US Federal

Does federal law require vehicles to have backup cameras?

May 1, 2018
Effective date
10,000 lbs
Vehicle weight limit
FMVSS 111
Safety standard
NHTSA
Enforcing agency
The Short Answer

Yes, federal law requires all new passenger vehicles under 10,000 pounds to have backup cameras as of May 1, 2018.

What the Law Says

Federal law requires backup cameras in new vehicles to reduce backover crashes and improve safety. This requirement stems from the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act and is implemented through a specific Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS).

The National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act authorizes the Secretary of Transportation to prescribe motor vehicle safety standards that are 'practicable, meet the need for motor vehicle safety, and are stated in objective terms.'

Pursuant to that authority, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) issued FMVSS No. 111, 'Rearview Mirrors,' which was amended to require rear visibility systems—including functional backup cameras—in all new passenger cars, trucks, multipurpose passenger vehicles, buses, and low-speed vehicles with a gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) of less than 10,000 pounds.

This rule became fully effective on May 1, 2018: all such new vehicles manufactured on or after that date must comply.

Statutory Text

The purpose of this chapter is to reduce traffic accidents and deaths and injuries resulting from traffic accidents.

— 49 U.S.C. § 30101 — Purpose and policy

What to Do

1

Check your vehicle’s manufacture date: if it was built on or after May 1, 2018, it must have a compliant backup camera system.

2

If purchasing a used vehicle, verify whether it has a working rearview display system — not required by federal law for pre-2018 models, but may be included by the manufacturer.

3

Report malfunctioning backup cameras in new vehicles to NHTSA at www.nhtsa.gov/recalls or 1-888-327-4236, as they may indicate a safety defect subject to recall.

Sources

statute49 U.S.C. § 30101 — Purpose and policy

Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.