How to Adjust Car Mirrors the Right Way: Perfect Side & Wing Mirror Positioning in the UK

It is not just a case of learning road law for safe driving in Britain, but also knowing what is ahead and behind you. One of the easiest yet less intimidating safety precautions is positioning car mirrors correctly.

No matter how much experience you have with driving, learning from an intensive car course or even just a driving reminder on techniques, car mirror adjustment is a vast difference in road experience and safety.

Today we’re going to walk you through everything you need to know about car mirrors, side mirror alignment and wing mirrors and blind spot safety checks.

Understanding Car Mirrors and Their Purpose

Yes, I know, car mirrors aren’t face-gazing business! They’re a standard safety addition that enables you to look over your shoulder and to the sides of your motor.

Most British cars have three main mirrors:

1. Interior Rear-View Mirror (Middle Mirror):

That’s your home mirror, which is mounted on your windscreen. It tells you what’s in front of you in the back window.

2. Left Hand Mirror (Passenger Wing Mirror / Passenger Side Mirror):

It’s a help in checking your left-hand side of the car — a great assist when looking out for cyclists, pedestrians, and kerbs when parking.

3. Right Hand Mirror (Driver’s Wing Mirror / Driver’s Side Mirror):

This rear view mirror allows you to glance for traffic coming towards you in the right-hand lane — a useful aid on motorways or dual carriageways.

Both of these mirrors serve a different function of making you aware of what is occurring around you and eliminating blind spots.

Why Correct Mirror Positioning is Important

Having your side mirror adjusted properly gives excellent arriving car, cyclist, and road user visibility. Blinded by poorly adjusted mirrors, you will experience blind spots, lane-change collisions, or parking scratches.

It is because of the below provided reasons that car mirror alignment is very important:

l Gives more road awareness.

l Eliminates blind spots for both sides.

l Ensures safe overtaking and lane change.

l Ensures smooth reversing and parking.

l Eliminates driver stress and guesswork.

Spend a few seconds aligning your mirrors prior to driving and save lives afterwards.

How to Position Wing Mirrors in the UK

Correct positioning of your side mirrors varies slightly depending on your sitting position and stature but the general guidance will work for most.

Step-by-Step Guide: How to Position Your Side Mirrors (UK)

Step 1: Adjust Your Seat First

Adjust your seat first and then your mirrors.

l Fasten your seatbelt and sit in your vehicle with your back against the seat backrest and sitting up straight.

l Adjust your seat height so you can see ahead.

l Adjust the steering wheel to a position that suits you best.

l You only do all that before you even touch the mirrors.

Step 2: Reset the Interior Mirror

l Sit into driving position.

l Adjust the interior mirror so that it reflects only the whole back window only.

l You’d like to be able to see as much as you can at the back — not the roof lining or the back seats.

Step 3: Place the Right Side (Driver’s) Mirror

l Look over to the driver’s window a bit.

l Turn the mirror round when you can just see the side of your car in the far right of the mirror.

l The remainder that you can view should be road and traffic ahead of you.

l You will glance at part of the side of your own vehicle to gauge distance.

Step 4: Adjustment of Left Side (Passenger’s) Mirror

l Glance to the right over to the centre of the vehicle, i.e., over the centre console.

l Adjust the mirror in so that you can only see no more than the offside of your car within the inside edge of the mirror.

l The horizon will be half-way up in the mirror — half road and half sky.

l This provides you with your best view of approaching cars on the offside.

What Should You See in Your Side Mirrors?

Multi-million-dollar questions from student drivers, and one of the ones most often asked is, “What am I seeing in my side mirrors?”

Here’s the simple answer:

l You should be able to see the side of your vehicle — not far, but a little bit.

l You should be able to see a good portion of the lane over to your side (where the other vehicle would be if it were passing you).

Understanding Blind Spots and How to Check Them

These are small areas around your car that your mirrors can’t show.

They’re usually located:

l Just behind your shoulders (on both sides).

l At the corners of your rear bumper.

How to Check Blind Spots Safely:

Before changing lanes, overtaking, or pulling out:

1. Check your interior mirror first.

2. Then check the side mirror on the side you’re moving toward.

3. Lastly, glance over your shoulder quickly in the same direction to check for clear passage.

This mini ceremony — mirror, mirror, shoulder — will avoid many collisions.

