Can you drive with a broken wing mirror

Tuesday 2nd December 2025

A damaged wing mirror might seem like a small issue, but for UK drivers it’s one of the most common (and costly) annoyances. Roughly £655 million has been spent by van drivers repairing wing mirrors, according to Volkswagen Commercial research, with around one-third admitting they’ve been damaged multiple times.? 

But despite it being a common issue, it’s not something you can ignore. As a nationwide specialist in car care and servicing, Formula One Autocentres regularly advises drivers on vehicle safety concerns. Keep reading to find out if it’s legal to drive with a damaged wing mirror and how to minimise paying out for more repairs. 

Key takeaways

• Driving with a broken offside (driver-side) wing mirror is illegal and an MOT fail. 

• You’re required to have at least two working rear-view mirrors. 

• If visibility is impaired, don’t drive until it’s replaced.? 

• Police can issue fines of up to £2,500 if your vehicle is deemed unsafe or could issue a notice to repair within the next 14 days if the damage is minor.

Is it illegal to drive with a broken wing mirror? 

Yes, it’s illegal to have a broken driver’s side (offside) wing mirror in the UK. Under the DVSA’s MOT testing standards, a broken offside mirror can also result in an MOT failure, making it impossible to tax or legally drive your vehicle until fixed.? 

By law, your vehicle needs at least two functioning mirrors that provide a clear view of the road behind you. These include:? 

• Driver’s side wing mirror (offside) 

• Passenger’s side wing mirror (nearside) 

• Interior rear-view mirror?

If your driver’s side mirror is damaged, you’re driving illegally. If the interior or passenger-side mirror is damaged, it’s not always illegal, but you may be stopped by police who, after assessing the safety of your vehicle, may issue you a notice requiring you to repair it within 14 days.? 

Why are wing mirrors important? 

If you are an experienced driver, using your mirrors becomes second nature, but their importance shouldn’t be underestimated. The three mirrors mentioned above provide a complete picture of what’s happening alongside and behind your car.? 

When a wing mirror is missing or becomes damaged, your blind spots increase dramatically, especially during lane changes, reversing, overtaking, and manoeuvring in tighter spaces.? 

Why should you keep both wing mirrors and the rear-view mirror intact? 

There are at least six reasons why you need to keep your wing mirrors and rear-view mirrors in good condition: 

• Safer driving: Missing or cracked mirrors reduce your visibility, making it difficult to overtake, switch lanes and pull out of junctions. 

• Avoiding accidents: A clear view of your surroundings can give you time to react to potential danger, preventing collisions and costly insurance claims.  

• Preventing additional damage: Any loose debris or electrical components and cracked housings around a broken mirror can scratch your car’s paintwork. 

• Preventing injury: Exposed or sharp wing mirror fragments can injure passing pedestrians or cyclists, or damage passing vehicles. 

• Passing your MOT: An offside mirror fault is an automatic MOT test fail.? 

• Avoiding fines: Police can issue fines of up to £2,500 and three penalty points.

If your visibility is severely reduced in any direction, your car is considered not safe to drive. Even if the damage isn’t illegal, it’s not worth the risk of injury to you, your passengers or other drivers. 

What should you do if your wing mirrors are damaged? 

If one or both of your wing mirrors are damaged, you should assess their condition and decide whether the glass, housing or the whole unit needs to be replaced. Any cracked or broken glass should be replaced immediately, as this impacts your ability to see properly.? 

If your wing mirror housing or electrical components are faulty, they may not be stable or function properly, so you should replace them as soon as possible to prevent further visibility issues and potential fines.? 

How much does it cost to replace wing mirrors? 

The cost of replacing your damaged wing mirror depends on the following: 

• Whether your car has manual or automatic mirrors 

• The make and model of your vehicle 

• Whether you have standard, heated or tinted glass 

• Labour costs at your chosen garage

Glass replacement can be inexpensive, while a full mirror replacement, particularly those with indicators or sensors within the mirror casing, can cost significantly more. 

If you need a quick fix for your damaged wing mirror, you can use adhesive tape or temporary glass to keep the components together. However, you should contact a professional mechanic, like one of our team at Formula One Autocentres, to get this fixed as soon as you can.? 

5 Tips to minimise damaged wing mirrors 

Many wing mirror incidents happen at low speeds and are often caused by other drivers driving too close. Consider these habits to reduce the risk of damaged wing mirrors: 

1. Avoid parking on busier, narrow streets, especially those with cars parked on either side of the road or where there’s a lot of passing traffic. 

1. Park as close to the kerb as you can without blocking access and without knocking your wheel alloys or tyres. 

1. Don’t park on corners or junctions where other vehicles are turning. 

1. Park as centrally as you can in your parking spot to minimise other cars parking awkwardly next to you. 

1. Be aware of obstructions like pillars or bollards when driving and pulling into tighter spaces.

The smallest adjustments in your parking habits can save you from costly repairs. 

Looking for a wing mirror replacement? 

If your wing mirror is broken, it’s important to get it repaired or replaced quickly to ensure your vehicle remains legal and roadworthy. Not to mention preventing more expensive repairs if ignored. 

Formula One Autocentres is an ‘Excellent’-rated, family-owned business with over 136 locations across the UK. Find your nearest branch and speak to our technicians today about repairing your wing mirror.?