A setting aid for a rear-view mirror in a motor vehicle has one or more illumination means in spatial proximity to one or more edges of a rear window or at the rear of the motor vehicle. The one or more illumination means are arranged such that if the motor vehicle is in dark surroundings and the one or more illumination means are switched on, the edge of the rear window or a lateral contour of the motor vehicle stands out, when looking in the rear-view mirror, at least in certain regions from the surroundings behind the motor vehicle. A first means is provided which automatically switches on the one or more illumination means during the setting of the rear-view mirror if a setting of the rear-view mirror is required, which is assumed to be required if a change in the setting of the driver's seat has been noticed.