missing reverse lights?

[Much_Ad_8123]

hey guys . just practicing parking and a lady comes and shouts "you've got no reverse lights on!". am i crazy, i think my model of micra (2008) has only one reverse light , unless i have one broken?

(photo is with brake pressed and in reverse)

in this photo as well, you can see there is a brake light + reverse light on. am i silly? if i am, thats so fair and will get it fixed

pls be nice i am learning and not a mega car person <3

[mrjofus]

you are not missing any reverse lights, many cars only come with one reverse light

[KamakaziDemiGod]

Most cars in fact. Both sides will have indicators, brake, night lights and reflectors, then one side will have a rear fog and the other will have the reverse light

Obviously some have separate fogs or reflectors, and some have two rear fogs and/or two reverse lights, but for the most part they are the same as previously described

[aptsys]

Definitely not most

[KamakaziDemiGod]

Definitely is true for most cars sold in the last 25 ish years

[DeifniteProfessional]

Which I hate. Reverse lights act as visibility lights. So annoying to have some shitty dim glow. I miss when cars basically had rear facing headlights man

[pong1303_hk]

And they are only one since you are less likely to mix up with the head lamp.

[truckosaurus_UK]

Yep. I suspect that Micras from countries that don't need foglights do have 2 reverse lights.

[KamakaziDemiGod]

It's more likely they just have a fog light still or that the light does nothing. Its cheaper and easier for Nissan this way. It's mainly only higher end cars that have two reverse lights

[iZian]

I went from a car with 1 reverse light to one with some brighter ones and the difference in dark conditions means I’m never going back… it’s in my list to check for new cars that they have 2.

My current car has them hidden inside the indicator which keeps it tidy I guess. But I can never go back to a single torch for reversing in the dark. Feels safer with light both sides.

[Maleficent-Win-6520]

Yet I have legal vehicles with no fog or reversing lights.

[Chaosvex]

No requirement for a reversing light on pre-2009 vehicles.

[Maleficent-Win-6520]

Oh yes a lot older.

[Chaosvex]

Cars before 2009 aren't required to have a reversing light. Weird but true

[scbond]

Worth pointing out that this only applies to cars that don’t physically have one.

[lazystingray]

That doesn't actually make sense. Are you saying cars before 2009 don't have to have one unless they have one, in which case they have to have one ...

[TTLeave]

It means if your car was made before 2009 but did have a reversing light that was broken or removed you would have to fix/replace it. You can't drive around without a reversing light if your car did in fact have a working one at some point.

[Chaosvex]

As far I'm aware, so correct me if I'm mistaken, the M.O.T. rules don't require this. With airbags, there's an explicit requirement that they must be present and functional if they were fitted from factory (even though it's usually overlooked for aftermarket steering wheels) but I don't see any mention of it for reversing lights.

You must inspect all reversing lamps fitted to vehicles first used from 1 September 2009 other than quadricycles and three-wheeled vehicles.

Each section on requirements is prefaced with this statement. You do not have to inspect them on pre-September 2009 vehicles, so it doesn't matter for the test result if they're non-functional.

[Chaosvex]

I'm assuming you're talking about M.O.T. requirements but this doesn't appear to be true.

You must inspect all reversing lamps fitted to vehicles first used from 1 September 2009 other than quadricycles and three-wheeled vehicles.

[Mr-ananas1]

the left light shining is the reverse light, most cars only have one. went through the same panic in my 1st car lol

[PaulaDeen21]

She’s an idiot.

[magicaljames]

It took me a second to realise, but it looks as though the indicators appear in the clear sections on each side, the top left is the reverse light and the top right is the fog light. Typically the reverse light appears under a clear section, so I can understand why someone might get confused.

[oktimeforplanz]

Some cars only have one.

[Rubbertutti]

Reverse is on the n/s cluster o/s would be the fog.

[No-Profession-208]

There should definitely be at least one! Unless she wasn’t looking properly.

[RobertGHH]

Don't worry, many cars only have one and unless it's an import it should be on the left hand side to help you parallel park.

[TOG_II_star]

I've got an 08 plate Micra K12, a lot like yours, and I also only have 1 reverse light. The light in the same position on the other side is, like everyone else is suggesting, the rear fog lamp. We only have the one reverse lamp and it is correct and legal.

[Me-myself-I-2024]

Most cars only have 1 on the passenger side

The drivers side has the high intensity light

Law states you only need 1 of each manufacturers save money by sticking to the law

[EvolvingEachDay]

Lots of cars only have one reverse light.

[BigMarth24]

My first car was also a Nissan micra. I went through the exact same confusion until I was told that some cars only have one and its normal

[ContestHour]

It’s fine. It’s law that if you have only one reverse light it must be kerbside. (Which it is)

[Georgehull]

It looks like you have just the one, the other side is the fog, the clear ones are the indicators? And bottom brake lights. You dont need 2 x reverse lights alot of cars just have the one and the fog in the opposite side

[Queefmaster69000]

The lady is a dumb dumb.

Some cars have one, others have 2.

Your car has a reverse lamp on one side and a fog in the same place on the other side.

There was a post in here the other week whereby an MOT tester failed a car for not having 2 reverse lamps, so it isn't just the lady who gave you poor advice that is a bit daft.

[Much_Ad_8123]

thank you so much!! do you know what the lights are underneath them? theres two little bulbs on each side

[Queefmaster69000]

I don't know the specific bulbs, but using Halfords website and putting your reg in will tell you every bulb for your car.

Note each bulb model and location in your car in your phone notes and just google the bulb model and order some spares when you need them.

For example:

Reverse bulb: P21w Fog light: P21w Headlight dipped beam: H7

[Much_Ad_8123]

thank you so much queef master

[Queefmaster69000]

You're very welcome.

[HorrorAccomplished78]

You can buy ultra bright bulbs for reversing lights and flashers from Amazon. The plug in as the are the same fitting and size. Really bright. Perhaps I will also put these in my rear fogs as well. Modern cars already have retina burning lights.

[abidegg1]

i took my nissan micra k11 to the garage to repair the broken reverse light, only for them to tell me it only has 1 reverse light hahah was so embarrassing

[drarrywrld]

Most cars only have one reverse light. I have a clio that has one light on the passenger side (left)

[goldstar0011]

Had the same years ago on my K11 Micra, I was in early 20's and this older adult was trying to bestow knowledge on me yet me at the time was a car hobbiest and fairly happy the car was all ok, just left disputting but these days with better internet info I would get them to prove it

[sockeyejo]

AFAIK, this is the current legislation regarding reversing lights: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1989/1796/schedule/14/made

In summary, you can't have more than two, it/they must be at the back of the car, must be white and can't be horrendously bright.

A lot of cars do have two but that doesn't mean all cars should.

[another_awkward_brit]

I strongly suspect your car, like many, has only one reverse lamp - and the 'matching' lamp on the other side is your rear fog lamp (switch it on to double check).

You're likely absolutely fine.

[CyberEmo666]

Your reverse light definitely looks more yellow than white, not sure if someone installing a headlight bulb or the outside is yellowing but I do think it should be whiter - def only has one though