We’ve all been there: hesitating whether to change lanes because we’re not sure if there’s a vehicle beside us we can’t see. This is a big deal. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association, 18 percent of all accidents happen when changing lanes. That’s why getting a blind spot mirror is such a great investment.
These inexpensive vehicle accessories promote safe driving. When you use them, you can tell if there’s a car coming your way. As you know, rear-view and side-view mirrors don’t always show the full picture—literally!
Today, we’re bringing you a helpful guide to finding the best blind spot mirror on the market. We’ve reviewed the top 10 best products and analyzed each of their pros and cons. Then, we’ve put together a buying guide to help you pick out the best blind spot mirrors for your vehicle. Toward the end, you’ll find the most commonly asked questions answered in a comprehensible manner.
Best Overall Choice
1. Ampper Blind Spot Mirror
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The Ampper blind spot mirror is by far the most popular (and loved) product on Amazon, and for good reason! It’s affordable, discreet, and does its job spectacularly. What’s there not to love?
For starters, this is a round convex mirror that doesn’t take up much space on your side-view mirrors. It comes in a pack of two, meaning you can install one on the driver’s side and the other on the passenger’s side. Thus, it gives you ample view of the road on both your vehicle’s sides.
You can install it in a variety of vehicles. It works perfectly on SUVs, cars, hatchbacks, trucks, RVs, and vans. The only vehicle where it doesn’t fit is on a motorcycle.
Furthermore, the mirrors are completely adjustable. The pivot hinge located on the back of the mirror lets you rotate it up, down, left, and right. This is a great feature, as you can set the blind spot mirror to how it’s most convenient for you.
We also love how there isn’t a frame around the mirror. This means it won’t collect water and, consequently, will not rust. It’s a sturdy and durable design, which is especially important if you live in an area where snow, ice, and rain are common.
Lastly, the installation process couldn’t be easier. You don’t need to be a car whiz to fix the mirror in place.
Pros:
- Fits a wide variety of vehicles, from RVs to sports cars
- The angle of view can be easily adjusted
- The durable, discreet design keeps mirrors intact for years
Cons:
- The mirror may shift around with strong winds and on a car wash
How Do Blind Spot Mirrors Work?
The way blind spot mirrors are what make them so useful. They’re convex, and so capture whatever is going on near your vehicle’s blind spot. That’s really all there is to them—no fancy technology or anything like that.
Are Blind Spot Mirrors Useful?
Most definitely! All vehicles have blind spots. These are responsible for countless accidents every year. Whether you’re switching lanes or getting ready to turn at an intersection with parallel lanes, blind spots can put you in a very dangerous situation.
With blind spot mirrors, you can clearly see if there’s a car coming from behind you. This reduces the number of accidents that happen on our road every day. It’s why car manufacturers are equipping new vehicles with blind spot sensors and built-in blind spot mirrors!
On top of all that, some groups of people can really benefit from getting one of these mirrors for their vehicle. Seniors and inexperienced drivers, in particular, need them! They’re usually the ones who struggle the most with blind spots. These mirrors make them feel more comfortable and confident when driving, which is great!
Benefits of Using a Blind Spot Mirror
Let’s sum all the benefits of using a blind spot mirror in your vehicle:
- Confidence when changing lanes: Busy roads can be hard to navigate, especially when you want to change lanes (to pass someone, to head to your destination, etc). These mirrors let you know if it’s safe to do this maneuver.
- Less neck twisting: Cranking your neck back is no fun, ever. With a blind spot mirror, you don’t need to do it as much.
- Parallel parking becomes easier: Parking parallel to a sidewalk isn’t always easy-peasy. Sometimes, you need to know how much leeway you still have before your wheels hit the curb. A blind spot mirror lets you do this with ease.
- Merging into a highway is safer: When you try to get into a highway, there’s the risk of getting hit by a car going at high speeds, all because you didn’t notice they were there when merging into the road. Blind spot mirrors get rid of this problem.
- Attach a trailer without compromising safety: If you’ve hooked a trailer to your car or truck before, you know how much visibility you lose because of it. Everything gets riskier, especially changing lanes and merging into highways. Blind spot mirrors decrease the risk of accidents.
The Ultimate Buying Guide for Blind Spot Mirrors
We’ve shown you the best blind spot mirror products of 2019. But if none of them strike your fancy, there are plenty more out there to discover. We’ve put together this buying guide to make that search easier. Look for these features and you won’t get stuck with a crappy blind spot mirror!
Size and Fit
Many people ask themselves “What size blind spot mirror do I need?” There is no one-size-fits-all answer to this.
When looking at blind spot side mirrors, the key is to look for one that’s big enough that you can see the image clearly, but not too big that it makes it impossible to see things clearly on the side wing mirrors.
We’ve picked out mirrors of all sizes to review them. If you have sight problems, we recommend getting one that’s larger, around 2.5 inches in length. If that’s not a problem with you, any size mirror will do.
