Does auto insurance cover broken side mirrors?

The side mirrors on your car or truck are some of the most vulnerable parts of your vehicle when it comes to potential damage. They protrude from the side of the vehicle, making them easy to break when you’re trying to maneuver into a tight space.

The auto side mirror is also in danger from careless drivers in a side mirror-to-mirror accident, which can leave you with an unexpected bill. So, do you need to foot the bill yourself in every case, or are side mirrors covered by insurance instead? Let’s take a look to see if insurance will cover a broken side mirror.

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When Car Insurance Covers a Side Mirror Damage From a Mirror-to-Mirror Accident

Does insurance cover mirror replacement? To find out if car insurance will cover a broken side mirror, you need to focus on how this happened.

The answer to the question “Does insurance cover a side mirror damage?” will depend on who caused the damage and what coverage you have. The types of auto insurance coverage vary greatly.

As a minimum, most states require you to have third-party property damage liability (PD) and bodily injury liability (BIL) auto insurance. This is also known simply as liability auto insurance and protects you if you’re involved in an at-fault accident with another vehicle.

However, this won’t cover damage to your vehicle when you’re at fault — including broken car mirrors.

Learn more about PD in our review of the best property damage liability (PD) auto insurance companies.

Cause of a Broken Mirror in a Car

Here is a list of a few scenarios of when insurance does cover a broken side mirror and what kind of car insurance they would fall under:

• If you broke the mirror on your car due to your own negligence, the type of policy you have will dictate the outcome. If you only had liability coverage, you would have to pay for repair or replacement out of your own pocket.
• However, if you have collision auto insurance, which covers damage to your vehicle when you’re at fault, you can likely file a claim with your insurance company even if you caused the accident.
• If the damage occurred due to a storm or other non-collision event, you’d need comprehensive auto insurance to make a claim.
• If your car side mirror was broken due to somebody else’s fault and you know their identity, you could file a claim against their insurance policy.

In this last case, you may have to provide evidence to prove that they were at fault, but in most cases, their insurance policy will cover your broken car mirror repair costs. For a side-by-side comparison, read our collision vs. comprehensive auto insurance guide.

Side Mirror Damage Caused by Hit and Run, Theft, or Vandalism

It’s not unusual for damage to occur in a tight parking lot when you’re not present with the vehicle.

Sometimes, the offending driver will depart the scene without leaving their details. If you have uninsured motorist coverage (UIM) auto insurance, you may be able to claim insurance for a broken side mirror with your own insurance provider, but otherwise, you will have to cover the repair cost yourself.

Comprehensive coverage also extends to theft and vandalism, and collision coverage will sometimes cover a hit-and-run. Full coverage auto insurance typically includes comprehensive.

When it’s Worth it to File a Side Mirror Insurance Claim

Just remember that you will need to consider the amount of your auto insurance deductible to see if you would be better off avoiding a claim and paying for the damages yourself.

The cost of replacing a car mirror averages around $299 for parts and labor. Your deductible will vary but could be $500 or more.

In that case, it won’t be worth filing a claim since you’ll have to pay the cost out of pocket anyway. Even if your deductible is small enough, it’s still worth considering not filing a claim since it could risk your rates going up.

Filing an Insurance Claim for Side Mirror Insurance Coverage

If you do want to make a claim, the process is relatively straightforward:

• Gather the information, including a police report (if applicable).
• Get in touch with the insurance company, tell your agent what happened, and file any relevant paperwork.
• You may need to take the car to an adjuster so the damages can be assessed and the cost of repairs or replacement.
• The insurance company will then consider all the details, determine whether to accept the claim and provide you with repair options.

If you accept the offer, you’ll need to pay any deductible when work gets underway. These cases might make you wonder, “Can I file an insurance claim without a police report?”

Side Mirror Laws

Many states require that a vehicle has a working driver’s side mirror. For example, in the case of Washington state, laws dictate that side mirrors should give the driver a view of the highway for at least 200 feet to the rear of the vehicle. So, if your mirror is currently damaged, you’ll want to repair or replace it as quickly as possible because you can get a ticket for a broken side mirror.

The Final Word on Whether Insurance Covers a Broken Side Mirror

When does car insurance cover a broken mirror on a car? In most states, it is illegal to drive with a broken side mirror. You cannot drive a vehicle with a defective mirror, at least on the driver’s side. If someone broke your side mirror, you need to replace the side view mirror as soon as possible and may want to consider an insurance claim.

Your next move will depend on the type of coverage you have and who was at fault. Even if you file a claim with your insurance company, you need to consider the value of your deductible against the total bill and any potential rate increases. Read our guide to learn how to file an auto insurance claim.

You never know when an accident is going to occur or how much the damages will be. So make sure you have the right insurance coverage in place. Enter your zip code below and compare car insurance quotes today.