. Check the driver바카라 사이트™s field of vision through the windscreen.

  3. Check the driver바카라 사이트™s field of vision through the front side windows.

You should only fail the windscreen if the view is significantly affected. If only the driver바카라 사이트™s view of the sky or the bonnet is affected, it should not be rejected.

You do not need to consider how the field of vision would be affected by tall or short drivers

The following are only considered a defect if they seriously restrict the driver바카라 사이트™s view:

  • taxi signs to indicate when the vehicle is 바카라 사이트˜for hire바카라 사이트™
  • 바카라 사이트˜official바카라 사이트™ stickers, such as parking and disabled permits
  • sun visor on the driver바카라 사이트™s side that cannot be stowed in the 바카라 사이트˜off screen바카라 사이트™ position
  • windscreen wipers that automatically stop in a position obscuring the view

You can remove items such as a sat nav or air fresheners that obstruct the driver바카라 사이트™s view of the road. However, make sure you tell the driver.

You must inspect bonnet catches on vehicles with a bonnet, which would obscure the driver바카라 사이트™s view of the road if opened. The inspection is only for primary catches - those that hold the bonnet fully closed. Secondary safety catches are not part of the inspection.

You must accept manufacturer바카라 사이트™s original design characteristics, such as:

  • opaque edging
  • split windscreens
  • modifications to security type vehicles, for example additional windscreen protection and strengthening supports

Additional interior mirrors and externally mounted items such as mascots and spare wheels are not part of the test.

Defect reference Defect Category
(a)(i) An obstruction within the driver바카라 사이트™s field of view that significantly affects his view in front or to the sides outside the swept area of windscreen Minor
(a)(ii) An obstruction significantly affecting the driver바카라 사이트™s view of the road through the swept area of the windscreen or an obligatory external mirror not visible Major
(b)(i) A bonnet which cannot be safely secured in the closed position Major
(b)(ii) A bonnet seriously at risk of opening inadvertently Dangerous
(c) A bonnet primary retaining device excessively deteriorated, ineffective or insecure Major

3.2. Condition of glass

You must check the condition of:

  • the windscreen
  • windows on either side of the driver바카라 사이트™s seat

To inspect the condition of glass:

  1. Sit in the driver바카라 사이트™s seat.

  2. Check the view of the road.

  3. Check the view of mandatory external mirrors.

Check for:

  • damage in windscreen zone A more than 10mm in diameter
  • damage in the remainder of the windscreen바카라 사이트™s swept area more than 40mm in diameter
  • damage to windows on either side of the driver바카라 사이트™s seat
  • excessive tinting or discolouration of the windscreen or windows on either side of the driver바카라 사이트™s seat

Failure for damage is only justified if the damage significantly affects the driver바카라 사이트™s view of the road. You do not need to consider the effects on tall or short drivers.

Failure for tinting or discolouration is only justified if the driver바카라 사이트™s view is significantly affected.

Zone A is:

  • in the swept area of the windscreen
  • 290mm wide
  • centred on the steering wheel


Windscreen zone A


Repaired windscreens must be judged solely on whether the repair interferes with vision. An 바카라 사이트˜invisible바카라 사이트™ or barely detectable repair, finished flush with the surrounding glass, does not count as damage.

Class 5 glazing

Vehicles first used from 1 June 1978 must have:

  • windscreens and windows on either side of the driver바카라 사이트™s seat made from safety glass
  • all other windows made from safety glass or safety glazing

Safety glass can be identified by one of the following markings:

  • BS 857
  • BS 5282 바카라 사이트“ but not acceptable on vehicles first used on or after 1 April 1985
  • TP GS or TP GSE 바카라 사이트“ but not acceptable on vehicles first used on or after 1 October 1986
  • BS AU 178
  • an 바카라 사이트˜E바카라 사이트™ mark (including the number 43R)
  • an 바카라 사이트˜e바카라 사이트™ mark followed by a number, such as e11, inside a square

Safety glazing means material other than glass constructed or treated not fly into fragments that would cause severe cuts if it바카라 사이트™s fractured. There is no marking requirement for safety glazing.

Defect reference Defect Category
(a)(i) Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured but not adversely affecting driver바카라 사이트™s view Minor
(a)(ii) Windscreen or window damaged or seriously discoloured and affecting the driver바카라 사이트™s view of the road or of an obligatory external mirror Major
(b)(i) Windscreen or window excessively tinted but not adversely affecting driver바카라 사이트™s view Minor
(b)(ii) Windscreen or window excessively tinted and visibility through swept area of windscreen or of an obligatory external mirror seriously affected Major
(c)(i) Windscreen or window in an unacceptable condition e.g. due to excessive scratching Major
(c)(ii) Windscreen or window in such a condition that visibility through swept area is seriously affected Dangerous
(d) The windscreen or a window wholly or partly on either side of the driver바카라 사이트™s seat is not made from safety glass Major
(e) A window not wholly or partly on either side of the driver바카라 사이트™s seat is not made from safety glass or safety glazing Major

3.3. View to rear

You must check that all mandatory rear-view mirrors or indirect vision devices provide an adequate view to the rear from the driver바카라 사이트™s seat.

