What year were cars required to have backup cameras?
In the United States, backup cameras became mandatory on all new light vehicles with the 2018 model year, with compliance required for vehicles manufactured after May 1, 2018.
Background and Legal Framework
The push for rear visibility began with federal legislation and culminated in a formal safety standard for new vehicles. The Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act of 2008 directed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to address rear visibility and backover accidents. After years of study and rulemaking, the agency issued the final rule under FMVSS 111, setting a timeline that culminated in a May 1, 2018 compliance date. While many models offered backup cameras before 2018, the rule created a nationwide baseline for this safety feature on all new light vehicles.
Key milestones in the push for rear visibility
Here is a concise timeline of the major steps toward the 2018 requirement.
- 2008: The Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act is signed into law, directing NHTSA to improve rear visibility in passenger vehicles.
- 2010-2011: NHTSA proposes a rear-visibility standard (FMVSS 111) and begins collecting comments from industry and safety advocates.
- 2014: The agency clarifies the approach and sets an eventual compliance timeline that leads to 2018.
- May 1, 2018: The final rule takes effect, requiring backup cameras on all new light vehicles manufactured after this date.
The 2018 date established the nationwide baseline for rear visibility, and automakers began rolling out cameras well before the deadline, with most new models offering them as standard equipment by the mid-2010s.
What the rule requires for new vehicles
The rule specifies that new light vehicles must have a functioning rear-visibility system, typically a camera mounted at the back that provides a view of the area behind the vehicle, and a display in the vehicle that activates when the transmission is in reverse. The goal is to give drivers a clear view to detect pedestrians, children, and objects to prevent backover accidents.
Details were published in the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS 111), with emphasis on automatic activation, reliable performance, and an easily accessible display for the driver. Since 2018, manufacturers have been required to meet these standards across the vast majority of passenger cars, SUVs, and light trucks sold in the U.S.
How backup cameras work in practice
To help drivers understand how cameras fulfill the rule in daily use, here are the typical features and how they are implemented in most vehicles.
- Camera is mounted at the rear of the vehicle and provides a live image when reverse gear is engaged.
- Image is shown on an in-dash display, often with guiding lines to help judge distance and trajectory.
- Some models include dynamic guidelines that shift with the steering wheel to indicate the vehicle's projected path.
- Night-vision or enhanced low-light performance is common in modern cameras to improve visibility in low-light conditions.
These features collectively aim to reduce blind spots behind cars and assist drivers during parking, backing out of driveways, and other reverse maneuvers.
Impact and adoption
Since the 2018 deadline, backup cameras have become ubiquitous on new cars in the United States. The policy was designed to dramatically reduce backover injuries, especially to children and pedestrians. Automakers gradually standardized the technology, and the coverage expanded to more vehicle types over time.
Summary
Backup cameras became mandatory for all new light vehicles in the United States with the 2018 model year, reflecting a long-running safety campaign sparked by the 2008 Kids Transportation Safety Act. The rule requires a rear-vision camera that activates when reversing and feeds an in-dash display, and it has reshaped auto design and consumer expectations. Today, the feature is widely considered standard equipment on new cars, with ongoing improvements in image quality and guidance features.
