A rearview vision system for a vehicle includes a reflective element disposed at a driver or passenger side portion of a vehicle and a camera disposed at or near the reflective element and having a field of view that encompasses at least a portion of the reflective element. The camera and the reflective element are disposed at the side portion of the vehicle so that images of the scene occurring to the side and rear of the vehicle are reflected off of the reflective element and viewed by the camera. The camera captures image data for display of images by a display device that is viewable by a driver of the vehicle when normally operating the vehicle so as to provide the driver with a generally sideward and rearward field of view.