Side & Rear View Mirrors

At Valley Glass, we specialize in repairing and replacing vehicle glass. Your side and rearview mirrors are absolutely necessary for your safety. They serve as a third set of eyes on the road and alert you to dangers both behind and to the side of you. That is why one of the first things you do before driving your vehicle is to check your mirrors. 

If your side mirror breaks or cracks, you need to fix it right away, especially if it blocks your view. Because they protrude from the car’s body, side mirrors are susceptible to damage and can easily break when struck. Debris that is kicked up by trucks and other cars can also cause damage to the glass over time. There are a few very important reasons you should fix damage to your side and rearview mirrors as soon as possible. 

There is Tech Behind Your Mirrors

Especially in newer cars, side mirrors house technology and wiring behind the glass. 

You may not be able to adjust your mirrors at all if the damage is allowed to occur to the housing and mechanisms. A minor crack can also easily result in the pane breaking or shattering at any moment. Glass cracks, no matter how small, gradually get bigger over time. Your mirror may shatter if you slam the door with enough force, or if another object comes into contact with it. Glass that breaks and shatters when you are driving or standing near your vehicle is a hazard to your safety. 

Law Enforcement 

Damage to your mirrors can result in your getting pulled over by an officer. If your mirror is clearly broken, you can be given a ticket which can affect your insurance and cost you money. Bringing your car into Valley Glass is likely to be much less expensive than paying ticket fines. Depending on the damage, you could also consider having your car towed to our location to avoid the potential of getting pulled over or being in an accident. If the damage is small and you still have visibility, you may be able to drive it to us. 

How Damage Happens to Side Mirrors 

When you think of damaged side mirrors, you may think of this happening during an accident or driving too close to another vehicle. While mirror damage can occur for a variety of other reasons, close quarters and parallel parking spaces are common causes.

Damage to the side view mirror can be caused by:

• Trying to fit into a small parking space
• T-bone accidents and collisions even at low speed
• Parking your car in unsafe areas
• Accidents in drive-through areas
• Pulling into parking spaces at a poor angle
• Being distracted while backing out or pulling into a parking spot
• Messing with the power controls
• Washing or cleaning the mirrors with too much force. 

These common and various causes can result in a variety of different kinds of damage. When a mirror hits something, it tends to change its position relative to the vehicle and may break the glass or casing. There are additional causes that include: using power controls too much or not taking care of internal mechanisms. This can cause mirrors to stop moving, which then limits your visibility.

When Side Mirrors Need to Be Replaced 

There are two ways side mirrors are replaced depending on the damage. We can replace the entire mirror part that includes the internal mechanisms, or just the mirror found in the casing. 

We determine the kind of replacement that is required based on the type of damage. For instance, damage to the glass that does not prevent the side view mirror from being adjusted to improve visibility only necessitates the replacement of the mirror.

You should bring your vehicle in for side mirror replacement if you notice any of the following:

• A glass that is heavily cracked
• A glass that is missing
• Distorted Glass that affects the clear reflection
• A dislodged or hanging mirror 
• A mirror that is missing entirely 
• A mirror that you can no longer adjust 
• Why Professional Mirror Replacement Is Essential 

Replacing a mirror is not your typical do-it-yourself endeavor. Replacing the mirror on your own could permanently disable the vehicle’s power controls. Any warranty or coverage you may have for these components will also become void if you try to make the repairs on your own and cause further damage. 

At Valley Glass, we offer Redi Cut replacement mirrors tailored to fit virtually every make and model car. You can rest assured that your auto mirror replacement needs will be taken care of by qualified professionals.