I know many cars have just the one reverse light. However those that have two, must have them both working in order to pass the UK’s MOT – a test that determines whether the vehicle is roadworthy or not.
I parked up at my local Tesco store today, with my mother-in-law in tow (not literally, honest), a gentleman reversed into the space next to me, I noticed that his driver’s side reverse light was not working. So I mentioned it to him as we walked to the store.
Imagine my surprise when he said: “one of them is working, that’s enough”. Not the simple “thanks, mate”, that I’m used to getting when I do my good citizen bit.
Of course, I responded with a simple: “oh, that’s alright then, goodbye”.
Now, if he were to turn up at an optician’s reporting that he was having problems seeing out of one eye…imagine his surprise if he was told: “one of them is working, that’s enough”.
WRONG on the nearside reversing light, WRONG on the offside reversing light! Reversing lights aren’t a requirement of the MOT test. You may get an advisory note from a vigilant tester but you can’t be failed on an advisory.
The old BMW had a dodgy reversing light switch for years and never failed an MOT due to the reversing lights only working once in a blue moon. Laterally, the lights never came on.
So there!
You got lucky! AFAIK, if a light in available on the exterior of a vehicle as a standard fit, it really should be in working order! Anyway, this post was more concerned with the rudeness of the bloke in question!
They are not required , they will possibly fail it if they think you dont understand the mot and they can make a quick buck out of you, but it should pass. its not part of the lighting test, oh and are you sure the guy wasnt joking?