What is the proper position to adjust car side mirrors?

[SanAugust]

Adjusting car side mirrors follows these standards: 1. Left side mirror: Key adjustment points - Position the horizon line at the center of the mirror, then adjust so the car body occupies 1/4 of the mirror's image. 2. Right side mirror: Since the driver sits on the left side, it's harder to monitor the right side of the vehicle. Considering roadside parking needs, when adjusting the vertical position of the right mirror, leave more ground visible - about 2/3 of the mirror surface. For horizontal adjustment, maintain the same 1/4 car body proportion. Right mirror adjustment key points: Position the horizon at 2/3 height of the mirror, then adjust the car body edge to occupy 1/4 of the mirror image.

[CarmenRose]

I have my own method for adjusting the rearview mirrors. After sitting in the driver's seat, first adjust the seat position properly. Then adjust the left rearview mirror: position the horizon slightly below the center line of the mirror, with the car body occupying about a quarter of the mirror. This provides a clear view of the rear lane. The right rearview mirror is similar, but considering the slightly larger blind spot on the right side, leave a bit more space on the outer edge. The interior center rearview mirror should provide a complete view of the entire rear windshield. The key is to ensure there are no blind spots behind the entire car, especially when changing lanes—it's still necessary to glance at the blind spot by turning your body. I make it a habit to quickly check the angles of all three mirrors before each drive, as different drivers' heights might have altered their positions.

[Laura]

The optimal rearview mirror position is quite simple: adjust the left mirror to see your car's tailgate handle while keeping the distant horizon centered in the mirror. Apply the same method to the right mirror, but keep about 20% of your car's body visible, focusing mainly on vehicles approaching from the side-rear. The center mirror is easiest—just align it so both top and bottom edges of the rear windshield are barely visible. Key points: always adjust mirrors with your shoulders against the seatback, prevent headlight glare when adjusting at night, and remember to readjust the right mirror when carrying rear passengers. Even after driving for over a decade, I still make a habit of turning my head before changing lanes—after all, blind spots exist in every mirror setup.

[SanFrancisco]

My method for adjusting the rearview mirrors: For the left mirror, position the horizon in the middle of the mirror with my own car occupying 1/4 of the space. For the right mirror, the car body occupies 1/5 of the space, and the center mirror should just frame the entire rear window. After adjusting them this way, the road conditions become clear, making turns and lane changes very safe. Once after rain when the rearview mirrors were unclear, I realized that regularly cleaning the mirror surfaces is also very important.

[LaEzra]

Adjusting the rearview mirrors should be done step by step: First, sit upright and adjust the seat properly. Then, adjust the center mirror to ensure a clear view of the entire rear windshield. Next, adjust the left mirror so that the car body occupies one-fourth of the view while allowing visibility of the distant road. Finally, adjust the right mirror with the car body occupying one-fifth of the view while expanding the field of vision. Remember to make slight adjustments for different brightness levels between day and night, and promptly wipe off water droplets on the mirror after rain. When driving on highways, I found that tilting the mirrors slightly downward enhances safety by providing a clear view of closely following vehicles. New drivers often make the mistake of adjusting the side mirrors too much toward the car body, which completely blocks the view of vehicles in adjacent lanes.

[HaileyAnn]

From a driving safety perspective: the left side mirror should be adjusted to center the distant horizon, while the right side should be slightly lower to prevent glare. Only 15-20 cm of the car body should be visible on each side, with the focus on observing approaching vehicles from behind. The center mirror must cover the entire rear window, which is particularly important for judging distance. Avoid making adjustments while driving as it is too dangerous. I've seen people use small convex mirrors to assist with blind spots, but they can never replace turning your head to check. It's recommended to conduct a comprehensive check every month, especially after carrying different passengers, as the right mirror is prone to shifting.