You do not need to adjust mirrors or devices for this check.

Indirect vision cameras may replace mirrors on some vehicles. If such devices are fitted, you must inspect the camera(s) and the screen.

Rear view mirrors and indirect vision devices can be any of the following positions:

  1. a. an exterior mirror or device that provides a view along the offside of the vehicle
  2. b. an exterior mirror or device that provides a view along the nearside of the vehicle
  3. c. an interior mirror or device which provides a view to the rear of the vehicle

Obligatory mirror or device fitment positions

Vehicle type Date of first use Requirements
Passenger vehicles with fewer than 8 passenger seats M1 First used before 1바카라 사이트¯August바카라 사이트¯1978 At least one mirror/device in any of the above positions
Passenger vehicles with fewer than 8 passenger seats M1 First used on or after 1바카라 사이트¯August바카라 사이트¯1978 but before 26 January 2010 Two mirrors/devices, one of which must be in position 바카라 사이트˜a바카라 사이트™
Passenger vehicles with fewer than 8 passenger seats M1 First used on or after 26 January 2010 Three mirrors/devices, in position 바카라 사이트˜a바카라 사이트™, 바카라 사이트˜b바카라 사이트™ and 바카라 사이트˜c바카라 사이트™ - unless internal mirror does not give view to rear
Passenger vehicles with 8 or more passenger seats (excluding buses and minibuses) M2 First used before 1바카라 사이트¯August바카라 사이트¯1978 At least one mirror/device in any of the above positions
Passenger vehicles with 8 or more passenger seats (excluding buses and minibuses) M2 First used on or after 1바카라 사이트¯August바카라 사이트¯1978 but before 26 January 2010 Two mirrors/devices, one of which must be in position 바카라 사이트˜a바카라 사이트™
Passenger vehicles with 8 or more passenger seats (excluding buses and minibuses) M2 First used on or after 26 January 2010 Two mirrors/devices, in position 바카라 사이트˜a바카라 사이트™ and 바카라 사이트˜b바카라 사이트™ - No requirement for internal mirror
Goods vehicles First used before 26 January 2010 Two mirrors/devices, one of which must be in position 바카라 사이트˜a바카라 사이트™
Goods vehicles First used on or after 26 January 2010 Two mirrors/devices, in position 바카라 사이트˜a바카라 사이트™ and 바카라 사이트˜b바카라 사이트™
Buses and minibuses First used before 1바카라 사이트¯August바카라 사이트¯1983 Two mirrors/devices, one of which must be in position 바카라 사이트˜a바카라 사이트™
Buses and minibuses First used on or after 1 August 1983 An exterior mirror/device fitted on both the offside and the nearside (바카라 사이트˜a바카라 사이트™ and 바카라 사이트˜b바카라 사이트™)
Bodied tricycles and quadricycles Any age Two mirrors or devices, one of which must be in position 바카라 사이트˜a바카라 사이트™
Unbodied tricycles and quadricycles other than mopeds Any age Two mirrors or devices, one in position 바카라 사이트˜a바카라 사이트™ and one in position 바카라 사이트˜b바카라 사이트™
Unbodied tricycles and quadricycles classed as mopeds On or after 1 August 1978 At least one mirror or device in position 바카라 사이트˜a바카라 사이트™


Defect reference Defect Category
(a) Obligatory mirror or device missing Major
(b)(i) Obligatory mirror or device slightly damaged or loose Minor
(b)(ii) Obligatory mirror or device inoperative, excessively damaged or insecure Major
(c) Obligatory mirror or device not providing an adequate view to the rear Major

3.4. Windscreen wipers

You do not need to inspect windscreen wipers on vehicles with:

  • an opening windscreen
  • some other means of giving the driver an adequate view through the windscreen to the front, left and right

You only need to reject a windscreen wiper if it바카라 사이트™s clearly damaged or worn.

Windscreen wipers must continue to operate automatically when switched on.

Defect reference Defect Category
(a) Wiper not operating or missing Major
(b)(i) Wiper blade defective Minor
(b)(ii) Wiper blade missing or obviously not clearing the windscreen Major

3.5. Windscreen washers

You do not need to inspect windscreen washers on vehicles with:

  • an opening windscreen
  • some other means of providing the driver with an adequate view through the windscreen to the front, left and right

Washers must provide enough fluid for the wipers to clear the windscreen effectively.

Defect reference Defect Category
(a) Windscreen washers not working or not providing sufficient fluid to clear the windscreen Major