Common Mistakes Drivers Make When Adjusting Mirrors

l Too far out mirrors — hiding enormous gobbets of the lanes on either side.

l The mirrors are incorrectly positioned and too much of the car body is still exposed.

l Failing to set other people’s mirrors.

l Failing to use passenger view when reversing.

l Failing to clean the mirrors, reducing night-time or rainy weather visibility.

Tips for Keeping Mirrors Clean and Functional

Mirrors half assist good vision.

Maintain your side mirror of car in good working condition.

Maintenance Tips:

l Regularly clean microfibre mirrors.

l Use rain-repellent or anti-fog sprays for better rainy weather visibility.

l Replace smashed or broken mirrors at once.

l Secure loose or wobbly side mirror housing or replace it.

l Use de-icers or heated mirrors to prevent winter fogging.

Electric and Manual Mirror Adjustments

Newest UK cars come equipped with electric side mirrors as a standard feature, but older models will have manual operation.

Electric Mirror Adjustment:

l Putting your joystick or buttons on your door trim.

l Push L (left) or R (right) mirror.

l Move up, down, left or right so that the adjustment is as shown by the line above.

Manual Adjustment:

l Adjust by lever or hand-pushing glass of the mirror.

l Gently does it — firm shoving will snap the mechanism.

If your vehicle is equipped with auto-folding mirrors or heated mirrors, do get accustomed to using them also, especially for driving in winter.

Mirror Checks During Driving (The MSM Routine)

British driving instructors use the MSM procedure also — Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre — the key to safe driving.

Use this procedure whenever you:

l Drive between two lanes

l Overtake

l Turn at roundabouts

l Join or leave a roundabout

l Slow down or stop

Steeling a glance at your front mirrors, you have the people behind and beside you already on your mind even before you take any action against them.

Using Mirrors for Parking and Reversing

It is worth replacing your side mirror if you wish to be a good parker.

Parallel Parking:

l Glance into your left side mirror to keep an eye on kerb distance.

l Check your right mirror so that you are able to look at vehicles behind or passing you.

Reversing:

l Lean over wing mirrors and look over your shoulder.

l Always use paired mirrors; never single, look over shoulder too for safety.

Bay Parking:

l Position both your side mirrors so you are mid-line between the lines.

l Switch on driving in or out of the bay.

Adjusting Car Mirrors for Night and Weather Conditions

Night front coming rear headlamp glare is dazzling.

Utilize night setting on your rear-view mirror (night switch or dimmer switch) to minimize glare.

For side mirrors:

l Rain or fog droop to reduce headlight reflection.

How to Adjust Car Mirrors for Different Drivers

l Save your choice of mirror settings with small stickers or keep your setting.

l Some newer vehicles also allow saving of mirror positions through driver profile memory settings.

l Always realign mirrors after someone else has used them and before driving.

When to Replace or Repair Your Mirrors

Change your side mirrors if:

l The mirror glass is damaged, loose, or steamed-up.

l The electric motor is faulty.

l You feel vibration or clattering when driving.

l The casing is damaged or misaligned.

FAQs About Adjusting Car Mirrors

 

Q1. What should I see in my side mirrors?

You ought to be able to see some of your car and road on your right/left. The horizon should be half way up the mirror.

Q2. Are automatic side mirrors better than manual ones?

Yes, they are nicer on your back and also tend to come with heating and fold function to provide increased road safety and convenience.

Q3. How often should I check or readjust my mirrors?

Every time you drive — especially if you have had someone else drive your car or you have had to re-adjust your seat.

Q4. Is it illegal to drive without a side mirror in the UK?

Yes. In the UK, it’s illegal to have only one functional mirror — an inner and driver’s outside one.

Q5. What’s the difference between a wing mirror and a side mirror?

They’re used synonymously — “wing mirror” as the British equivalent of side view mirror on a vehicle.

Q6. Can I adjust car mirrors while driving?

Don’t even try to drive them while you are on the wheel. Drive first, and afterwards try them so that you will not be distracted.

Final Thoughts

Car mirrors are simple to fit properly, but one of the safest methods of driving.

Throughout your challenging UK driving course lessons, instructors always make sure they remind you that proper use of mirrors just may pass or fail you on test day.

Remember:

l Seat position first.

l Rearrange mirrors to eliminate blind spots.

l Use them right away as a driving habit while driving (Mirror–Signal–Manoeuvre).

l Clean them and keep them well-maintained regularly.

By including these simple habits to embrace, you not only drive more safely but also more confidently on British roads.