Does car insurance cover side mirror repair?
Car insurance sometimes covers side mirrors. However, it will depend on what sort of coverage comes with your policy. For example, if you have collision coverage, your mirrors are protected.
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Kalyn Johnson
Insurance Claims Support & Sr. Adjuster
Kalyn grew up in an insurance family with a grandfather, aunt, and uncle leading successful careers as insurance agents. She soon found she has similar interests and followed in their footsteps. After spending about ten years working in the insurance industry as both an appraiser dispatcher and a senior property claims adjuster, she decided to combine her years of insurance experience with another...
Insurance Claims Support & Sr. Adjuster
UPDATED: Jul 8, 2023
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UPDATED: Jul 8, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident car insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one car insurance company and cannot guarantee quotes from any single company.
Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from top car companies please enter your ZIP code above to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Side mirrors are important for increasing visibility, reducing driver blind spots, and helping prevent accidents
- If you have collision or comprehensive car insurance coverage and a low deductible, your insurance company may cover a damaged side mirror
- Using a garage and choosing a vehicle with folding side mirrors can help make damage to your side mirrors less likely
Side mirrors are essential for seeing what’s beside and behind you while driving. Since they stick out, they’re more vulnerable to damage than many other parts of your vehicle. In some cases, car insurance pays for side mirror repair. However, the coverage you get can depend on the policy you purchase, and you may need to pay for some repairs yourself. Read on to find out whether your insurance will cover car side mirror repairs.
Finding Out Whether Insurance Covers Auto Side Mirror Repair
Whether your insurance covers side mirrors depends on the type of auto insurance you have, as well as the size of your deductible. Most states require liability insurance policies that pay for damages to other vehicles, property, or people if someone has an accident. However, these policies don’t pay for damages to the policy owner’s car. If the accident was the fault of another person, their insurance company may cover your repairs.
Collision car insurance coverage pays for damage to a side mirror after an accident, even when the policy owner was at fault. Many policies also include comprehensive insurance. It pays for damage from theft, vandalism, severe weather, and other events that could happen when a car isn’t on the road. Vehicles with turn signals integrated into the mirrors, power mirrors, or heated side mirrors are usually more expensive to repair after damage.
The average auto insurance deductible is $500, although higher and lower deductibles are available. Before people receive insurance benefits after an accident or another event, they usually need to contribute the deductible amount to the repair shop.
For example, someone with a $500 deductible and $400 in damage to a side mirror wouldn’t receive a payment from their insurance company. Another driver with a $250 deductible would receive the remaining $150 to help with the repair. That’s the $400 repair cost minus the $250 deductible. If you have an excellent driving record, you may not need to pay much more to add comprehensive insurance, collision insurance, or get a lower deductible.
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Why Side Mirrors Are Important
Side mirrors let drivers see what’s around them without needing to look too far away from the road. A broken side mirror increases driver blind spots, making driving more hazardous. For example, someone could collide with a vehicle they missed while changing lanes or hit their mailbox by accident while backing out of their driveway.
In most states, side mirrors are required by law. In some states, you may not get a ticket for a broken side mirror if your rearview mirror and your other side mirror work. However, police can stop your vehicle if they see a broken side mirror.
How to Protect Your Car’s Side Mirrors
A lower deductible can make repairing a car’s side mirror less costly. You can also prevent accidents and protect your vehicle by using a garage. With garaged car insurance, you will also sometimes see reduced rates, as you typically drive the vehicle less when it’s in storage. Many insurance companies offer a discount for people who keep their cars in a garage most of the time.
Avoiding tight parking spaces can help you protect your side mirrors as well. Consider choosing a vehicle that’s taller than most as the mirrors sit higher, making mirror-to-mirror collisions in traffic less likely. You can also get folding side mirrors that let your vehicle squeeze into small parking spaces and garages without risking mirror damage.
Case Studies: Car Insurance Coverage for Side Mirror Repair
Case Study 1: Collision Coverage
One car owner, Sarah, had collision coverage included in her car insurance policy. After an accident that damaged her side mirror, Sarah was relieved to find out that her insurance company covered the repair costs for her side mirror.
Case Study 2: Comprehensive Coverage
Another car owner, John, had comprehensive coverage as part of his car insurance policy. When his side mirror was vandalized, John filed a claim with his insurance company. Thanks to his comprehensive coverage, the repair expenses for his side mirror were covered by his insurance.
Case Study 3: Liability-Only Policy
On the other hand, Lisa had a liability-only car insurance policy, which typically does not cover damages to her own vehicle. Unfortunately, when her side mirror was damaged in an accident that was her fault, she had to pay for the repair costs out of pocket.
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Final Thoughts on Insurance Covering Side Mirror Repairs
Your deductible and the type of auto insurance you have are the two major factors in determining whether your side mirror repair will be covered. While collision insurance usually takes care of it, if your car insurance doesn’t cover side mirrors, you might want to get a lower deductible or add more coverage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is side mirror repair covered by car insurance?
Yes, side mirror repair can be covered by car insurance, depending on your specific policy and the circumstances surrounding the damage.
What types of car insurance policies typically cover side mirror repair?
Comprehensive car insurance policies generally cover side mirror repair. Liability-only policies typically do not cover this type of damage.
What is comprehensive car insurance?
Comprehensive car insurance is a type of coverage that helps pay for damage to your vehicle caused by events other than a collision. It typically covers theft, vandalism, fire, weather-related damage, and accidents involving animals, among other things.
How do I know if my car insurance policy includes comprehensive coverage?
Review your car insurance policy or contact your insurance provider to determine if you have comprehensive coverage. It’s important to read the policy documents carefully or consult with your insurance agent to understand the specific terms and conditions.
Are side mirrors considered part of the comprehensive coverage?
Yes, side mirrors are generally considered part of the comprehensive coverage. They can be included under the coverage for “other than collision” damage, which encompasses various non-accident-related incidents.
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Kalyn Johnson
Insurance Claims Support & Sr. Adjuster
Kalyn grew up in an insurance family with a grandfather, aunt, and uncle leading successful careers as insurance agents. She soon found she has similar interests and followed in their footsteps. After spending about ten years working in the insurance industry as both an appraiser dispatcher and a senior property claims adjuster, she decided to combine her years of insurance experience with another...
Insurance Claims Support & Sr. Adjuster
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.