What the law on rear fog lights?

Just had my mechanic phone me, he is MOTing the van and says it should have a rear fog light. He says all vehicles used from 1980 need to have one. I said it was built in May 79 and has never had one so not to worry about it. Any one else had experience with this?

 

Never mind fog lights, mine doesn't even have reverse lights

I was told that if they weren't built into the vehicle at the time, then they're not an MOT failure now. Presume the same applies with fog lights, as I don't have those either.

 

I have a 79 built, 80 registered Bay too.

The rules appear to be that you don't need fog lights for the first 30 years,
then you do.

 

After April 1980 is the fog light requirement

 

April 1980 for the build date or registered date?

 

Registered date. Mine's a 73 and has never had rear fog lights. Never been a problem at the MOT.

 

typical. Mine was registered in may 1980. Gonna blag it and see what happens.

 

was it built before 1st October 1979? Because if so, even if it was registered after 1st April 1980, it will still be exempt from the fog light requirements.

 

was built may 79 so yippee for me

 

The mot rules say registered date not build date

 

It will be cheaper to fit a fog light than re-registering it

 

Ooops, that'll teach me to not read it properly. It refers to motor vehicles first used on or after 1st April 1980, or any other vehicle manufactured on or after 1st October 1979.

 

dammit.

 

Fit a foglight - a cheapo one only costs a few quid I think.

 

I thought it was this too. I had a Citroën GS that had sat for 2 years before being registered and had to have a rear fog light fitted. By 1980 the GSA was with us with integral fog lights.

 

Or wire it to the off side reverse light with a red bulb in and save yourself the hassle of having to have a fog light on show.

 

Our van was a late 79 but registered in 1980. Just got a fresh mot no issues without a rear fog light.

This leads me to another conundrum, I notice that there is a spare slot in the rear lenses which to me appears to be ready for the fog light bulbs but with no holes or wiring. Anyone tried retrofitting fog lights here? They would be really neat rather than a bolt on after thought.

 

Do you mean the holes for the reversing light bulbs?

 

I think he means the holes behind the reflectors.

I've often wondered what this could be used for and rear fogs would work l suppose or as an extra brake or tail light.

 

No already have them, there is a red reflector without bulb behind, looks like they could be good for fog lights. Perhaps they were made for that or did Europe or the states have fog lights as mandatory pre 1980?