Shape
Most blind spot mirrors are circular, but there are other shapes available too. We reviewed square, rectangular, and even fan-shaped mirrors. Which one you purchase completely depends on what you feel most comfortable using. As long as they’re not too bulky, they’ll all work perfectly.
Frame
There are mirrors with and without frames. The frames can either be aluminum or plastic, depending on the manufacturer.
As a rule of thumb, frameless mirrors tend not to get rusty. That’s due to the fact that the frames collect water, which, with time, deteriorates the mirror glass. Their main disadvantage is that the glass is less protected.
On the other hand, frame mirrors are protected from the elements. Pebbles and hail are less likely to crack the mirror and damage it forever. They are more prone to rusting, though.
As you can see, they both have their pros and cons. If you live in an area where it rains a lot, we recommend getting frameless mirrors. If not, you can choose between a frame and frameless piece, it’s totally up to you.
Curvature
The vast majority of mirrors have the same curvature, so this isn’t something you should really worry about. We’re bringing it up to remind you that objects in the mirror will appear closer than they actually are. Keep that in mind!
Durability
When choosing the best blind spot mirror, think of how long its lifespan is likely to be. Does it appear to have a sturdy build? Does the adhesive seem strong and weather-proof? You want a sturdy (but not bulky!) mirror that stays with you for a long time.
Fixing Method
Think of how easy the installation process will be. The vast majority of mirrors are installed using an adhesive strip. But when looking at products we didn’t review, always double-check that there are no more steps and tools involved.
Adjustability
Is changing the viewing angle on the mirrors important to you? If so, then opt for an adjustable mirror with a pivot hinge on the back.
Do keep in mind that when you go into a car wash, it’s likely that the mirror will swivel left and right. When leaving one, make sure you can still see everything clearly on the mirror and, if not, adjust them to a more comfortable position.
How to Install a Blind Spot Mirrors?
As we mentioned, installing a blind spot mirror on your vehicle’s side mirrors is usually a super easy process:
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- Clean the wing mirror with a damp rag and alcohol. This will make it easier for the adhesive to stick in place by removing grease, bugs, and dust.
- Find the place to mount the mirror. Usually this will be on the outer upper corner of your wing mirror. Make sure you’re not blocking a sizeable chunk of the mirror and that you can still use it just fine.
- Take the peel off the adhesive and press it in place. Make sure to apply pressure (not too much, though!) and hold it in position for 15 seconds. This will ensure the mirror will stay there for a long time.
- Don’t expose your vehicle to rain or car washes for a couple of days. If you do, there’s a chance the sticker will come off and that your mirror will fall and break.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are blind spot mirrors worth it?
Yes! They’re inexpensive (most models are under $10) and they do wonders. Since they help prevent accidents that could be fatal, we have no doubts that they’re well worth the (small) investment.
Are blind spot mirrors legal?
As long as you don’t install a mirror that’s too bulky and blocks your view of the wing mirror, you’re fine. There are no laws against the small blind spot mirrors that we’ve reviewed.
Are blind spot mirrors safe?
When correctly mounted, yes, they are. The key is not obstructing your view of the wing mirror by, for instance, installing it right in the middle of your side mirror. If you place them following the manufacturer’s instructions, they’re completely safe.
Can blind spot mirrors be removed?
Yes, they can. It’s an easy, quick, and inexpensive process you can do with resources you’re likely to have at home.
Do blind spot mirrors help with changing lanes?
Yes, they do. That’s one of their most popular and praised purposes.
Where do blind spot mirrors go?
Usually they go on the upper outer corner of your vehicle’s side mirrors. Some people like to place them on their rearview mirror, but we’re not sure just how useful that would be.
How to remove a blind spot mirror?
You’ll need some alcohol or glue-removing product (for example, Goo Gone) and a sharp razor or string of fishing line.
Apply the product on the wing mirror and then, carefully, with the razor or string, slide it between your wing mirror and the blind side mirror. It should come off easily.
What are integrated blind spot mirrors?
Many latest auto models come with built-in blind spot mirrors installed in the factory. They work the same as the blind spot mirrors you can buy from Amazon. The only difference is they look sleeker and, since they’re integrated, won’t ever fall off.
Where to place blind spot mirror on the passenger side?
You should place it on the outer corner of your vehicle’s side mirror. Play around with its position until you find something that works for you.
Where to place blind spot mirror on a motorcycle?
Since motorcycles have smaller wing mirrors, you need to pick a smaller blind spot mirror, too. We recommend installing them on the upper outer corner of your bike’s side mirror and seeing if it gives you a good viewing angle that way.
Why aren’t blind spot mirrors standard?
Nowadays, we’re seeing more and more additions to cars to make them safer and less prone to accidents. Backup cameras are recent, too, and only newer models come with them.
Our only explanation as to why only newer models don’t come equipped with blind spot mirrors is that now that we know more about road safety, we know they’re important. Thus, manufacturers think of adding them when designing new vehicles.
